As one of the world’s most lucrative adult industries, thousands of women pick up the latex gauntlet every single year in Japan in the hope of finding a life of glamour and fame, only for most to vanish into obscurity within their first 12 months in the business or discover that life on the other side of the lens is not quite what it seemed. But with more than 15 years and 1,000 adult movies under her garter belt, Tokyo-born porn star Yumi Kazama’s feisty antics are still somehow managing to set pulses racing across the country.
In an interview with Nikkan Spa! in order to promote her saucy new photo collection, the 33-year-old actress discusses how she first made it into the industry, the type of work she does and how she unintentionally became one of Japan’s most loved mature hotties.
Released at the end of January, Kazama’s photo album “Bittersweet” features a host of erotic images the like which we’re sure many of us have seen before. The star, however, maintains that this is more than just a regular collection of cheeky (pun very much intended) photos and that she had a lot of input and control during its production.
“For the album, I picked out all of my own clothes – underwear included – and I even did my own makeup. I want to bring fans closer and allow them to see every side of me,” says Kazama explaining the release of the new photo book. Taking a quick look at some of the images released to the press, it soon becomes apparent that, while typically sexy, the album shuns brightly lit studios for simpler “at home” and outdoor shots.
Asked about her early days in the industry and how she responds to the label of “jukujo” (attractive mature lady) actress, Kazama states that it was an entirely natural process and not something that she originally aspired to.
“It’s not that I started off thinking ‘I want to make it in the adult movie business!’ Ha ha. When I was around 25 years old and working in the AV industry, the ‘nature’ and ‘wives’ genres were really taking off. While playing the roles of men’s wives in these movies, I just sort of naturally ‘ripened’ during that period in my life; the role is a part of who I am. I was never one of those highly strung young girls to begin with anyway.”
On starting in the industry
“I first got into the porn industry a year after I graduated from high school when I was 18. I went to an all-girls school and was just a regular, sensible student; I didn’t joke around much and my parents were on the strict side. After graduating, I started attending a technical college, and it was there that I met some really cool, fashionable girls - the kind of girls who are into things like DJ-ing at clubs. I soon started hanging out with them; it was probably in part to rebel against my parents. Anyway, I got hit on a lot during those days, which was totally new for me, and I found myself partying a lot. I guess I was just letting my hair down and a little curious. It was more about quantity over quality, though - I wasn’t really interested in things like love and romance, I just wanted to try it with a lot of guys. So when I was spotted by a scout, I kind of entered the industry with that same curious, playful feeling. I don’t think I ever felt reluctant about it all - I don’t really remember! Ha ha!”
On doing it all
Having played practically every kind of role imaginable in the adult video industry, one might expect Kazama to be something of an extrovert even in her private life. When quizzed by Spa! however, the actress maintains that she is essentially just a down-to-earth girl who, despite having played both passive and dominant roles, really doesn’t think of herself as all that glamorous.
“Of course it can be hard, but it’s still a lot of fun. I feel like if I don’t try a lot of different genres, then it might start to get a little dull. Honestly, I’m a pretty simple person: I don’t really do extravagant and flashy, but by immersing myself in roles like these I get to completely remake myself. It’s honestly a lot of fun.”
Hmm. We hear you, Yumi, but with 1,000 sex tapes to your name, we can’t help but think than maybe you might be a little more outgoing that the average gal.
“Bittersweet” is available now from Amazon JP priced 3,360 yen.
Source: 日刊 SPA!
Read more stories from RocketNews24. -- Japan Sees Surge in Aspiring Adult Film Actresses Over Decade -- Japanese Adult Video Actresses Lying about Ages -- What Happens to Japanese Porn Stars After They Retire?
© RocketNews24
65 Comments
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SimondB
That's about one movie every five days and that is not taking into consideration that one week in four she probably couldn't work for female reasons. Then it becomes a movie every 4 days. I guess she really knows her moves by now. I was going to say she could probably do it blindfolded and with her hands tied behind her back but I reckon somewhere in her catalouge she already has.
some14some
you don't need to calculate her assets, quite visible in the picture.
MarkG
Some14some...but no doubt they were purchased.
