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Japan's porn industry preys on young women, say rights advocates

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What does socially empowered mean? Young twenties are adults and not kids.

-27 ( +12 / -39 )

But in one case last year that was actually adjudicated, the Tokyo District Court threw out a claim against a woman by makers of a pornographic film.

The courts in Japan have a horrendous record of enforcing clauses in entertainment industry contracts that would be considered illegal in any other developed country. It seems fairly obvious that many of these judges are on the take.

19 ( +27 / -8 )

This is really alarming, it's basically rape, so sad for these girls :/

34 ( +38 / -4 )

So a lot of that "rape" porno actually IS rape?

25 ( +31 / -6 )

Horrible people who are out targeting the weak and unknowledgable. Japanese girls could also improve their skills for standing up for themselves and telling a guy to get out of their face. I see girls here with a fake smile even entertaining a total stranger who's come up to them to ask perverted questions. In my opinion it seems like their own dignity isn't as important as being agreeable.

9 ( +14 / -5 )

The porn industry is full of low life's. They easily prey on naive young girls.

19 ( +22 / -3 )

This is what the porn industry is like everywhere on the planet.

-11 ( +19 / -30 )

shonanbbMAR. 04, 2016 - 06:34AM JST What does socially empowered mean? Young twenties are adults and not kids.

Do you think a switch gets flipped in Japanese people's heads the day they turn 20 that makes them suddenly able to be confident, knowledgeable of their legal rights, and able to defend those rights?

Suppose a Japanese woman gets gang-raped while shooting a porn video. She goes to her friends and asks them for help. Which do you suppose is the more likely scenario:

...Her friends rally around her, assuring her that the fact that she consented to be filmed having sex does not mean she consents to having sex with anyone her producer wants her to, whenever he wants her to, for whatever reason he wants her to, and that if she didn't consent she really was raped, and then directing her to medical and legal support to make her case, or...

...Her friends scolding her for doing porn, looking up her video, and passing it around her university as proof that she is a slut.

12 ( +19 / -7 )

This is what the porn industry is like everywhere on the planet.

I've heard Japan is behind the USA as far as health testing for performers.

16 ( +23 / -7 )

Japanese women are like sheep. They accept they are 2nd class citizens but also way too naive.

-12 ( +15 / -27 )

The majority of the cases have their roots in coercive or fraudulent signing of contracts—sometimes targeting minors.

These minors are largely targeted through Japan's thriving barely legal industry of soft kiddie porn, and its many unscrupulous talent agencies (tarento jimusho). They are groomed while still young and then channeled into the industry when the reach legal age.

These companies look for stage mother types willing to exploit their daughters for a little extra cash. They start off by offering acting/dancing/singing lessons, and gradually push the girls into ever more risque activities.

Here is a link to photos of one of the several barely legal soft kiddie porn magazines, Moecco, featuring legal but risque photos of girls as young as elementary school. I have even seen this on the shelves of big-name convenience stores, although not recently. https://goo.gl/0AX9Zq

5 ( +8 / -3 )

Yes, it is "rape"!

6 ( +11 / -5 )

"This is what the porn industry is like everywhere on the planet."

How many other countries produce 20,000 titles...in a single year?

12 ( +17 / -5 )

Japan is coercing young women into prostitution by pretending to be offering them other types of employment and then forcing them to stay in and service the industry, eh?

Heard that somewhere before.

12 ( +18 / -6 )

They should simply apply the law. The problem here is not the porn industry, but the application of laws against abuse/rape.

On a side note, if these girls don't want to be exploited, they might consider avoiding a career in porn...

-3 ( +9 / -12 )

What I find most disturbing of Japanese porn is that most of the films are about abusing women, in all ways and forms. Sick I'd say. And these pornstars accept the role.

0 ( +7 / -7 )

No wonder Abe and crew hotly deny the Sex Slave issue.

It's still happening!

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Awful. There was a doco on j porn that aired in oz a few months ago and I was amazed to see young naïve (then 'pure') Japanese girls moving to Tokyo and candidly saying they wanted to "try porn/adult industry" and see if they like it. Seriously what do they expect? Meet great bosses who are going to treat them well?

You join such industry at your own risks, doesn't mean that people who abuse them should remain unpunished.

"Initially, women are casually approached on the street by brokers who pretend to be scouting models, the advocates said. When victims realise the con and try to break the contracts, they are threatened with lawsuits and so give in." Oldest trick in the book to recruit young women. Sue the ba*tards.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

Great another story for foreigners who want are intent in changing Japan to their social norms. Go back to your countries and leave ours alone. Japan is Japan, no wonder the foreigners will never understand why they are not welcomed to stay beyond being a tourist. Read the comments and one can easily see why. The come here stay a year and think they know everything about Japan include the topic. This is practical matter for Japan to decide who to manage it's affairs and the system may have kinks but it works. While there are things that happen like the article mentions it is by no means that many a number. There is no need to waste political discussion on a short small matter for a few minority. People enjoy porn and some things are taken out of context like this article. Their is no coercion and the women are not that naïve but challengers and want to know and explore what they want to know or fantasize but when it becomes reality they freak out.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Japan's human rights record if a joke compared to its status as a developed nation. Not just adult women, children are also being exploited by Japan's sex industry.

