When it comes to Japan’s adult film industry, the first impression many people might have is of the beautiful, hot women, often regarded as beauty icons of the land of cherry blossoms. However, a reality that many have also noticed is that the number of male actors is very low, and their income is limited, often not even comparable to a fraction of many female actors’ earnings.
Numbers don’t lie, and just looking at these figures is enough to prove the reality that the profession of male adult film actors in Japan is not valued. Specifically, Japan has about 10,000 female adult film actors, participating in 4,500 films per month, and the number even increases each year. However, the number of male actors in Japan is very modest, with only about 70, which is less than 1% of the total number of female actors. According to this ratio, one man has to “serve” about 150 actresses. Therefore, the career lifespan of male actors in this industry is not very high, but due to the small number, some individuals, even in their forties, must continue in the profession.
And surely, the Japanese have many reasons to turn away from this job. First are the very strict health requirements. For example, the king of the Japanese adult film industry, Ken Shimizu, once shared that with the intensity of work, he had to spend 4 days a week training intensely, even ensuring a diet rich in protein, with no alcohol or smoking. In fact, Shimizu’s workload was so heavy that he admitted there was a period of 7 consecutive months without a single day off.
Additionally, the stigma from society is also a significant concern. While names like Yua Mikami are well-loved in the eyes of the Japanese, on the contrary, the public often views them unfavorably and negatively. According to Shimizu, it is this social prejudice that is the biggest barrier preventing many men from pursuing this job, as after retiring, they find it very hard to reintegrate into normal life. Firstly, they have difficulty securing decent jobs as they cannot hide their past. They also struggle to obtain credit from banks since the adult film profession is not respected by financial institutions, resulting in individuals like Shimizu facing challenges in finding opportunities after retirement. Even while working, despite having plenty of money, he still found it hard to rent a house, despite being more than capable of proving his financial status.
And most importantly, working too much can diminish their desire later on.