Anton's Top 10 JAV Actresses (Sort of. Kind of. Not really.)

So, now that I've written three articles for ZENRA, and they've gained some traffic, I suppose readers are probably a bit curious as to which actresses I especially like. And while there are certainly several standout actresses whose work I enjoy, I'm a bit hesitant to write a proper Top 10 list on them. Ranking actresses on a numerical scale is somewhat difficult for me. Not that I scoff at anyone who does that, just that for me personally, I like different actresses for different things, so trying to rank them on some sort of scale is like trying to rank different Olympians by a single metric.

But, I imagine some folks are still curious. So here are 10 actresses whom I particularly like, in no particular order. There are other actresses whose work I enjoy, but I didn't include on this list, either because they've retired, I'm a fan more for their non-AV work, or because I just didn't want my pH level to appear too high (if you catch my meaning).

1.  Kurea Hasumi

As I stated in my BAR HARU article, Kurea Hasumi is my favorite AV actress. So even though she recently retired, she earns a spot on this list. She has this dominant charisma, this sensuality and body like a goddess. But whenever she smiles, it's always this big, goofy grin, and I find the contrast between her demeanor and her smile charming. Also, I happened to spend a very lovely evening with a woman who looked just like her, so Kurea's videos remind me of that time. Not the most objective reason for being a fan, I suppose, but it is mine, so there you go. Oh, also, a fun fact I forgot to mention in my BAR HARU article, but there's a McDonald's only a few blocks away from BAR HARU, and it's a really nice one. Obviously McDonald's isn't exactly high dining, but this was a clean establishment with a wonderful view, and if I hung out in that area, I can see how one would develop a fondness for McDonald's.
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2.  Mao Hamasaki

Mao is adorable, I don't think anyone here would debate that, but she's also very aggressive. While her appearance is immaculate, she usually ends her scenes completely wrecked. And while she's quite tiny, I can personally attest that she's a lot stronger than her diminutive frame would suggest. I guess the best way to put Mao's appeal into words is that she's full of surprises. I was certainly surprised to find out that she was a DJ and non-AV actress in South Korea. And while I will admit a certain bias, having met her at two fan-meets, she was genuinely kind and courteous to me, which earns her a special place on this list. Also, as you can see, she does shibari with a smile, which is a surefire way to win my heart. At the time of this writing, Mao has gone on an AV hiatus, which may or may not be a prelude to her retiring. If she does retire though, I hope whatever new venture she starts is a successful one. Whatever it will be, I'm sure it will surprise me.
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3.  Hazuki Wakamiya

There's no deep psychology to why I like Hazuki Wakamiya. She's beautiful, she's loud, she's energetic, she has an amazing body and a great smile. That's... all there is to it, I'm afraid. I wish I could be more eloquent in my reasons for liking her, but I'm afraid words fail me. I suppose... something noteworthy about her is her gaze. In everything she does, she will always look at the viewer or her performing partner with a heartfelt, passionate gaze. Even if it's a performance, it's sincere, and that sincerity makes her stand out in every scene she's in. Even if she's in a harem piece (which is how I found her), she always catches your eye. And hey, as the header shows, she also does shibari with a smile. So there's that about her.
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4.  Yu Shinoda

Yu Shinoda is my favorite femme fatale in AV. She's chic, seductive, and no matter what scenario she's in, that cool smile of hers never leaves her lips. And yes, she does indeed have legs that won't quit. Her body was made for black lace and rouge, and like all good femme fatales, I'm sure she'll only get better with age. The thing is, Yu has the eroticism and classiness of a woman at least a decade older than her, to the point where I was genuinely surprised to find out that she's only in her 30s. But given how amazing she is now, I can only imagine how erotic she'll be when she reaches middle age. I suppose, given how popular Yu is, that my pH level is hovering dangerously close to a 7 for having her on this list. But I have the rest of the article to prove how cool and cultured I am, so I think I can win back all you AV Film Bros by the end.
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5.  Kaho Imai

Kaho is still too adorable to be a full and proper femme fatale like Yu, but she has this sultry gaze that can arrest you at once, and a beautiful face that can instantly shift between a heart-stopping stare and a heart-warming giggle. I would liken her to Lauren Bacall, who also became famous at a similar age. And while she's still experimenting with different looks and styles, I think her best persona comes out when she is, as Quentin Crisp would put it, cruel, capricious, dark, but with a heart of gold beneath that seductive exterior. She has the ability to evoke the cover girls of Old Hollywood, and even though Kaho isn't quite glamorous yet, she's charming, which I hope will serve her well as she continues in the AV industry.
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6.  AIKA