8 ( +14 / -6 )

Initially, women are casually approached on the street by brokers who pretend to be scouting models

You can see them in the street quite openly. I stood and watched once. The TWO MEN had a camera. There were TWO GIRLS. There were both legal but one was YOUNG LOOKING. I watched the two men talk and talk and talk. I thought, there must be a car nearby. I looked.. and I saw the car. If the girls get in the car they're finished. The two men continued to talk and talk and talk. After about THIRTY MINUTES a security guard from the building they were outside came and told them to move on. That broke the spell, and the girls went about their business. And the men went looking for someone else.

The men were lucky...

8 ( +10 / -2 )

Yeah, I used to see those scouts on the sidewalk outside a station near my old workplace every day. Not sure if they worked for porn companies or maybe for nightclubs, but whatever, they were extremely aggressive and extremely seedy looking. You could tell that their mere presence there must have made every young female simply walking down the street next to the city's main train station feel very uncomfortable in doing so. The police really should be cracking down on them, its a disgrace.

10 ( +11 / -1 )

I admit that I enjoy and watch j-porn, however, i think this industry needs to be regulated. let the women who wants to do it go to the agencies themselves voluntarily and sign a very detailed document saying that they decided to do this on their free will, and they are doing it because they love it. I think the age must be 20 and up not from 18!, it's funny that teen agers here are not allowed to drink alcohol but allowed to be sexual materials.

This whole scouting process should be banned, it could be manipulative and scary for young weak girls. Ban also the rape and sexual harrasment themes. Any porn agencies that will disobey these reulations should be punished heavily. We are talking about human lives here,it must be handled very carefully.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

It is all run by the yaks. The scouts in Shibuya and Shinjuku too. These are not sleazy businessmen. These are part of the yakuza circle.

15 ( +17 / -2 )

The courts in Japan have a horrendous record of enforcing clauses in entertainment industry contracts that would be considered illegal in any other developed country.

wouldn't that be illegal then? your sentence doesn't make sense at all. how and why should the japanese courts follow laws in other countries? what these guys are doing is immoral, but unfortunately their acts are on the most part legal in japan. it's up to lawmakers to make these contracts illegal, but their is little incentive for them to stick their necks out for porn stars.

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

How many other countries produce 20,000 titles...in a single year?

USA leads in porn production. Internet production-wise Japan is 7th.

5 ( +11 / -6 )

I thought the Japanese porn industry was mostly run by yaks.... amirite? Sounds like a really nasty situation.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

This is totally on the parents. If they don't teach their daughters to stay away from the lecherous types prowling the streets (i.e., don't talk to them), then they haven't done their job.

If despite parental warnings, the little one still signs some contract or whatever, that's on her.

But basically, the government should allow any contract with a porn producer to be voided if the signee doesn't want to do it anymore.

-6 ( +5 / -11 )

Haha. I doubt it will change. As long as consumer like yourself and outsider consume lots of porns and outside world also enjoy jporn, (im the first one who coin this jporn ^^). Not all ladies are force. But u all do enjoy forcing, right. As long ur evil urge is there, nothing change. Billions of dollars. Any minister can be bought with this amount. Might as well create Minister of Porn, to regulate market and protection.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

This is why the porn and sex industries need to be made legal and regulated, so that these abuse victims have proper recourse. Keeping these industries in the shadows like they are now only serves to create the conditions for abuse, so the government is 100% responsible.

And get rid of those damn mosaics

13 ( +14 / -1 )

The only surprise about this is the extent of the exploitation. I think this reflects very poorly on us as a society, internationally. I don't think unsympathetic victim blaming helps.

Those of us who are concerned about this abuse, could start by not supporting this industry in any way, shape or form. Then we could move on to complaining to any outlet that makes this trash available.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

That just proves that the law protecting women in Japan is very weak. It's clearly obvious that this so called "talent agencies" are looking for young girls who aspire to become actresses/models, then once they get a hold of them will ruin not only their dreams but also their future. They should have strict regulation about this especially allowing young girls to sign contracts that they don't know almost half of what is written there.

Japanese women must stand for their rights, the patriarchal system that the Japanese have is SO obsolete and it's time for their women to fight for what is right for them. They too are human beings and must be treated not as 2nd class citizens but as equal as men!

@rainyday

I also see this sort of men near our station, scouting for beautiful women, then will approach them, asking if they have time to talk then will follow them like stalkers even though they refused the first time.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

another failing of the archaic japanese legal system,,,

Or simply the absence of it....

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Maybe that's why when you watch JAV the faces of the men are mosaic and you will clearly see almost everyone are middle-aged perverted men, especially when it comes to rape/gang rape themes..

0 ( +1 / -1 )

The majority of the cases have their roots in coercive or fraudulent signing of contracts—sometimes targeting minors.

