It’s nice to believe that, in this world, the supply of love is infinite and eternal, produced in the hearts of those who’ve found someone to care for. However, the supply of love dolls is limited, and about to get more so with the sudden announcement from Orient Industry, Japan’s most prodigious and prestigious love doll maker, that it’s closing down.
Headquartered in Tokyo’s Asakusa neighborhood, Orient Industry was founded by Hideo Tsuchiya, who was initially employed by a moving company. After that, he worked for a period in the mizu shobai industry, a broad term for adult entertainment businesses such as hostess bars, strip clubs, and erotic massage parlors, until a former coworker from his moving company days invited him to work at his adult toy shop in Tokyo’s Shinjuku neighborhood. “In those days, [the love dolls] didn’t feel good because they were made of vinyl,” recalls Tsuchiya, which prompted him to set up his own love doll manufacturing company, Orient Industry, in 1977.
Experimenting with softer materials, when Orient Industry’s first product, a love doll called “Bisho” (meaning “subtle smile”) was released in 1977, it was priced at 38,000 yen. For context, at that time in Japan the average starting annual salary for four-year college graduates was 97,000 yen, meaning that the Bisho cost nearly five months’ worth of white-collar wages. Nevertheless, it was a commercial success, and as the years went by Orient Industry developed a reputation for high quality, silicone-based designs, even opening a gallery/showroom for their products in Tokyo’s Ueno district.
But now Orient Industry’s 47-year history is reaching its climax, which is coming with little advance notice and is to be followed by peaceful rest. On August 21, the company posted a statement on its official website saying:
“This is sudden, but, our founder, Hideo Tsuchiya, who has been leading our company, Orient Industry, for many years, has made the decision to retire and prioritize his health. We would like to take this moment to express our sincere gratitude to all of our customers and partners who have believed in and supported Oriental Industry. In consideration our owner’s health condition and out of respect to his wishes, the company has decided to cease operations. If you are able to keep the times we were able to be a part of your life, and the times we walked the same path, in your memories, we would be very happy.”
Some might argue that’s a needlessly flowery way of saying “Hey, thanks for buying our hump dolls," but remember, this is Japan, where customers should always be treated in a way that reflects the company’s appreciation and respect. And while male horniness is, without question, the firm foundation that Orient Industry built its business on, that doesn’t mean the company didn’t care about its customers. In a 2015 interview, Tsuchiya spoke of how his company’s goals included providing comfort for widowers or couples where the wife, due to physical ailments or other reasons, could not engage in intercourse. He acknowledged that while Japan’s mizu shobai industry is robust, some men with no other outlet for their urges may feel uncomfortable paying another person for such services. In addition to being a showroom for the company’s products, the Ueno showroom also has a counseling desk for interested but inexperienced customers looking for accurate information about love dolls from a non-judgmental source.
So with all that in mind, maybe it’s not so strange after all that in its closure announcement, Orient Industry goes on to say “We wish you all the best and continued health and happiness.”
No specific information regarding Tsuchiya’s health condition has been provided, but in the 2015 interview he gave his age as 70 years old, meaning that he either has or will be turning 80 this year, so it could be that rather than suffering from any particular ailment, he’s simply ready to retire and enjoy a more relaxed, restful lifestyle.
Orient Industry has already stopped taking orders for new silicone head and body love doll parts. Its Ueno showroom will close on September 20, and its factory, along with all remaining business operations, will shut down on October 20.
Source: Orient Industry, Livedoor News/Wadaijin
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- External Link
- https://soranews24.com/2024/08/24/japans-premier-love-doll-maker-is-closing-says-goodbye-to-fans-with-heartfelt-message/
31 Comments
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bass4funk
I may be a bit old fashioned, but nothing beats the touch or replaces the feel of a real woman, never understood why some men find these things alluring, but I digress, each to his own.
Asiaman7
That data appears to be incorrect. According to a chart at Nippon.com, the average starting monthly salary for four-year college graduates was 97,000 yen in 1977.
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https://www.nippon.com/en/features/h00293/
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If so, 97,000 yen in 1977 (265 yen/dollar exchange rate) would be $1,894 in 2024.
In 2024, the average monthly starting salary for university graduates was ¥225,686 ($1,567) according to the Institute of Labor Administration, a private research company.
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https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/business/companies/20240326-176737/
bass4funk
Exactly, seems really odd
Desert Tortoise
Massive cheaper Chinese competition in that industry. Funny too because I doubt it is legal to own one in China, but they churn them out in vast quantities.
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NCIS Reruns
Shops selling sex aids are all over China and there's a healthy demand for such items online. Which makes sense because of the growing male-female imblance brought on by the one-child policy. Ersatz Viagra is also sold openly with signs advertising its availability.
Gaijinjland
Asiaman7
I think your numbers are wrong. Not even gonna look up the exchange rate at the time but 97,000 yen/ 265 to the dollar would be about $366. I’m more surprised that the average starting wage has only increased by about 80,000 yen in 47 years while inflation has significantly outpaced wage gross!
Asiaman7
Gaijinjland
Did you adjust for inflation?
