Betty Mayo — Restaurant in Osaka

Despite the many good reviews, I left Betty's feeling rather sad. If you are into vaudeville, then you would probably enjoy yourself. But if you have a strong sense of social justice (or injustice), you would probably leave feeling somewhat disturbed. Betty's is known for its drag show. I went, thinking I would see a show of the standards of the Paper Dolls of the Philippines or the high class drag shows in Thailand, but at the same time, I tried to prepare myself for the possibility of vaudeville. Well, the show (in my humble opinion), went a "little" over and above the top of "vaudeville". The whole experience also turned out to be a bit of a culture shock too. For one thing, I didn't expect it to be a hostess bar as I had gone to see the Takarazuka Revue earlier on in my trip. So a hostess bar setting was an education in itself. The "ladies" would sit with the guests and try to encourage them to drink as this is how they make their money. Every time someone buys a bottle of champagne, everyone (led by the "ladies") will do a little dance to call attention to the guest. The place has 3 show times, and again, surprisingly (or not), bucking Japanese convention, the show I watched didn't start on time. It was late. As the show unfolded, it became very clear that it was just a vehicle for the "ladies" to bare all and show how their physiques have been altered. In short, it was a flesh show - something that the Paper Dolls and Thai shows were not. The jokes were very crude and I found myself feeling so sad that the "ladies" not only had to serve drinks and entertain guests, but they also had to do shows like that 3 times a night, every night. And as if to echo the sadness in me, Betty (the boss and owner) sang a few songs in Japanese. The pain and grief of being a social outcast was evident in "her" eyes and even in the journal that "she" keeps on their web site. It was so sad to be reminded that the world can be such a cruel place for those who don't fit in with society's norms, and that men, in particular often bear the brunt of ridicule. It was also painfully clear that Betty's, while it required the "ladies" to work so hard and suffer such indignity, was still, nevertheless, a safe haven for the "girls" because it meant that they did not need to resort to prostitution for a living. The club opens till the wee hours, long after the trains have stopped so be prepared to catch a cab back or you will be stuck with no place to go - not fun if...

An absolute must in Osaka. In fact, plan to go to Osaka just so you can go to this show. The ladies are beautiful, sexy and funny. Prior to the show they will sit with you and chat and pour you drinks- all you can drink is apart of the show fee. It's so worth it, great value. The show itself was fabulous, I love burlesque, cabaret style performances. Most fun i had in Japan was at Betty's Mayonnaise. Easy to find. Great fun. Can't wait ot get back to Osaka...

The Vibes!! Betty Mayo is an absolute 10/10 MUST VISIT while in Osaka. First off BETTY IS AN ICON. The show was absolutely magnificent. You pay 5,500 Yen per person for entry. This covers ALL of your alcohol for the entire show as well as your tip. This was an incredibly unique experience. Go see Betty ASAP....