A Reggae Romance: The Tale of the Jamaican Dancer & The Japanese DJ

I met my husband in Half Way Tree, Kingston. He’s a Japanese dancehall DJ, so he would come to Jamaica from time to time to do shows. Before we spoke for the first time, I glimpsed him twice out of the corner of my eyes, but we never quite made eye-contact. Then, one day, I was crossing the street and he was crossing as well and we kinda just saw each other for the first time.

Our relationship developed quickly. I truly believe that’s because I was very authentic with him. I didn’t hide the fact that I came from a poor background and I didn’t hide the fact that I worked as a hostess, street promo girl or that I did exotic dancing. In fact, I even took him to my job with me and he sat there and watched me dancing for other men. I don’t know what was behind my thinking at the time, but maybe in my subconscious I felt like he wouldn’t be serious about me. Either way, I didn’t hide anything about my life.

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Within three months of dating, he invited me back to Japan with him. I was shocked. I felt we hadn’t been dating long enough for that, so I asked him why. He said because he didn’t see himself coming back to Jamaica for another year or two, but he knew he wanted to be with me and he felt that I could have better opportunities and a better life in Japan. When he said that, I felt really, really lucky.

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We got engaged on my birthday in September, and then married in May 2017.

Life in Japan

When I moved to Japan my husband, who was my boyfriend then, did everything for me. He, along with his family (who are totally obsessed with Jamaican culture), bought my food, my clothes and took care of everything I needed. I was grateful, but I still wanted to spend my own money. I didn’t have a degree and I had limited Japanese skills so went back to what I knew—I worked at a hostess club and I danced.

Believe it or not, I love dancing. All kinds of dances. Even ballet. I love hair and make-up too, but the only other thing I’ve ever imagined myself doing outside of dancing is being a Flight Attendant. I know I won’t be dancing for the rest of my life, but I love the heels, the costumes, the whole bit. Whatever I end up doing, some level of dancing will be involved.

The Japanese Club Scene

The club scene here is like a nice plate of food that wasn’t heated up properly. The girls are pretty, some of them even dress nice, but I wish they’d get away from the culture of dancing in granny panties.

The men on the other hand are okay until they start drinking. That’s when things get out of hand and they stop keeping their hands to themselves. What worked to my advantage was the fact that I’m Jamaican. Once they learn that, they surround me hella excited and the offers to take me to lunch and dinner started to come in. This made many of the Japanese girls very jealous; and as a result, I didn’t make friends nor have any good experiences with any of them. I just kept to myself, made my money and went home.

Bad experiences?

I was working at this club and a Japanese guy approached and offered me a drink. I told him to get what is known as a screwdriver (orange juice and vodka). He took a long time to come back, but when he finally did, I wanted to be polite so I took the drink. Next thing you know, I’m throwing up all over the place and crying on the bathroom floor. They had to call my husband and his family and they took me to the hospital. They claim they didn’t find anything in my blood, but I was put on IV, given some pills and eventually sent home.

How does your husband feel about you dancing?

Call me naïve, but I didn’t know he had a problem with it until the other day. Something happened that called for a real ‘heart-to-heart’ talk and that’s when he revealed that he has never liked it. We stayed up talking and crying for most of the night and we agreed that I would stop dancing if he stopped doing certain things in his music career.

Dancer rules/tips you live by—

1. Never be embarrassed about getting your monthly check-up at the doctor. Vaginal hygiene is very important.
2. Shave or get professionally waxed or learn to do it by yourself at home.
3. You’re the show so make sure your hair, nails and shoes are in good shape.

One extra tip: It is best to have someone you know and trust take you home. Someone who can defend you just in case something happens. I had an incident one time in Jamaica where two girls wouldn’t leave me alone just because I made more money than them. You have to be careful. B*tches will try to mess your face up for less than a 1000 JMD.

Much thanks to Shadday for giving me the privilege of sharing her story. Since we last spoke, she has changed profession and is now working at a nursing home. Please follow her on IG @tropical_blasian or subscribe to her YouTube: cocoa in japan

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