Their phones aren't the only things vibrating:

The buzz on Japan's streets nowadays is that just about any young woman is carrying around her own vibrator, according to Shukan Post.

Instead of the old days when aids were referred to as "adult toys" and carried a sleazy image, sex aids are now called "adult goods." It's apparently become so common that it's almost as though there's a vibrator in every handbag.

"In the past, nearly all our customers used to ask us to disguise the labeling on our packages so they looked like they were cosmetics or something, but now we get much fewer of those type of requests," Norie Oda, operator of the Happy Woman adult aid shop, tells Shukan Post. "I suppose people just don't see them as such a big thing anymore."

Eiko Yamada, proprietor of Shesta, another adult good shop targeting women, says there's more good vibrations around than a Beach Boys album, with the number of adult aid users skyrocketing, particularly among women in their late 20s to early 30s. "Our sales are almost 200 percent what they were last year," Yamada tells Shukan Post.

Sanae Takahashi, CEO of Merci, another company in the same line of business, explains what has brought about the change. "Before, there only used to be seedy stores that existed only for guys. But, over the past few years, (ubiquitous) discount store chains like Don Quijote have started selling sex aids over the counter and online sales are doing well, too," Takahashi says. "There has been a really rapid increase in the number of our single women customers, and those who come to the store as a couple. We did some marketing and monitoring and made sure we stocked cute shapes and colors that would appeal to women."

Source: Mainichi Daily News

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Posted by Lawren at December 16, 2005 07:35 AM | Trackbacks (0)

You Said

Japanese men have a repuation of being terrible "partners." I'd say this business was just a matter of time.

Says: Nanc' at December 16, 2005 08:38 AM

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This can only be seen as a good thing for a historically repressed culture. Skyrocketing pocket-rocketing.

Says: The rev at December 16, 2005 08:39 AM

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Ching chong king kong ping pong dslgsdohnosdnhsa!!! Haha!

Says: tha king at December 16, 2005 03:57 PM

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