Yeah, even the minors are living off the fat-of-the-land and getting in on the action. . . . and some posters deny these things (compensated dating etc.) don't exist. Looks like the UN's investigation into the sexual exploitation of children in Japan were very accurate indeed.

Japan’s porn industry is worth up to 500 billion yen ($4.4 billion) annually and creates about 20,000 films, the advocates said.

Remarkable. That's a lot of j-porn and giant industry for such a country as small as Japan.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

Regarding the headline: isn't that what the porn industry does? It's " the porn industry". Not "Sisters of Charity".

2 ( +4 / -2 )

The odd thing is that porn is in some senses quite strictly regulated, just in ways that make no sense. The main one obviously being that while porn is OK, showing genitalia is not, a rule that is strictly enforced.

Consider how ridiculous that is. A censor could (and probably has been) asked to approve a film in which a young girl is violently gang raped by a bunch of middle aged men, clearly expressing a lack of consent to everything that is happening to her throughout the ordeal. The censor`s reaction could be "This film is an outrage. You can clearly see rapist #4's penis in the background at 23:17. I have a sworn duty to uphold the morals of the nation, pixelate that immediately. Otherwise, I have no objections."

It feels like bureacratic inertia and a lack of political will among legislators to make regulations that effectively protect women from the clear abuse outlined in the article is to blame for this bizarre state of affairs. Well, that and the scumbags who exploit said situation to force girls to make this stuff in the first place.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

@rainyday

Your right, if they want to uphold the morals of the nation, they should stop creating porn videos/magazines/manga that suggest rape, child sex, incest, etc.. They always rape is bad and must not be done, but by releasing this sort of materials, you're just suggesting that people should do it.

"Don't rape, but we will give you rape theme videos for your pleasure" doesn't even make sense at all!

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Exactly. Just make porn illegal. Put it under the slogan: protect our girls.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

I'm sure the poor girls have NO idea what they're getting into....

-5 ( +4 / -9 )

I've never understood why these creeps are allowed to openly 'do business' in public - meaning lingering around major train stations like a bad smell. Kobans are all but metres away, yet I see these creeps all the time approaching - more like harassing - young women who are simply keeping to themselves. Total load of BS.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

@Mr. Noidall

Yes it's one-of-a-kind, but if you are suggesting rape or child sex on your videos or movies then it should be condemed.. It's not Japan bashing, it is upholding what is morally right..

They started a fire and just hope that no one gets burned is not right..

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Mr. Noidall

how come it is Japan bashing when the victims being protected are young "Japanese" people who were potentially victims of abuse. think hard man.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

The odd thing is that porn is in some senses quite strictly regulated, just in ways that make no sense. The main one obviously being that while porn is OK, showing genitalia is not, a rule that is strictly enforced.

Consider how ridiculous that is. A censor could (and probably has been) asked to approve a film in which a young girl is violently gang raped by a bunch of middle aged men, clearly expressing a lack of consent to everything that is happening to her throughout the ordeal. The censor`s reaction could be "This film is an outrage. You can clearly see rapist #4's penis in the background at 23:17. I have a sworn duty to uphold the morals of the nation, pixelate that immediately. Otherwise, I have no objections."

Welll, it's not that ridiculous! Once you've watched enough porn, as I have and obviously a censor would have, you can convince yourself that anything looks consensual. You get numb to it. Yet how many girls come away totally effed up! How many young and inexperienced guys get convinced that ass to mouth is the norm and girs love being double penetrated!? How many young un's actually DID sign up for everything but have no idea what they are signing up for. People shouldn't do porn until they are at least 25 and shouldn't watch porn until they know what good sex is and what people actually do most of the time in sex. I'm not moralising, people can and should do whatever feels good and doesn't hurt other people against their will but have a clue first, you know!?

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Japanese women are being exploited and abused in Japan’s multi-billion dollar pornographic film industry

Ya think? What a massive revelation this is! NOT! Japanese sexism rates second only to Islamic countries! Do you still wonder why the birth rate is dropping and why 50% of women in their 30's prefer to stay single? The man are sexist pigs!

4 ( +6 / -2 )

sighclops: Some of those girls go to such places (thinking Shibuya especially) in the hopes of getting scouted by someone. And many scouters probably are legitimately just looking for models for fashion magazines and the like. The scouts don't all work in porn (probably not even most of them) and at least some of of the girls who 'are simply keeping to themselves' might literally be waiting to get approached.

There's plenty of blogs and websites full of info and advice on how to get scouted (in short - look naturally pretty, a decent body and go to Harajuku or Shibuya). http://ameblo.jp/cameratokamera/entry-11486156303.html (this one even indicates that a genuine scout probably wouldn't approach a minor unless they were with a parent/guardian) http://suke-up.com/4163.html http://natsumedia.sonnaanatani.com/scout/

The problem is that it may be difficult for a targeted girl to realise that a scout is untrustworthy until it's 'too late' (and some ridiculous contract is signed/threats are made).