LostinNagoya
Theres' one thing I don't understand about Japanese AVs: the mosaic stuff. How can someone "see" the action, and let alone an actress be famous for something no one can see?
papigiulio
Lostinnagoya, pixelation is so 1980. You are downloading the wrong stuff mate. Need to google harder.
1000 movies. Sjeesh. That must be a vent by now.
choiwaruoyaji
Yumi Kazama is a very beautiful and talented woman. I wish her many more years making movies.
I like her movies because she often smiles and laughs and also, even though she is Japanese, she has a very curvy, womanly figure...
As for other "jyukujyo" I think Natsumi Kitahara and Chisato Shouda are very attractive, too.
Kimokekahuna Hawaii
With her skill set, she would be a good politician.
falseflagsteve
The kind of woman my mother told me to avoid and i will pass on the same advice to my son.
choiwaruoyaji
Some parental advice should be ignored...
DaveAllTogether
The number of videos she appears in includes collections and specials. She did not make over a 1,000 individual movies. She is not my favorite jukujo (that would be Maki Hojo) but her longevity is an amazing accomplishment.
plasticmonkey
I thought there was a law banning child pornography.
Ewan Huzarmy
Started when she was 18 ? Funny, the other day the news reported that the guy who killed people whilst joyriding was 18 so legally a minor.. ....... So legally you can be a minor in an Adult Video ! ?
Wolfpack
I have to agree. We would all be much better off if we were to be screwed over by Kazama rather than Obama or Abe.
humanrights
Guess what I am going to Google later...
ChibaChick
Actually - as a woman - I found this kind of interesting. I dont see her being revered as a role model here, just someone being interviewed by Spa! (and go figure their readership if you wonder why shes such a star!) who is successful in her field.
Im finding it interesting reading about HOW she got into it in the first place. As she says, its not exactly on the standard list of "when I grow up I want to be a...". I would never - could never - do what she has done, (not for public sale anyway ;) !) and I would never want my daughter to do it either. But her life, her choices.
This reads to me that she had a strict upbringing and then at 18 got involved with what she believes was the "cool" crowd, rebelled, got hit on, didnt really have the self-esteem to select quality over quantity and went from there.
This helps me to raise my daughter to help her make what I - subjectively - believe to be the right choices.
I dont like the objectification of women any more than the next, er, woman - but I can see the merit in a piece like this. you take from it what you want.
Onniyama
I will have to check her out. My personal favourite is Risa Kasumi.
Himajin
It's in the Entertainment section, not headline news.
Yes, she probably skirted the law, perhaps by lying about her age, to get into the business at 18. That is, though, the age of consent here and minors can work from the age if 16.
However, while 18 year olds are minors in Japan, they certainly are not children.18-year olds are not children. Were you a 'child' at 18? I think calling photos of 15-18 year olds that they sext to their friends 'child pornography' absolutely ridiculous, as are the claims here that this woman's movies made in her late teens are 'child porn'. Americans no longer seem to be able to tell the difference between an actual child and minors in their late teens. THAT is rather creepy, claiming that someone old enough to drive, vote and serve in the military is a child...you want to get teenagers on smut charges, do it, but not by claiming they are children. Real child porn is a horror, and calling teen sexting child porn trivializes a major issue.
That said, those of you who need smelling salts for an article like this are perfectly free to look at another site, or to avoid the entertainment section here. After reading the very detailed headline YOU clicked on it, YOU read it, you don't get to say now how bad the article makes you feel. You didn't have to read it. The title makes it perfectly clear what it's about. You are perfectly free to go read Feministing and Jezebel if you want a steady diet of 'You go grrrl' stories.
dcog9065
I honestly don't see what the fuss about this article is
rickyvee
it isn't child pornography. the age of consent in japan is 13, but most prefectures prohibit an adult having sexual relations with anyone under 18.
as with most countries, there are stages of adulthood. you can drive when you're 16, vote when you're 18 and drink and smoke when you're 20.
Elbuda Mexicano
JT!! You made my morning! God/s! I love WOMEN!! Arigatou ne!!