According to the inflation calculator linked below, $366 in 1977 would be worth $1,894 in 2024.
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https://smartasset.com/investing/inflation-calculator#CpZJlkdeOZ
owzer
“hump doll”
lol
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NCIS Reruns
when Orient Industry’s first product, a love doll called “Bisho” (meaning “subtle smile”) was released in 1977, it was priced at 38,000 yen.
The kanji for "Bisho" can also be read "Hooemi," which I think was used in this case. Similar dolls were around from a company in Asakusa from the 1950s. Two models named "Benten" accompanied Japanese explorers to Showa Station in Antarctica in 1957. Because of the frigid air at the South Pole the dolls had to be solid, made of layered latex. If you cut through the torso you could see each layer like the rings on a tree trunk.
When the dolls owners' die, I read somewhere that Orient Industry will accept the dolls' return and arrange for "cremation" and a memorial ceremony. How's that for good after-service?
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Mr Kipling
Seems harmless enough until you find out that the most popular doll resembled a 12 year old.
NCIS Reruns
If it keeps pedophiles off the streets, that can't be a bad thing.
kohakuebisu
Yeah, I had red lights flashing in my head. Anyone interested should just google 昭和５０ (actually 1975) and 初任給.
My understanding of Japanese common sense is that 初任給 is customarily stated as a monthly amount. It does not include bonuses, travel money, any te-ate allowances for accom, location, paper qualifications, etc.
CaptDingleheimer
Oh no. I have 4 of those things. Where am I gonna get parts? And one of ‘em is due for a tuneup.
falseflagsteve
Good! What kind of dysfunctional creep would want something like this?
wallace
They will be replaced by Bots.
owzer
The same that would want a vibrator or any other sex toy. No shaming please!
owzer
gif of Jack Nicholson smiling and nodding his head
Abe234
Probably no different than a wife popping on a school uniform or the husband pretending to be policeman.Or watching an adult video of a women “pretending” to be a high school girl.
nothing wrong with fantasies.
BB
That annual salary figure for 1977 looks way off:
https://nbakki.hatenablog.com/entry/Changes_Wage-Workers_Salary_1950-2013
Brian Trout
University graduates in Japan were making far more in 1977 ($1,894) than 2014 ($1,567) when incomes are adjusted for inflation.
Oddly, that’s what’s most telling in this article about love dolls!
Brian Trout
I guess I should have written ‘2024’ instead of ‘2014’.
But why do I have the feeling that the same was true for 2014!
DanteKH
They are closing, because you can find cheap Chinese knockoffs for 4 to 5 times less cheaper than the Japanese made ones.
That's the hard truth...
TokyoLiving
Nothing like a real woman..
But, cut your judgmental mindset..
Live and let live..
Abe234
a person who doesn’t want to hurt someone.
a person who may have Asperger’s and can’t communicate well.
a person who has a phobia called anthropophobia.
but then again what kind of adult watches adult films on the internet with consensual adults. Probably the very same people.
Mr Kipling
Abe234.....
Well, if your fantasies are about sex with 12 year olds as some of these dolls replicate, then you may wish to rethink that idea.
wanderlust
Surprisingly they did not develop an AI-containing model, that could learn your preferences, and even talk with you! Though maybe the last part was not required!
Abe234
KiplingToday 04:58 pm JST
I think you’re conflating two different things.
some people, as mentioned above may have autism, some may have a phobia, and some may even be physical and mentally disabled. and they are (whether you agree or not) are entitled to a sex life. I think you’re confusing adults consenting to play in the bedroom with something totally illegal. We used to call certain adults disgusting, deviants, Perverts and creeps, and that conflated the same point you’re intimating that made gay men and women hide in the closet decades and decades ago. Conflating an unhealthy interest in children has nothing to do with someone’s fantasy between two consenting adult. (Or in this case an adult and a doll)Teacher and student has been a popular roll play for forever. Men have often encouraged their partner to (how shall we say so the mods accept this) shave! Absolutely nothing to do with being disgusting or a creep or a pervert. And I don’t think you’d tell those women or men to “rethink their ideas) I hope you understand it is possible to discuss things objectively.
Desert Tortoise
First time I've heard that story. I'm sure the late owners heirs are, um, impressed /:
Desert Tortoise
Years ago while in grad school I delivered gasoline, mostly to Shell stations. Next door to one Shell station in San Marcos was a place making highly realistic sex dolls. I mean from a couple of meters away you would swear these were live women. Naturally I had to check this out but as soon as you touched one you realized it was just a big mass of cold silicon rubber.
starpunk
In Every Dream Home a Heartache - Roxy Music
And now thanks to AI some of them come with memory chips that 'talk' when certain actions are performed on them. There already are sexbots out there by the way.
Warped people. They even give their 'wife' dolls names, like 'Sally'. Ask The Police.
Disgusting and a tool for real sexual perversion.
Nothing 'old fashioned' about it. It's Nature talking. I'd take a real woman any day over one of these stupid toys. Nothing can replace that, nothing else will do!
Curious George
I wonder if they will have a going out of business sale.