In any case, porn companies trying to use contracts as a justification for sexual abuse and rape obviously need to be demolished.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

@DiscoJ Yes, there are a alot of scouts in Shibuya and Harajuku and your right that they literally "scouting" young girls/boys to be models (I had experienced it). Some can be trusted and some cannot. Some can be a "legal" model agency, but in the end they will just extort you money without getting a single gig. And there are this shady ones that once you made a contract will use you to do "live chats" and porn because it is on the contract with a very small font or is written in a way that you could misunderstood what it means.

But yeah, porn companies use this contracts as justification for their shady business'

2 ( +3 / -1 )

This article can be applied to the porn or adult industries of many countries, just replace "Japan" with ABC .

1 ( +6 / -5 )

Pondering on what that 'av industry' entails...I mean, what are readers surprised of? Can we expect anything less than 'abuse', knowing how dirty and corrupt the AV Industry is in Japan and what these 'scoundrels' make the girls do? I mean, "rape", actresses dressing as 'school girls', being 'groped' in front of the camera, 'gang-bangs'.... that's what pornography is, that's its true nature. In my opinion, it's completely degrading, it reduces girls to mere animals. And we girls, are much more than animals, we have a value and a dignity that must be respected. Sometimes I think that we girls in Japan don't value what we are truly worth and that's why some of us recur to the AV Industry to earn money and some 'fame' (to me, now, that fame is trivial, mundane and meaningless). I agree that Japan needs female 'role models'...but 'shining' in that 'hell on earth' av industry is just too limiting. We can go beyond that crap, we can make Japan a great country again, by using and recurring to the right means, using our creativity and intelligence to create more jobs, to propose new ideas to the young. However, I must admit that all this, the notion of what to do and what not to do begins at home, that is, parents teaching their children strictly on what this industry entails and not take it for granted or too lightly. There is an 'individualist' trend on the lifestyle of many Japanese today and I consider that a drawback. Besides, entering the AV Industry is way too easy, the doors are wide and open and many girls don't hesitate to knock on them. Partly, because of money and their desire of 'fame'. In other words, there are no restrictions. And with no restrictions...this is what happens. However, I've seen through the lies of this industry. For many, once you go in, you never get out; most girls are used to having a more or less 'decent-luxurious lifestyle' and cannot bear the fact or earning a much lower wage working in a bar, hostess or even a normal job, if they get one. Some just go back to the industry (and, thus, are trapped. in my opinion) while those who remain outside, prefer anonymity or end up working as prostitutes, hostesses and 'jobs' akin to the av industry. Some even go into drugs. Ok, criticise this good for nothing industry, but don't ostracise/stigmatise the girls who are abused by this industry as being this or that; you don't know what they've been through.

Source: Former Gravure Model & Former AV Actress (Saori Michazuki is just a nickname I invented, not my real name).

5 ( +8 / -3 )

hustling and scouting should just be banned totally, casting can actually be done through auditions, I know that sometimes situation can't be helped, let's say a legit talent scout spotted a potential model on the street, just giving his/her card with the agency's website written on it where the subject can read the details of the project should be enough. So the girls can decide to themselves if they want to do this and will make an effort on their own to audition. Plus since porn entertainment is really a dangerous and different from the normal and standard industry, maybe it's also necessary to require the actresses/actors for proper government registration or some kind of license that expires and can be renewed, so that the government is aware that these girls are adult entertainers by their own choice and were not victims of blackmail and harrasment.Ministry of entertainment regulatory should be in charge of all these

I know some women here in Japan who are in the adult entertainment industry and they are doing it because they love sex and these things satisfy them and at the same time they can earn money from these. And I think as a democratic country they should be allowed to. And its not the mosaic that they have to require for regulations (it doesnt help protecting the subjects at all) but it's the themes, as some themes are obviously crossing the line of Entertainment, there should be limitations and regulations even to these. like what I have mentioned above, I enjoy and watch porn, and I can identify which ones are made for complete pleasure and which ones can potentially urge viewers to commit crime and they must be banned, plus it's so disgusting to watch them.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

The only contract should be how much or work for us not them as in many businesses in entertainment. No contract should force anyone to do anything with their body that they don't want to. If they quit then they quit but a contract should never allow you to force sex....period.

Watching a recent docu in the states it is a similar situation. Young girls just at 18 are roomed together for a family atmosphere and groomed for the "amateur" looking young girl porn. The big thing is there are so many regular people who love porn and put their own films on the net. They have sex with friends and groups to make their own money. Tumblr is now more porn than any other activity on that site. Sex is a fun activity that most people love but after they are taken advantage of it can ruin it for them. Porn sells people false images, hopes and dreams. With so many people voluntarily putting their own porn out there on the web it is difficult to police but young women need to be taught the downside of it, especially from former porn women.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

@Saori Michazuki Thank you for giving us enlightenment about this topic and we are sorry to hear about your experience. It's true that Japan should focus more on reducing/eliminating the discrimination, exploitation of women. Women are not toys that can be sexually abused in or out of the camera. Thank you for your courage to stepping in and sharing us your experience.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

@Saori Michazuki

I partially agree with you ... but uhm, honestly many women here also chose to be in this kind of industry rather than doing a normal job. Indeed the abuse is happening, but Kyabakura, Prostitution, AV Etc. many women push themselves to be in this industry and love doing it.

