Geisha establishments court new business

Geisha establishments court new business

KOCHI, Japan - A female customer (L) enjoys chatting with a geisha girl during a women-only group dinner plan accompanied by "ozashiki asobi," or playing games with geisha girls and watching their dancing performance, offered by a traditional "ryotei" Japanese restaurant in Kochi, Kochi Prefecture, on Dec. 28, 2012.

Geisha establishments court new business

Geisha establishments court new business

KOCHI, Japan - Women watch geisha girls (C) dance during a women-only group dinner plan accompanied by "ozashiki asobi," or playing games with geisha girls and watching their dancing performance, offered by a traditional "ryotei" Japanese restaurant in Kochi, Kochi Prefecture on Dec. 28, 2012.

Building housing Akiba culture shops

Building housing Akiba culture shops

TOKYO, Japan - Shop attendants pose before manikins at casual wear shop ''Akiba Asobi Kan: Jam Gakuen'' in ''Akiba Cultures Zone,'' a building with shops selling goods and services related to the Akihabara (Akiba) subculture in Tokyo's Akihabara district on Dec. 22, 2011.

Anime festival banner hung at Tokushima airport

Anime festival banner hung at Tokushima airport

TOKUSHIMA, Japan - Banners for the ''Machi Asobi vol. 7'' anime festival hang at Tokushima airport in Tokushima Prefecture, western Japan. The major anime festival is held from Sept. 23 through Oct. 10 in 2011.

'Panpan asobi'

'Panpan asobi'

TOKYO, Japan - Photo depicts ''panpan asobi,'' which was once popular among Japanese children who pretend to be GIs and prostitutes. Date unknown. (Kyodo)

Anime festival banner hung at Tokushima airport

Anime festival banner hung at Tokushima airport

TOKUSHIMA, Japan - Banners for the ''Machi Asobi vol. 7'' anime festival hang at Tokushima airport in Tokushima Prefecture, western Japan. The major anime festival is held from Sept. 23 through Oct. 10 in 2011. (Kyodo)

Building housing Akiba culture shops

Building housing Akiba culture shops

TOKYO, Japan - Shop attendants pose before manikins at casual wear shop ''Akiba Asobi Kan: Jam Gakuen'' in ''Akiba Cultures Zone,'' a building with shops selling goods and services related to the Akihabara (Akiba) subculture in Tokyo's Akihabara district on Dec. 22, 2011. (Kyodo)