Elbuda Mexicano
If you do not like porn, ok. If you do like it but too dishonest too admit to the world of Japan Today, is that ok?? I do not think so! People, grow up, if you do not want to see yummy tatas on an article about porn?? CLOSE YOUR EYES and enjoy that sinful pleasure, hahaha!!
wanderlust
15 years of being dressed up, made up, penetrated and splattered with all sorts of body fluids.... Hats off to Yumi, the girl certainly has endurance.
Saulo Akazawa
She seems lovely! I never seen any of her videos myself but I think she is quite accomplished. A lot of the comments here seem to judge her profession so negatively and I really don't agree with that! I don't think that what she does makes her less interesting as person. Time to get your head out of your behind to look at the mirror!
timeon
"The kind of woman my mother told me to avoid and i will pass on the same advice to my son."
Wow,your mom told you to avoid porn stars? I didn't know it was so easy for a teenager to hang out with them. And I know what will be the advice of both me and my wife to our son when he grows up: go get'em boy! (don't forget that rubber thing though).
Kazama is one of my favorites, curvy mature woman with a distinct sex appeal and good, credible "acting" skills. A little on the plump side for the Japanese AV, but I guess that's her charm
falseflagsteve
@tmeon
As shallow as a worm's grave.
zenkan
For balance, let's have a "report" about a man in the porn industry and more women featured in "Executive Advantage". I wonder how many comments there would be then?? (Currently c.45 on this report)
WilliB
zenkan:
Actually, I have seen both, also here on JT. Maybe you are filtering what you like to see.
The Chronic
Watching Japanese porn is about as exciting as watching paint dry. Where is John Holmes when ya need him! ?? LOL!
The Chronic!
zenkan
@WilliB Fair enough. Just don't recall. Not filtering, either.
Moderator
It's not necessary to sign off with your name.
Kuribo1
Bet her father is real proud of her. What would she tell her son and daughter when they grow up? How do you explain that? Nasty.
WilliB
Kuribo:
A lot of politicians, probably in your country too, should ask themselves the same question.
Ramires Bourguignon Ferreira
Gokurousama!
Laguna
In fact, it had better be hard.
kumazemi
Wow, what a surprise to see her name on here. She's one of my favorite Japanese AV actresses. She definitely seems more genuine and confident in her scenes.
nandakandamanda
It's her business, what she does for a living, just like making wedding dresses, playing football, or something. She's up-front about it and it is interesting to see how someone like her has managed to come this far.
JT doesn't do this on page 3 every day, ie make a habit out of showing male or female nakedness for titillation. In this article the language is probably pitched towards a male audience though. Never perfect, JT, but there is quite a spread of interest around this site.
LostinNagoya
Someone mentioned a JT article about a male AV actor. Can someone point the link to me? I'd like to read that.
Kimokekahuna Hawaii
It is time to retire.. auntie.. you had a good run.. now produce films.
Hiroshi Maruyama
She's great, but too many of the movies are the same thing over and over. Teacher, aunt, friend's mom...teacher, aunt, friend's mom. And it's a shame she's stopped working the soaplands, I guess she has enough money to not be bothered with it anymore. But Sakiko Mihara is #1 mature actress now!
cramp
her stuff is great!
...i mean, from what i've heard
TheInterstat
Big fan of hers. Her, and Ayane Asakura are the best.
tmarie
So when is JT going to start featuring men as sex objects like they do with the women? We've had more porn starts and AV talk, hooters more than once, the daily shot is often nothing but T&A... where's the equality? Where's the interviews with the J male porn stars? Love to heat their stories.....
YongYang
Wizard's sleeve anyone? Good luck to the lady.
YongYang
@tmaire: Quite the Freudian slip there.
Steve Christian
Its kind of amusing how so much money is spent on porn that its a major money making industry with soooo many people watching. Then those same people turn around with condemnation and judgmentalism. Freaking pathetic! Love her one minute, spit on her the next. Just lame!
And I am sure that some sex hating people who want to clamp down on all our sexual enjoyment out there read this and promptly had a heart attack....Hahahaha....GOOD!