I am nothing against them, that's why I suggest that women who wants to be in this industry should be in the right age enough to think for themselves that these actions have consequencesfrom the moment they stepped in to that door and done the job, they have to deal, to live, adapt with the consequences, in this case they cannot act like victims.

But when young women are manipulated, forced, brainwashed and blackmailed to do this kind of work, then that is a different story.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

@Mr. Noidall You say its a cultural establishment that dates back the Edo period. So you are saying that since it's Japan's culture we just shut our mouths and look away about the topic? So exploiting women and suggesting rape is OK as long as its a "culture"? Women didn't had the right to vote until the past 100+ years because its a "culture", but now women has those rights and they must have the rights not to be exploited and treated as just "meat" for "entertainment".

3 ( +3 / -0 )

@OssanAmerica Here, here!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@sado001, I don't think he's saying that it's ok at all. Just that it goes back a ways, as in not a new phenomenon, with all due respect.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

@Readsomemore Thank you for your reply and I understand what you mean. The post is now gone. But what he said is that ”we don't understand Japanese porn” and ”its a way to broadcast to the audience the futility about that situtation” (I paraphrased). But how would you broadcast it to the people when your target audience are male and mostly rape themed JAV are set in school where the victim is continuosly raped/gang raped and turning into their sex slaves? Portraying women as sluts after getting raped 3+ times.

It's not tragedy, it's fantasy that you can set to a viewer and suggest him to do the same thing..

0 ( +1 / -1 )

As only one said, where are the parents? My girls are already educated to kick in the balls if necessary. Moreover, a yakuza in front of me if touching my girls would loose teeth before. Parents are mostly hopeless here when need to play adult reasoning.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Dear readers, If your still with me: Oops! Let me retract my Noidall defending prior post.. I just reread Noidall's post. I blame me. I was far too quick to respond without spending a second reviewing exactly what he said. All in haste. I apologize. It does go back, like everywhere else in the world. But this should be held to the written law and and morals of protection of the population, and nothing less.

Also, as for another person's post, the judge pool here is very small compared to other developed countries, regarding another paid-off judge. That's what makes the assumption with a broad brush for which to sweep of just another paid-off judge hard to pin down, though it doesn't make it any impossibility by any means.

My first point, I was wrong. My second point, it is difficult to be convicted of a generalization over a select few of which I don't have first had experience in dealing with. I hope I don't ever have to, by the way!

Politics, power, control and money. Four nice words that shouldn't go together.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@Readsomemore It's OK! The post was deleted so I don't blame you for that. I'm not blaming anyone.. Just want to clarify the topic.. Thank you!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The sexual exploitation of men and women is not either profession or commercial product . In a society that values it cultural heritage modern pornography outside of 'what the butler saw' is an aberrance.

Love, eroticism, close Intimacy, must reach beyond the rush of a brief encounter perched on a bar stool or the fumbling of a DVD remote control. Sexual arousal is not some sort of blunt instrument that is fetishist or exploitative, it is a single moment of joy that requires time to achieve the moment.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Saori Machizuki: I don't think anyone is 'blaming' the women at all, though even you in your post mention that a number of women go in willingly based on the desires of money and fame (and then get trapped). I think we all know as well that the industry is dirty and corrupt, and in all but the most famous of cases the women are forced into 'doing' more than the job description entailed (ie. taking care of staff off screen, etc.), and even the famous ones that can make a clean break or stay in the industry on their terms probably had to start that way as well. Education definitely needs to start at home, but there also needs to be a push to regulate the industry and enforce certain laws to try and tone down the abuse and hold those responsible for when they do abuse. Otherwise, as you said, the women who are all-too-eager to knock on the door (and there are tens of THOUSANDS of women who go into the industry knowing it's porn, albeit many being lied to in terms of what they have to do) will do just that.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

This is just an anti-Japan propaganda.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I saw this one show that showed a victim of this sort of harassment. As I remebered, she was promised a job I think it was to just talk to people in skype. At first it was ok, then after a week or so, the management demanded her to wear sexy outfit. She refused but it was in her contract. The management said, ”Do it or get sued”. Yes it was written, she showed a copy. But it was written in the buttom of the contract with a small font that you would think of it as a footer note..

This type of scams are not a isolated case and Japan must protect its people from this kind of BS crap

2 ( +2 / -0 )

A lot of countries have a compulsory health screening, so when a man or a woman goes to a film studio they can show them that they have had a check up to say that they don't have any sexual infections, do these girls/woman have this screening or certificate? if not are we looking at a time bomb of STI and the increase of HIV? these men and woman could be spreading god knows what about, and its going to be a few years before they know, but just look at how many film partners they have. And do these woman actually think about the long term consequences of being a porno star, most of these actresses have a shelf life of about 3-5 years and then people get bored and move on to the next hot star,but life goes on after you've been dumped, as a bloke I don't think that I would like to go out with or have a serious relation ship with a exporno star, just thinking of how many blokes have been with here make my skin crawl, so what will become of these woman are they going to be stared at in pubic? these woman possibly are going to not only heath issues but mental ones as well.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Are you talking about the tests for cancer, etc.

