Mizu shōbai

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In Japanese culture, mizu-shōbai (Japanese: 水商売), literally the water trade, is work that does not provide a contractually fixed salary, but instead relies on the popularity of the performer among their fans or clientele. Broadly, it includes the television, theater, and movie industries, but more narrowly, it can refer to those who work in businesses that serve alcohol or provide sex. Bars, cabarets, health, hostess bars, image clubs, pink salons and soaplands are all part of the mizu shōbai; though they are not sex workers, geisha and kabuki actors are traditionally considered part of the mizu shōbai as well.

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