While AIKA is mostly known as a gyaru, I think this label sells short her full range of talent. Sure, with her eyes, hair, and nails she's very gyarish, but even with these attributes she can easily shift from a big sister type to a sophisticated lady and everything in-between. AIKA's gyaru features may distinguish her, but they don't define her, and they allow her to stand out even as she takes on different roles and personas, which is what makes her such a standout star in AV. She's demonstrated that even after carving out a specific niche for yourself, you can expand and grow within that niche, and if nothing else I think she deserves credit for her savviness in figuring that out.
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7.  Yui Hatano

Alright, okay. Yes, I know, I can see you AV Film Bros with your test strips at the ready, certain that I'm alkaline, but come on now. Yui Hatano is one of the biggest names in AV. And she didn't just fall into that position. She's been in so many movies, it's impossible to escape her, and it's impossible to not be charmed by that smile of hers. Even with her cherublike cheeks, Yui has an irresistible quality to her, which I think is best explained by evoking a famous trope. When the idea of Betty VS Veronica is brought up, there's always the implicit understanding that Veronica is the sexy one, while Betty is the sweet and wholesome girl next door that you'd take home but wouldn't want to fuck. However, the reason I'm drawn to Yui so much is that she has the wholesomeness and sweetness of a girl next door, while demonstrating in her performances a lewdness and eroticism that every person possesses, to some degree or another. Porn, like any performative art, is very dependent on image and persona. We like simple, easily defined archetypes, like Betty and Veronica. But Yui shatters such simplistic notions, and by refusing to conform to the rules of her archetype, she avoids becoming a stereotype. Surely for that you can't fault me for falling under Yui's spell?
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8.  Arina Hashimoto

Being a very big, strong lad, there are two types of women I'm drawn to: Cute and petite girls whom I can easily pick up and tall and elegant ladies whom I don't have to stoop down to kiss. Arina is somehow a perfect mixture of the two types I have, and for that I have a special fondness for her. The thing is, she's not even that tall (only 167 cm or so), but given how she's often taller than the other performers she's working with, while simultaneously being cute as a button, I can't help but be a fan. I do wonder, given how the two actresses I've met before have been amazed by my height, if Arina would react the same way, were I to attend a fan-meet of hers. But then again, maybe she would be unimpressed. I can't say for certain either way, though I'd certainly like to find out.
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9.  Mio Kimijima

As I said, I like tall, elegant ladies. And while Mio is even shorter than Arina, she perfectly exemplifies refinement and poise. The phrase "a lady in the streets and a whore in the sheets" is such a cliché at this point, but Mio displays such a perfect blend of elegance and eroticism, it's difficult for me to not use that phrase when describing her. And it's that perfect blend that makes her utterly irresistible. Even in a NTR film, Mio has this dignified demeanor about her, and she makes every costume and outfit she wears appear stylish and chic. Even despite her height, "junoesque" is the perfect word to encapsulate her persona and her appeal.
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10.  Reiko Kobayakawa

You don't find too many women in AV like Franceska Jaimes or Veronica Avluv, full-bodied and assertive older women who can give orders just as well as they can take them. But Reiko Kobayakawa remains the best example of this type of actress in AV. If Mio encapsulates elegance, then Reiko encapsulates maturity. She may not have the dignity and grace of the regal lady, but she has clearly lived a full life, seen and experienced a great many things, and possesses a hunger for even more of life's offerings. She knows what she's doing in the bedroom and she isn't afraid to let you know, and she has set the MILF standard for AV, to the point where I wonder if there will ever be another actress like her. As with Anri Okita and Hitomi Tanaka, I'm sure Reiko's retirement will leave many fans bereft and grief-stricken. But I hope when she goes that she'll have gotten everything she wanted to get out of the industry.
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So that's it. As I said, this isn't every AV actress I'm a fan of, but it should give people a decent idea of my tastes, and as you can see, I... Oh, alright, fine, yes. Yes, I'll admit it. I also really like Eimi Fukada. And Hibiki Otsuki! There, I said it! Take me away, AV Film Bro coppers, I'm more basic than lye and that's no lie at all.