NANJING: A new bar in Nanjing, capital of East China's Jiangsu Province, is
offering an outlet for the stresses and strains of modern life.
Customers will be able to pay money to beat up staff, smash glasses, shout
and scream, and, if these anger management techniques don't work, receive
psychological counselling.
Rising Sun Anger Release Bar was set up in April by Wu Gong, a 29-year-old
man from neighbouring Anhui Province.
Wu said he got his inspiration from similar bars in Japan, but felt a
personal need for the type of service after his experiences as a migrant worker
in Guangdong Province.
The bar employs 20 "models," well-built men in their 20s and 30s, who are
available to be hit. Customers can specify how they want the models to appear
they can even dress as women and then they are free to give them a sound
beating.
Wu assured China Daily that models are fully equipped with protective gear,
and the bar gives them regular physical training so they are prepared for
attack.
The bar has four psychological counsellors, who are in fact psychology
students from local universities.
The bar charges 50 to 300 yuan (US$6.25-37.5) for every customer in
accordance with their demands.
"With rent of 6,000 yuan (US$760) per month, we can just about make ends
meet," Wu said, but he added that he was confident about success as his customer
list was growing.
Wu said that at the moment most of his customers were women, especially those
working in service and entertainment companies such as KTV or massage parlours.
Public opinion was divided over the bar.
"Violence will not solve your problems. If people really feel angry, they
should adjust their lifestyles or seek psychological treatment," said Liu
Yuanyuan, who works for Siemens.
"Pressure in today's society comes from just about anywhere, from family or
from work, from your boss or from your girlfriend. We get no place to vent
anger. The idea of beating someone decorated as your boss seems attractive,"
said Chen Liang, a salesman.
Zhang Yong, an employee of Xiaoran Psychological Consultation Centre in
Nanjing, admitted that "no matter how civilized people have evolved to be, some
still find that violence is the best way to get rid of their burning rage. The
existence of the bar, despite its controversial business scope, reflects the
demands of a large proportion of people."
Zhang warned that as the business the bar is engaged in is not subject to any
regulations, customers should be careful about overcharging or hurting the
models.
The city's industrial and commercial administration bureau told China Daily
that Wu's bar has been registered as a dancing venue, and there is no mention in
the licence about anger release.
"He applied for the business of anger release but we would not give
permission. It has never been listed as a proper business in this country," said
an employee surnamed Wang
Wang said the bureau would discuss Wu's case and check on the bar in the
following few days if necessary.