When people need a larger sum of money they don't have and don't have security or the financial stability to pay it off, they often are turned away by banks and loan sharks. With nowhere else to go they tend to turn to the yakuza or other shady figures, with often grave consequences. Ryo is in the money lending business and isn't as evil minded as the others. He doesn't charge interest, however if his clients don't have the possibility to pay it off in their lifetime (and most of Ryo's clients are unemployed or poor), they get the chance to work for Ryo. The businesses Ryo runs mostly have his loan clients employed. Among these are a Host/Hostess club, a bar, a cabaret theater and a small traditional hotel. Ryo guarantees his clients that they will be able to work off their debt within a couple of year regardless how huge the debt is. But for the show business, the clients will also have to earn a reputation.

The Host/Hostess club: Situated in the same building the host and hostess bars have different entrances. To get work here you need to be attractive and at least have some social skill. The clubs usually have a wardrobe for the employees. The clubs tend to have a sort of tournament among employees about how popular they are and how much cash they rake in. Top performers get prizes and extra pay. Generally the hosts and hostesses get a 10% incentive on what they get from customers.

The bar: The bar, named Lotus, is an usual classy Japanese bar where salarymen come to after work. Clients employed here normally end up as bartenders, waiters or dishwashers. The only requirement to work here is to be able to work well under pressure. There are no competitions here but constructive ideas and ideas for new drinks are rewarded.

The cabaret theater: The kind of cabaret here is normally the humorous kind or storytelling. Clients who work here need to be able to keep customers amused. It is a more traditional atmosphere. Performers wear kimonos or yukatas and the seating is more of the traditional japanese theater seating. Pay is according to attendance in the theater. If the theater is booked every day, then the performers pay could almost compete with the salary of a doctor. Ryo only lets his clients work here.

The hotel: The hotel is a Japanese ryokan. It is ten traditional rooms with tatami mats and bed rolls. The breakfast room serve Japanese food only and mostly coffee and tea outside of eating times. There are no requirements to be able to work here. Even if you are a pathetic loser without skills, you might still find a position here.

Alternative employment: You can also work directly for Ryo as an underling. However then you will have to become a yakuza member and that means for life. Despite traditional yakuza code, Ryo also lets women in if he see their potential to be able to fend for themselves in a critical situation. Like all yakuza they get tattoos.


Minamicho: A fictional district in a fictional Japanese city. It is urban however there are still many old buildings. It is a popular tourist area with an abundance in visitors. There are no yakuza here else than Ryo and his people. There are pretty much vendors everywhere, even in the smallest alleys and nooks.

Living: For the poor clients who cannot even find a home in the area, Ryo has a large ten story building where people can live. The building is equipped with enough apartments to house about 200 people (at five per apartment), a fitness room, a lobby, a small bar, a laundry room and an administrative office.


Character sheet:

Name (Japanese or Korean only unless your character sometime obtained a special resident permit in their life)
Age
Gender
Appearance (no face claims and no animated GIFs please)
Clothing
Likes
Dislikes
Occupation
Debt (if applicable, 100 yen equals a dollar, i.e. 1 million yen is $10,000)
Reason for debt (if applicable)
Personality
Background