Jôsei-muke and a Study into Porn for Women

It’s not often you see academic studies and papers into pornography and rarer still are studies into JAV. It’s not exactly a topic of prestige or acclaim. Who cares what people want from their smut anyway? Well Maiko Kodaka, a PhD student in Anthropology and Sociology from the University of London, disagrees. She took an in-depth, well-researched, and nuanced look into Jôsei-muke AV. The growing popularity of porn for women and the surrounding fan subculture that has taken shape.

You can read it here and, for the sake of our readers not wanting to pour over this 200-plus page monster, I have taken the liberty of reading through some of it to digest for you all.

SILK LABO’s videos come in three flavors; Cocoon, Silk, and Undress. Cocoon is softcore and for beginners with no explicit sex shown, Undress is kinkier with more play involved, while Silk sits between both. Content-wise, SILK LABO is pretty samey. Dramas with little in costume, theme, or sex play variety. The women are usually in more submissive and passive roles while the sex is less hardcore and rough on average. All of this has been noted but the makers defend their style by saying this is what their viewers want.

Even though the idea of porn for women makes you think that the whole focus is on the man during sex, this isn’t the case. While there is much more focus on the man, I found that the camera gave equal attention to both. If anything the focus was mostly wanting to show the passion between both man and woman. It’s honestly something even male/hetero viewers can enjoy.

Outside of their video work, there is extensive fan outreach. Putting on events to entertain while selling movies, photos, and merchandise. Fan events and meets are just as vital as the videos maybe more so. One SOD employee who organized events had to say “To be honest with you, selling DVDs or online content does not make a lot of profits. That’s why we have to rely on fan meeting events”. A sentiment we’ve heard before on the female side too. Outside of their AV job, many actors work in host clubs where their fans can catch them for even more one-on-one time.

The stories behind these women range from funny to sad to touching. The stripper/hostess spending her funds and personal time on hosts is like some ironic setup. Meanwhile, the old housewives going to see their favorite actors with their friends is almost cute. While university student’s tale goes from a younger woman looking to explore her sexuality and social circles to ending up in the red from frequenting too many hostess clubs is a sobering tale.

My impression of these women and their interest in AV is a desire for connection ahead of lust. Wanting to be seen and felt by someone else and not like many male viewers who are into AV first and foremost for the pure smut. Though quite a large contingent fall into the same hardcore fandom as these ladies. In the porn world, we know these as Simps. Going far above and beyond what a typical porn fan does which is just watching their favorite videos.

Jôsei-muke AV actors just bring it to a higher and more intimate level with in-person fan events and physical relationships. It kind of shows the allure of host and hostess clubs but in newer modern forms. We live in an age where constant connection is available online and yet crave for it intimately. Reading through these women’s stories should be a reminder for conscious healthy consumption and moderation in life.

Credit:

Kodaka, Maiko (2023)

Embrace me as I am: Japanese Pornography for Women and the Fan Community surrounding Male Porn Stars

PhD thesis. SOAS University of London

Abema Times

https://times.abema.tv/articles/-/2228421

Atsuhiko Nakamura

Namae no nai onnatachi (2013) & AV Bijinesu no Shōgeki (2015)