And yes, if she were my daughter and this popular, yes, I would be proud. I would only not be proud if she a dingbat who gave a poor performance. Obviously, she isn't.
tmarie
Yong, who said it was a slip? ;)
sensei258
Sex for money, sounds like prostitution to me. Just happens to be on film. I bet her parents are proud.
Fadamor
Yes, because we make ALL our life's decisions based on whether our parents would be proud of us or not. If the Japanese AV industry is anything like the American one, then it's nothing at all like prostitution. Actors and actresses are known amongst each other so you're not dealing with total strangers carrying who knows what diseases. An actor acquiring a disease is out of the business in a heartbeat, as no one will be willing to work with them after that. A prostitute/gigolo doesn't have that option.
Lowly
That one photo is really probably not enough to go by, but at first glance,
her face looks relaxed and human, not broken down and full of fear or hatred or grudges or self-hatred, which is what you often see deep in the eyes of experienced porn actors, even after only 2-3 years in the business. If she's done it for 15 yrs and 1000 movies, she's really managed to work with only the good ppl, or keep a good attitude about her job and herself, or maybe both. That's really saying something.
More power to her.
Lowly
And to the mom(s) above, (or dads) you don't have to sleep w/ 10s or 100s of ppl if you don't want to, but there is no good to come of being scared of your own sexuality, (or that of others) and even less good to come from teaching fear to your kids.
imo
Steve Christian
I agree. I just don't see what the problem is.
They may well be. It shows courage to be a porn star when some people are so noisily arrogant and judgmental, thinking they are special, important and full of grace because they are not sex workers.
Gaijintoday
HOT.
WilliB
Lowly:
Really? In that case, I am curious why you are watching that stuff? It certainly does not sound pleasant.
Fadamor
I don't think it's fear or hatred, but more likely just being jaded. Let's face it, there's only so many ways you can "do it" before you start repeating yourself even if you add-in the "kink" fetishes. The good actors can ACT like they're still into it, but many AV actors can't act, they can only "do it" like rabbits on command. Kazama-san appears to be one of the AV actors who can act.
Hawkeye
If prostitution was legalzed, this industry would implode because ugly dorks could buy the real thing instead of doing you know what when they watch her films. She probably has a catchers mitt that is not so nice from making that many films in just 15 years.
602miko
good choice than spending her time sitting on the park flirting with the guys without paying back. but now she's already 33, how can she find a true love that someones respect her and treat her like a decent woman?
Lowly
WilliB-
I haven't watched much porn in many many years. But from my memory, the girls who have been around for a while generally get a used-up look. This actress didn't have such a look, and after a thousand vids, I thot that was worth commenting on.
Never actually seen her, just that photo. I find the stuff to be very boring myself. However, I see nothing wrong w/ ppl who want to make it making it, and watchers watching. Just cuz I don't like it, or just cuz it's sex, is no reason to prohibit, or look down on.
Lowly
Fadamor-
No, I mean fear or hatred or other raw emotions. I don't mean necessarily overtly toward the industry or directors like they are being beaten up and forced, more like what all humans (97%) carry around with them at all times in terms of small-minded egotistical self-centeredness and blaming others, just most average ppl don't telegraph it so much and hide it in most of their daily life. But sex workers often have other ppl's crap dumped on them all the time, it builds up, and they break, or "rust" maybe, spiritually.
wtfjapan
little bit old now, cant beat Maria Ozawa
nath
Pretty sad, all these JT porn viewers. Wish there were more avenues for legit work open to talented women here in Japan. Don't lecture me, but I just wish it was not this way. Men who buy and watch port are supporting the continued poor treatment of women. Not nice.
misstiatokyo
This is very very sad. Emotionally challenged and fragile shy person being exploited by sick perverts and then finding no way out except to continue making porn. It is a sick society that gives her accolades for this and makes her out to be some role model that other young girls should aspire too. Just sad and sick...
choiwaruoyaji
Don't agree. Yumi Kazama is laughing all the way to the bank... and more power to her.
JA_Cruise
hhhmm, nice picture... definitely my type.
danako
Why waste time with her when there is Sora Aoi. A half billion chinese guys can't be wrong.