In my Home-country ladies of questionable reputation need to visit a doctor every 2 weeks and show their current status on a required card to customers before any transaction happens.

As for modern day poen the story-line and dialog don't change = boring give me 70's porn rather.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

What else would it prey on? Turtles? Most young girls are not naive fools, but very sexually enlightened. Far more than men are aware.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

@Brian That I don't know about.. Looking at the themes of JAV like 100 men an 1 woman (You could find a lot of these), it should be a real concern.. A lot of the male who participate in this videos are just random guys who they hire (sort of extras)., Maybe they have health screenings that we don't know..

But you are right, this should be a concern, especially the actresses..

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The police really should be cracking down on them, its a disgrace.

They don't as they are being bought off. Besides cops watch porn.

At Kyobashi station in Osaka the scouts hound girls, not just pretty ones, but mostly vulnerable looking ones almost every day. The scouts work on a commission basis, they get part of the girl they recruit earnings. Hence the aggressiveness of the scouts. Agree they should be banned from all stations. Kyobashi station plays warnings all the time about the scouts but it makes no impact at all. There are dozens of them loitering and of course smoking all the time.

Regarding the size of the film porn industry, Japan revenues equal that of the USA. That is amazing as Japan is 1/3 the population. Porn is one of Japan's world class industries, like anime.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

As my girlfriend told me, the cops here in Japan are not as tough / well trained as other countries. As far as I know you could become a police by just passing their examination, you could enroll in some schools to focus on that exam so that you could become a police. Not unlike other countries that you should pass the exam for police officers and do rigorous training at the same time. (Note: This is just what I know and don't know if this is 100% true).

They don't have the initiative to take down this guys plus they are technically "legit" since they are working for companies as "scouts" (They scout people, Yes, but they are not professionals and just doing it like some part-time job). They prey to girls who look desperate or looks "dumb" (sorry for the word) and use them for their dirty deeds. Plus the entertainment industry is almost run by the Yakuza which makes it more harder to crack down this kind of business.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

A young girl's reason for signing these contracts is almost every time because they think it's easy money.

It's never easy money. They take your face, your body, your privacy, your anonymity, and sometimes your real name for basically pocket money.

They violate your body and your life. Before you sign anything for even nude modeling, think long and hard and ask yourself if the money is worth it and why you're so desperate in the first place.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

@harvey pekar You're right, a lot of them are victimized because they will see that the pay is high (usually around 25k+ per day which is usually 4 hours of work). At first its just like any work, post as a model / talk to clients who are looking for chat mates, but once you signed the contract its over. They know that young women in Japan loves fashion and likes to be on trend, so they use this advantage to make money out of their body which is really disturbing.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Again, the problem is the enforcement of the law. It doesn't matter where or when or what job, personal abuses are not to be allowed. It is a problem of law and law application.

But again, these girls are not elementary school children. They should learn to take care of themselves. And if they still want to do porn, well, that's their choice. Japan has plenty of jobs available so I don't really feel sympathetic.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

@erlols They enforced "anti-harassment" laws against Izakaya scouts? (The ones who are outside asking if you need a place to drink). I saw on TV that they do it but I think its just for show. If they are really serious about this "anti-harassment" issue they should implement the law as you had said.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Japan is coercing young women into prostitution

Excuse me? Japan? Clarification please.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

@presto345

A good example is "Live Chats", the contract says they will just "talk" to clients just like a call center agent. But once they sign the contract they will be forced to strip down and do what the client wants them to do because it is "written" in the contract. Failure to do so will force you to pay a penalty or get sued.

"Written" I mean, it is written in the contract but in places you would not think it is important and written in small or hard to read fonts..

That's only one example. There are LOTS of jobs like this.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

If the Japanese porn industry is currently worth $4.4 billion per year, it needs to try harder. The US porn industry is said to be in the $10-$12 billion range. Anti-porn crusaders generally claim that the US and Germany are the world's largest producers of hard core porn.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

@erlols Yes. Education is important to fight this, but the goverment itself must do something to protect its citizens. I don't know if in the west is the same but alot of the ”scouts” does not even know anything about modeling for example.. This are people who are there because they saw advertisments in the net and hold cameras just to look like actual photographers..

0 ( +0 / -0 )

By production US is bigger but by revenue US is behind Asian countries including Japan. If you count all aspects of the porn industry then its estimated value Japan is $20 billion. Also AV executives say that in Japan 1 in 200 girls has done porn. That is amazing if true.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

And thusly the Devil and his fig leaf arrived in Japan. Japan was, and stil largely remains, a violent sexual abuse almost-absent paradise but spoutight rights and morals it will have its way.

Mary wrote

Japanese women are like sheep. They know they are like second class citizens.

