Lust, Desire and Passion: The secret Life of Japanese sex hotels

Belgian photographer Zaza Bertrand does not speak Japanese and could only catch fragments of phrases exchanged by people in the so—called rabuho - "love hotels", popular in Japan. This mystery turned out to be very attractive.

As the writer Claire van der Berg explains, rabuho are popular among Japanese, especially among 20- and 30-year-olds who still have to live in their parents' house. For both casual relationships and marital sex — themed rooms in neon lighting offer a rare opportunity to enjoy anonymity and romantic freedom.

Hotels have a fully thought-out system for maintaining confidentiality: guests can buy tickets at the vending machine, and if there is an interaction with a live hotel employee, then only through a one-way window, so as not to violate anonymity.

Bertrand started by addressing people at the entrance to such hotels, but over time she realized that it was better to contact guests online. She immediately spoke about her intentions: the photographer did not want "anything sexual, maybe just a few hints." She wasn't going to pay these people for their time, but she was willing to pay for the room.

It was not difficult to gain trust: many Bertrand models wanted to keep photos for themselves as a memento of the date. The hotel rooms were elaborate, pretentious, and deserved to be remembered.

The photographer was not hindered by the fact that she could not interview her characters in detail. The secrets between Bertrand and the guests reflect the mysterious, secret side of the dates that take place in these hotels.

Speaking about one of the most striking meetings in Rabuho, the photographer recalls a man who asked to be filmed without a partner. The first time she refused, but the second time she agreed to meet with him. The man surprised her. Both were wary, but it turned out that the man just wanted to take a picture in memory of a personal event. He just celebrated his 60th birthday.

As a result of this project, a photo book Japanese Whispers ("Japanese Whisper") has turned out, which opens the veil of secrecy over the intimate and romantic life of young Japanese people.