You can’t walk more than 50 yards in Tokyo without being accosted by a masseur. They lurk under bridges, in alleyways, behind public toilet doors. I’ve had a few run-ins with them, the most memorable being in the gaijin districted of Roppongi. She was very cunning, fooling me into thinking that I was being led to a nice cheap restaurant, not a Tokyo-style massage parlour where they get up to all sorts.

Anyway, there’s now a whole new style of massage spreading like wildfire across Japan. It’s potentially lethal; only suitable for masochists. However, if you’re a foreigner, unable to read the warning signs on the front door, you’re in for a shock.

Everything will seem fine at first. You know, a good shoulder rub and all that.

And then suddenly, you won’t know what’s hit you. The pain will be intense as the masseur forces her fingers deep into your flesh, right up to her knuckles. Wiggles them around inside your body – you want to scream, but the pain is too much.

It can be lethal. You have been warned.

As can be seen from this photo, there is also a risk that you’ll lose your head.