Japanese women are some the last first femsle class citizens.They know they know dogs and the fiction thst the are into and are prepated to act it for gain.

Abuse is bad. Fantsies can be just that, and fantisies do not only necessarily encourage but at the least slso provide an oulet. Tranpose this duscussion to violence.

Ladies can walk around Japan in far less fear. Japan is that which we should aspire to snd yet, from reading this forum if Japan is the place with real rape. Women could walk home at night on their own in my Japanese town.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

Probably why the guys' faces are blotted out... god this is nasty. Makes you wonder how far up the ladder this abuse goes... the big name AV idols? Nasty nasty business.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I cant sill believe these things are legal......

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Many US porn films have a little interview either before or after with the girls in which the girl explains that she willingly engaged in the activity and found it stimulating. Unfortunately, the interview could also have bee coerced. I guess the only solution, to keep everyone 100% safe, is to create another government agency. Yes, the Ministry of Porn is coming. These government employees would be there with tape recorders waiting for the word, " stop" or " don't" , so they could jump in and stop the film in a second. There would be a big studio where all porn would have to be filmed. The government could provide government made rubbers, and provide government made lubricants, so it would be "safe" for the poor abused Japanese women. The would have to mandate a porn minimum wage so the girls would be paid fairly. All scat films would be banned under the department of health if bacteria counts reached unacceptable levels.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

And according to the article its just 130 cases that had been filed.. For sure a lot of the victims didn't report their experience out of fear or shame (Knowing its Japan). This is certainly a big issue that the people just ignore.. And that's really the saddest part about it..

2 ( +2 / -0 )

This is certainly a big issue that the people just ignore.. And that's really the saddest part about it..

Exactly. Just like how they hate to admit compensated dating exists and rampant. Or how the the Lolita J-pop groups fuel the sexual predators among japanese men.

The saddest part though is that this article is 100% accurate. Yet the ultra-nationalist japanese deny the whole WW2 "Sex Slave" issue. They're pathetic-

0 ( +2 / -2 )

OK, here's an idea from a person who lives in the San Fernando Valley, CA. We now have a law on the books, although clogged up in the courts right now, that mandates condoms in porn. This industry is threatening to leave the Valley and the rest of LA County if the law is upheld. All Japan needs to do is mandate condoms in porn, and the JAV industry is DONE. Well, it will likely move to some other part of Asia, just like Western porn producers talk a lot about moving the industry to Eastern Europe if the condom laws are upheld. Honestly, I look forward to this move: our own industry is just as abusive as Japan's. We can do better here than being the Porn Fernando Valley.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

My religious views mean that I have a negative view of porn, however I am realistic that it is not something that is ever going to go away. In which case it does sound like the industry as such needs to be a lot better regulated than it is, in order to protect both the men and women that participate in the industry.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

The amount of emphasis Japan places on sex is disgusting, to be honest.

-9 ( +0 / -9 )

Correct. Girls who enter this industry DO know what they are dealing with. Please, don't think we are naive; on the contrary, most girls that accept this job have a single-minded will to 'succeed'. Nevertheless, they know their own reputation is at stake here; some even lose their friends or even their family ties. Some of them don't care about leaving behind a normal life, because they feel they have nothing to lose. Some of them think well on taking this type of 'job', but still make a decision for the sake of this illusory madness (in my opinion). One can say that many girls exchange their own self & identity for 'fame' and luxury but, in many cases, end up embracing a life of solitude for the reasons mentioned above. Even so, some girls who enter the industry actually knock on the doors of the industry (as I mentioned in my post above) and are not scouted by agents; this was my case. I finished my studies in my early twenties in a good university in Tokyo, but I got bored due to the nature of my career. In my desire to make things 'anew', I contacted a number that I found in a 'café' that described the job as being a 'new, young face for the products of a prestigious industry, good payment and fair treatment'. Please. one doesn't need to be a genius to know what this job is about; I already knew it had something to do with modelling and working with my body, so I said, 'why not'? And this is how I got into the industry. My own parents never knew I would end up performing in a company that has an acronym of 3 letters, begins with S and ends with D. However, I began to question what I was doing, if sex/pleasure really is an end in itself or, rather, a means to an end. Sex for me was turning out to be senseless, trivial, I began to feel like an old piece of dirty cloth, because every now and then I was with many men. I was confused and had strong doubts, even though I was doing and earning well and gaining prominence. I began to question the nature of my work; isn't sex supposed to be a very close bond between 2 people who love each other profoundly? Put in another way, I began to ask myself: isn't sex supposed to mean an "I love you with all my heart" not with words, but with the language of the body? I knew something was wrong. Eventually, I was talked out of the industry by a man (a foreigner) I met in my free time at a karaoke, a man I fell deeply in love with. I don't know, it was perhaps because of his nature (latino) that he made me see that there is something more than just sex in a relationship; communication, random evoking of feelings... his happiness and cheerfulness made me realise that sex is not an end in itself, but a means to an end. Even when I told him what I was doing, the nature of my so called 'job'...he accepted me for who I was, but I was already determined to quit the industry forever; 'random sex' in the industry was over for me, it didn't fill me, I realised sex devoid of love is meaningless. So, I quit the industry when I was 27. In the end, I ended up opening a small business and putting my undergraduate degree to the test, but ended up moving to the country of my husband. Thanks to the heavens, a fresh new start.

