One the best porn debuts in Japan this month is by Kaira Haneda in a release from Madonna, which specializes in adult video productions featuring older performers.
Haneda is meant to be a former member of the entertainment industry (so, either an actress or model) who retired four years ago. She married and moved overseas for her husband's work, but their sex life has apparently dried up and she is keen to satisfy her desires in other ways. Haneda is now 34 years old and making her JAV debut as an older performer in a 120-minute release (JUR-839).
Of course, there's a lot of ...
To remember the former porn star Tsubomi is to go back to what now seems like a veritable golden age of adult video, a more innocent time of JAV before the restrictive new legislation came in and the coercion scandals that have blackened the industry.
Tsubomi was a Lolita-style performer who made her debut in 2006 at the age of 18. She had already appeared in 1,000 releases by 2012.
We actually assumed she had retired in the 2010s, but it seems she did not officially leave the industry until late 2022, making her career one of the longest in recent memory.
Known as Tsubomin to her fans, ...
What happens when porn stars retire? Most disappear into obscurity after a short career in a highly competitive industry, probably earning money by hostessing, compensated dating, and sex work. A small number are able to switch gears to an adjacent career, such as acting or modeling (such as Yua Mikami). And there are interesting examples of JAV stars who switch to a wholly different occupation, like Hiyori Yoshioka, who works at a sexual health clinic.
We have chronicled various examples of these post-idol careers over the years, and another interesting one recently came across our ...
The veteran Japanese porn star Ann Sasakura announced on August 5 that she had donated money to disaster relief for the Kumamoto earthquake that took place last month.
The quake on July 28 caused widespread damage, left thousands living in temporary accommodation, and has resulted in 36 deaths so far.
Sasakura noted in her announcement on social media that some people might criticize her for making the donation, since working in adult video is not viewed as a respectable profession, despite the huge popularity of its content.
However, most social media users seemed to react positively to ...
The prolific Japanese porn director Chisho Ito, known professionally as Tohjiro, has died at the age of 70. He had been suffering from lung cancer.
The news was announced on July 21 by his wife, the former porn star Mirei Asaoka.
Tohjiro was born in Roppongi, Tokyo, in 1956. He made his first film, Gondola, in the mid-1980s, and it screened internationally in 1987 and 1988.
In 1989, he shot his first adult video (this was at a time when JAV was entering its heyday in terms of sales, as lavishly portrayed in the Netflix series The Naked Director). In 2001, he founded the AV production ...
The popular Japanese tennis player Ayano Sonoda has complained publicly about a new Japanese porn productions that seems to take inspiration from her, even to the point of using a cover image possibly based on one of the photos she previously posted on social media.
The cover of Dedicated to tennis for 19 years! A talented athlete who competed in the inter-high school championships and played for a corporate team! She's making her AV debut to satisfy her pent-up masochistic sexual desires! Beneath her clothes lies a stunning, toned, slender body with G-cup breasts! Marika Sonoda features the ...
Kyoko Ichikawa announced her retirement from Japanese adult video on July 8 but has since followed up with further messages on social media.
The 45-year-old said: "I've recently observed information being spread about my workplace and private life, as well as malicious direct messages and harassing behavior." She warned, "I will keep evidence concerning the spread of false information, invasions of privacy, and defamation, and will take appropriate action, including legal measures, where necessary." She concluded by thanking her fans for their support. "I apologize for any concern this may ...
The Japanese porn star Sumire Mizukawa has announced her marriage.
The internationally active adult video performer, who is known professionally overseas as Emiri Momota, shared the big news via her Instagram account on July 9 with a series of photos of her and her husband, and the ironic caption: "Sorry . . . officially sold out."
The photos show Mizukawa in a series of wedding dresses and were presumably taken at a hotel or wedding party venue. They also feature the couple's rings and Mizukawa posing with a "just married" cake.
She hasn't released any details about her new husband, ...
Nanami Matsumoto debuted as a gravure idol in 2015. After gaining popularity thanks to her I-cup, 100 cm bust, she transitioned into the adult film industry in March 2017.
On January 5, 2026, she announced via social media that she had left her agency and was going freelance. The following week, she also announced her retirement from mainstream porn.
Spa! sat down with 31-year-old Matsumoto for a candid interview about her life, including the accounting job she has held concurrently for years, her private life and dating, and her future plans.
We translated a few edited highlights.
Q. You ...
The Japanese porn star Riko Hoshino has announced her return to work after undergoing treatment for an adjustment disorder.
"I will resume my activities in mid-August and strive to meet everyone's expectations in the best possible way, while approaching each and every job with a sincere heart," she wrote in a statement released on social media.
In mid-June, we shared the news that the 27-year-old had been diagnosed with an adjustment disorder and was undergoing treatment.
Her mental health struggles were affecting her ability to promote her fifth print photo book, with events at bookstores ...
