Asia | Regulating sex

Japan’s porn industry comes out of the shadows

Politicians want to protect actors—but many want to be left alone

Kabukicho, Tokyo, is the location of many host and hostess clubs, love hotels, shops, restaurants, and nightclubs, and is often called the “Sleepless Town” — Image: Getty Images

Aug 19th 2023|TOKYO

KURUMIN AROMA, a 33-year-old YouTuber who lives near Tokyo, used to dream of becoming a singer. A decade ago, a man approached her on the street and asked her to be a swimsuit model. He also offered to pay for singing classes and help her succeed in the entertainment business. After some cajoling, she agreed. On the day of the photo shoot, she was coaxed into getting naked. She ended up appearing in several porn videos. Beset by feelings of shame and fear, Ms Kurumin considered committing suicide. “I kept thinking: what went wrong with my life?”

This article appeared in the Asia section of the print edition under the headline “Regulating sex”