I ask this of you: do not call girls who participate in the industry, 'whores', 'second class citizens' or similar degrading words. I say this out of my own vision of what happened to me: don't we have a right to start again and to have a good reputation? If there are girls who decide to continue on that path, well, it's their choice, but as far as I'm concerned, I wouldn't recommend that job to anyone. This is only my opinion: sex devoid of love is senseless, it's a 'fake' sex. I regret completely what I did, yes, but that doesn't make me an 'everlasting prostitute'. My husband doesn't consider me that and nor will my 2 year old daughter when she grows up and I tell her the truth. Besides, every girl is a completely different world: who are you, men, to judge us and to think we are 'disposable' trash? We deserve a place in society, we also deserve a new beginning for those of us who have decided to re-start our lives in a different, more fulfilling way.

I will not comment any more on my experience on this thread. I thought , due to the nature of this thread, that it would be advisable to express my own experience of what I lived so that (it is my wish), no girl ever enters this industry again. Girls: sex can be one of the purest expressions of love. Take care of your sexuality, guard it, defend it, give it to someone very valuable to you, not just to some random 'overgrown baby'.

Once again, Source: Ex-Gravure and Ex-Av Actress.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

This is why the porn and sex industries need to be made legal and regulated

Porn is legal and regulated.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

@ Michelle Klein-Hass

All Japan needs to do is mandate condoms in porn, and the JAV industry is DONE. Well, it will likely move to some other part of Asia, just like Western porn producers talk a lot about moving the industry to Eastern Europe if the condom laws are upheld. Honestly, I look forward to this move: our own industry is just as abusive as Japan's. We can do better here than being the Porn Fernando Valley.

What do ya have against bukkake hentai?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I appreciate this article and some of the comments, especially those of Saori Michazuki, thank-you for sharing your very candid experiences and insight, allows me to see beyond the surface of the JAV that are so alluring to me, makes me realize that porn is very harmful both to the actresses, actors, and viewers--like me.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

"Eventually, I was TALKED OUT of the industry by a MAN (a foreigner) I met in my free time at a karaoke, a MAN I fell DEEPLY IN LOVE with"

Nice story...

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@Saori Michazuki

Thank you for your post. You are right. No man or woman deserves to be treated like things people can just dispose. We all have a right to live and be treated fair, regardless of gender or status.

Everyone makes mistakes, sometimes these are mistakes we regret for life. But we have to stand up and move on. I'm glad to hear that after all you had been through you rebuilt your life and restarted. I wish you and your family a happy and prosperous life ahead. You had found a great man and I hope your daughter will become as strong as you. Best of luck!

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Plenty of comments here that don't realise that the vast majority of JAV actresses volunteer for the industry, with former tv starlets, gravure models, not to mention former AKB48 members signing up on a very regular basis.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

The biggest problem I see is not the few girls who do this job voluntarily, but the ones being "forced" into this occupation because they cannot get a regular job that will earn them a living. There are plenty of young women (and men) with no money or time for a university degree who barely survive on part-time jobs in this country. If the girls are looking for fame or luxury, that job is a risk they decide to take, but when it's a matter of necessity we are talking about modern slavery.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Whoa, naive people being taken advantage of. And adults at that. Never heard of that before.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Japan's porn industry preys on young women, say rights advocates

That is an accurate title for a poor article. The rights advocates say its true. They provide no evidence for it.

Readers would be much better served by an article with some substance.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Forced signings in locked rooms? These are typical yakuza tactics! I've had the misfortune to run into this tactic before with yakuza pretending to be workmen. Not being Japanese it wasn't so hard to resist but most people here, if alone and forced with the group mind would sign an unfavorable contract.

For the many willing or stupid I visuals out there, there are many coerced ones.....

0 ( +0 / -0 )

For the many willing or stupid I visuals out there, there are many coerced ones....

How many?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

What is up with this post? It's filled with huge negative votes of reasonable viewpoints about something that's legal in Japan, and goody-goody upvotes for people pretending porn isn't something that exists in the world? What the hell?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I am writing a short story for a future screen play about a style of JAV known as Gokuraku. The bulk of the story will take place after being scouted and first and only production. Are there any blogs or posts (no clips needed) about that specific style and what happens to the "actresses" after. thank you

0 ( +0 / -0 )

This is truly tragic and it is disgusting that these talent agencies prey on young women who don't know any better. I do remember how these shady girls started to talk to us, me and my friend when we were hanging out at night in Tokyo..this was 15 years ago or so. Some of them were quite aggressive to persuade my friend to give them the contact information because they saw "potential" in her as a model or actress. Yeah right..now that I think about it, that modeling jobs are all related to porn films. I can totally understand how these young women feel so scared when they are threatened with huge bills that they cannot pay and they can't even go to their parents for help.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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