Verbal Communication
The Steps of Persuasion
by Lana
In this section we will look at the general scouting methods used by scouts.
Why is it important to observe the different methods of persuasion?
It allows us to understand the general flow and tactics utilized by the scouts. Before diving into the specific aspects of their verbal communication, it is necessary to observe the whole process and learn the process.
Calling
Calling is generally the first step in which the scouts start their conversation with the targets. Common phrase they use to catch the pedestrians’ attention is by saying phrases such as 「お姉さん」「ねぇねぇ」「ちょっと」「おーい」「こんばんは」Different starting phrases have different impacts on the targets.
Complementing
the next step is complimenting the targets. The scouts compliment the targets’ appearance. Although it varies from their outfits, hair, accessories, body, to their face, they are fully aware that this does not bring any negative consequences to their scouting process because people tend to favor compliments.
Making Cheesy (チャラい) comments
Cheesy comments are frequently used by the scouts for successful persuasion. They are not intending these comments to sound serious, rather, they mean it as a funny joke. These kinds of comments do not have any negative impacts to the targets. It has an effect for the targets to become more comfortable with presenting an impression as a funny and harmless individual.
“It was a destiny that we were able to meet.”
⬆️In front of the batting center located in the middle of Kabuki-cho, one scout suddenly approached a Seiso-kei girl and made a cheesy comment. The girl giggled because it was a silly comment to make considering their relationship and the environment they were in. The girl did not seem uncomfortable at all to make eye-contact with the scout. The comment definitely had an effect on her to perceive the scout as harmless.
Asking personal questions
This step is technically the most crucial part in terms of determining whether the targets are worth their time convincing or not. Because the steps mentioned earlier do not require that much time, they become more cautious around this stage. It is like an informal job interview that they involuntarily start.
“Are you a student?”
One of the classmates went on a fieldwork to investigate the reality of scouts. She was approached by a scout when she was talking with her other classmates. Suddenly, the scout asked whether they were students or not.
Introducing the job
It is mostly challenging for the scouts to reach this point in the conversation even though this is their main reason why they begin the conversion in the first place. Because they first have to overcome the urban cities’ personal distance, they usually do not begin conversation from this step (Although some scouts do to maximize their chance of scouting more targets.)
Inferring the job offer
Because they want to avoid being too direct in some situations (depending on the type of target,) they purposefully infer the job offer rather than introducing.
Begging
This step is not done by every scout, but some of them beg the targets for more time or more conversation because they are getting ignored or rejected by the targets. They purposefully lower their position than the targets so that they might pity the scouts or feel superior to them which could revive the chance of persuading. Usually fails.
Inviting
Invitation such as
「ちょっと飲みに行かない？」
[Do you wanna go grab a drink?]
is like a fishing bait for the targets because the scouts will most likely pay for their meals and drinks. This is an effective method because if they say yes to this invitation, it becomes more difficult to decline their offer. In addition to this, they have more time to build closer ties with the targets and successfully persuade them.
Now, let’s look at different persuasion methods on different types of targets
➡️For more information regarding different type of girls, check here
1. Jirai-kei (Ryo-san)/地雷系（量産）
The flowchart for Jirai-kei girls is very simple. This is because there is always a risk of them being underage. In addition, scouts are aware of the fact that these types of targets come to Kabuki-cho more frequently which indicates they acknowledge the existence of the industry and scouts.
No reaction to the scouting = They are not interested.
Scouts tend to disregard them at the early stage of the process if they scouting does not go well because if the Jirai-kei girls want to work as a worker, they would come to the scouts themselves.
However, there is also a greater chance of Jirai-kei girls entering the industry because as explained in Mana’s section,
Girls in Jirai-kei Fashion
Jirai-Kei girls are known to invest a large amount of money into the host industry, causing them to suffer financially.
Because working as a worker allow these girls to receive a large amount of money, they enter the unhealthy cycle of becoming a worker to make more money and spend them on the hosts.
Types of Revealing Girls
2. Targets with Revealing Outfits
The scouting process for this type is the most complicated among the three major types seen in Kabuki-cho. An interesting aspect to consider is begging. Scouts usually do not beg to other types of targets but they tend to eg more when you are wearing revealing outfits.
⬇️For further details, click below
Another point to note her is the insistency of the scouts for this specific type of targets.
One possible reasoning could be that because they are less risky than Jirai-kei but have a higher possibility of accepting the scouts’ offer (according to their revealing outfits = more confident and used to men approaching them hypothesis,) the scouts become more insistent.
3. Seiso-kei/Onee-san Girls
this type of targets are trickier. Compared to the other two targets, the criteria of whether they are suited for the work is vague. For instance, Jirai-kei girls are usually associated with host clubs, and targets with revealing outfits are associated with their self-confidence and more experience with men.
However, there isn’t a clear decisive factor that indicates their possible capability for work for Seiso-kei.
Therefore, scouts tend to begin their scouting process with some form of flirtation with the targets, which makes them confused about their true intentions of scouting.
In addition to this, they avoid direct introduction of the work to increase the possibility of successful scouting.
Types of Revealing Girls
Conclusion
Scouts seemed to be more direct about the industry when the targets appeared to be more knowledgeable regarding the Kabuki-cho industry and its system. However, they are also fully aware that they have to be cautious when persuading the targets. In later sections, we will further explore the different methods to understand how scouts are differentiating the targets and persuasion methods to successfully convince them.