When you've been at this game as long as us, you start to see patterns and cycles in the mainstream media's reporting about Japan -- including by the Japanese media itself.
Perennially, we spot articles about sexless Japan based on a new survey with minimal data. Sometimes even the same content reappears, slightly rejigged for a fresh article.
In 2017, we reported on the private sex museum run by a photographer from his own home.
Yoshitaka Hyodo's extraordinary museum in Yashio, Saitama, is still around and going strong. It has received the latest boost to its publicity with a recent ...
Tokyo Weekender recently published a photo report from a visit to the Orient Industry showroom and an interview with the CEO, Hideo Tsuchiya.
As regular and loyal readers will know, Orient Industry is the leading sex doll manufacturer in Japan and whose luxury silicone companions are stunning.
Some love doll owners have rented out apartments for them, take them on dates, and develop an intimacy with the life-size figures that goes beyond simply the sexual surrogacy that genital parts made from soft elastomer allow.
Tokyo Weekender then spoke directly with Tsuchiya, who is now in his ...
We all loved stripped and exploring the bodies of Barbie dolls when we were young, but how about a doll that size or thereabouts that you can actually have sex with? Mini sex dolls -- sex dolls the size of Volks Dollfie dolls or even smaller -- have long enjoyed a cult reputation online. You can find all kinds of videos of people who have customized small dolls so that they can be penetrated.
When the Dollho came along, it was like the answer to people's dreams. Not surprisingly, the doll set sold like crazy.
There have been others, not least the fantastic Libidoll and a great series of ...
Every few months along comes another one: a sensationalist English-language news wire article about Japanese sex dolls that appears everywhere, eager for clicks and comments.
This time it's an article with the very sensitively headline "Silicone Sally: Japanese men find true love with sex dolls". It comes courtesy of AFP, about physiotherapist Masayuki Ozaki turning to a silicone sex doll, Mayu, when romance in his marriage dried up.
Lonely guy buys sex doll. Hardly news. Goodness knows how AFP found this story or if it's even true. We are naturally somewhat suspicious of someone who ...
Yesterday we wrote about a Japanese photographer who has turned his private house into a sex doll museum -- and opened it up to the public. Now here are three developments related to Japan's top sex doll brand, Orient Industry.
Orient Industry has released a 40th-anniversary book looking at the history of their sex dolls (also known as love dolls) and how they are made. You can order it from Kanojo Toys, though be aware that the text is only in Japanese.
The Kishin Shinoyama photography exhibition we previewed in April has now started at the Shibuya art space Atsuko Barouh Arts Drinks ...
We spotted this story shuttling around various overseas media outlets. It's been a few weeks since it was first published but, given that foreign press don't think this kind of story ever gets old, we decided to run it anyway.
Of course, it is that old trope: a lonely Japanese guy and his fake girlfriend.
This might be a virtual one or a music idol he'll never meet, or a dakimakura hug pillow -- or, as in this case, a a sex doll.
Here we go on that merry-go-round again...
Despite being married with two children, 61-year-old Senji Nakajima admits that his heart lies with his ...
Anyone interested in Japanese sex dolls, love hotels and sex museums (hihokan) should check out this upcoming exhibition by photographer Kyoichi Tsuzuki.
Kyoichi Tsuzuki is famous for his photo-books that examine the seedier elements of Japan, such as Tokyo Right Half, Love Hotel: Satellite of Love, and Hihokan. His most popular book is perhaps Tokyo Style and his counter-guide book "roadside" series that showcases unusual sights found while travelling.
From June 11th to July 31st, Tsuzuki's work on erotic Japan will be presented at the event space Atsukobarouh Arts Drinks Talk in ...
Ever wanted to have sex with a pregnant love doll?
One of the few luxury silicone sex dolls that Orient Industry don't make is a pregnant fetish doll.
But that's okay, because an artist has stepped into fill the gap in the market.
We know that pregnant Japanese women are hot -- from porn stars to music idols -- and so this is surely a logical evolution.
Mika Kan was born in 1988 in Yokohama.
"Do Lovedolls [sic] Dream of Babies?" is Kan's art project in which she creates ultra-realistic sex dolls that are pregnant.
It was shown at Tokyo University of the Arts as her MFA graduation ...
Japan's top sex dolls manufacturer Orient Industry, in another display of their constant inventiveness, has teamed up with make-up effects studio Jiro to create Rinka Kagurazaka Link a Doll.
Rinka Kagurazaka is, as fans will know, the oldest of the Kaguzarazaka sisters from the "Valkyrie Drive Bhikkhuni" video game series.
The Link A Doll has "wi-fi support" (to do what?) and can play Rinka's voice (though the mouth does not move), with a "Valkyrie body".
There are certain other features whose details are not listed on the website but are mentioned in the trailer below: ...
How would you like to be the inspiration for a sex doll?
Japan's premier maker of sex dolls, Orient Industry, is currently recruiting models to be the face of the next love doll.
Your face and other body parts could well serve as the original for the next beautiful luxury companion by Orient Industry.
You need to be at least a E-cup or over (already puts you in a minority in Japan).
The modeling sessions will take place at the maker's east Tokyo factory.
The staff will be female and you are paid a generous ¥50,000 ($415) per session.
Ladies, what are you waiting ...
