Former porn star Nao Oikawa’s divorce highlights problems for retired adult video performers

We are late to write about this but Japanese media reported in August that retired porn star Nao Oikawa (及川奈央) had divorced her husband of five years.

She married the man, who is six years her senior, in December 2016 but announced in early August that she had divorced in the spring.

Oikawa was a top adult video performer from 2000 to 2004. Since leaving JAV and now aged 40, she has carved out a modest second career as a “regular” actor, appearing in a major NHK period drama, among various other credits.

Fans have called for her return to the industry, especially now that she is “free” again, but this may be a long shot: her videos are still making her and her agency money on streaming sites.

While we do not know the circumstances of Oikawa’s divorce and should not speculate, it is known that adult video performers may deal with self-doubt and depression when trying to forge a “normal” married life. They themselves sometimes come from quite complicated domestic situations and, according to writer Taizo Ebina, their relationships are plagued by sexlessness, since the women may find intercourse traumatic after their career. If they want to become a mother, they also have to navigate the issue of whether or not the other mothers they encounter will ever find out about their past career.

Another retired top Japanese porn star, Kirara Asuka, was described in recent news reports about her appearance at a fashion event as a “talent” (TV personality), before mentioning much further down in the article about her previous career as a “sexy actress.”

We highlight these examples to show that even for the women at the very top of their profession — not even considering the thousands and thousands of others whose stardom lasts only a few “tantai” standalone releases or have to make do with just a few uncredited appearances as kikaku joyu “project actresses” — it’s not all plain sailing after they leave the industry. Their personal lives may face difficulties and they might have to reinvent themselves as a generic TV celebrities.