Business is booming for Japanese therapists who find clients for
their dish-smashing stress therapy a hit in tough financial times.

Begun only one month ago, stressed out passers-by dish out about two
dollars to smash a cup or saucer and relieve their anxieties to the
encouragement of staff.

Masaki Ogawara is a 35-year-old printing company salesman with a lot on his
mind.

Now a visibly happier man thanks to his dish-smashing therapy at the
anti-stress project "The Venting Place".

Begun only one month ago, it's really just a couple of concrete slabs on
the back of a truck where passers-by like Ogawara dish out about two dollars
to smash a cup or saucer.

Ogawara says he's ready to return to work.

35-YEAR OLD PRINTING COMPANY
SALESMAN MASAKI OGAWARA SAYING:
"Life is pretty complicated and there are a lot of things to worry
about right now so this was refreshing. I now feel like I can start afresh
again tomorrow,"

IT consultant Shigeo Sasaki also said the current recession was getting him
down.

29-YEAR-OLD INTERNET
TECHNOLOGY CONSULTANT SHIGEO SASAKI SAYING
"All everyone talks about is the recession. In my company it's also:
'you can't do that and you can't do this', like expense taxi rides. I was
feeling pent up and looking for a way to release some of that when I came
across this place."

While the practice is a scientifically recognized one, the leader of the
project and chiropractor Katsuya Hara hopes it will eventually become as
common to the business community here as bar-hopping and karaoke.

HEAD OF 'THE VENTING PLACE'
KATSUYA HARA SAYING
"We hope to become the new way business men and women relieve their
stress, part and parcel with drinking, singing and now hopefully smashing
dishes."

And for those stressing out that all this is environmentally unfriendly: no
sweat, Hara says.

All the porcelain is re-used and recycled in to more plates and dishes.


Olivier Fabre reporting.