JAV News Roundup - October 2023 - Volume 2
Trapstar here, reporting live from ZENRA headquarters. Bringing you the latest buzz in the Twitter JAV space in recent days
IdeaPocket Pulls Karen Kaede Back From The Grave!
Well, well, well, guess who just made a triumphant return? Karen Kaede is back to square one and that too with IdeaPocket! It's almost like this much-anticipated reunion was destined to happen, and her former (and now current) studio isn't holding it back with the promotions. The blue studio knows they've got a golden egg on their hands with Karen, and they're not shying away from getting the word out there.
IP very well knows just how much a talent like her can rake in the big bucks for their studio. It's no secret that this transfer was bound to turn heads. The studio is well aware of the hype surrounding the homecoming of their prodigal heir, and they're capitalising on it. After all, they've got the formula down pat for making these talents a massive revenue source.
Karen, being the professional she is, wasted no time in getting the promotional wheels in motion. She took to her official handle on X to make the announcement of her comeback, "As you may have guessed, I'm Karen Kaede and I'll be making my debut with Idea Pocket again. I'm very happy to announce that they have decided to offer me a pre-order of my debut work "SECOND IMPRESSION" and what a great campaign it is! Thank you all for your continued support!".
お察しはついてるかと思いますが、アイデアポケットさんからまたデビューする事になりました楓カレンです🩵
— 楓カレン (@kaedekaren0825) October 10, 2023
デビュー作「SECOND IMPRESSION」予約と、なんとキャンペーンをしていただける事になりました!
大変お騒がせしました🙇♀️
皆さんこれからもよろしくお願いします🩵 https://t.co/xBl4hUI5Ys
From what I've gathered, it seems that Karen had already signed her contract and begun shooting for her AV just when her comeback message popped up on X earlier in June, which was a clear sign that her return to the industry was imminent and perhaps that is why she is revived at Ideapocket in November, adhering to the new AV filming guidelines. Her return is enough to reverse the current downtrend of the studio, especially when you consider that two of its other major competitors, S1 and Moodyz, have been hogging the limelight with their fresh recruits. Karen's return is poised to give them a run for their money, and that's a statement!
For her fans however, this is a moment of respite after a rather unsettling period. Considering how she signed with Eightman first, which had some mixed reactions, and then there was the not-so-welcome move to Faleno. But not feeling the vibe there; she decided to part ways with both and head back to Ideapocket, having settled the beef with her former employer. Now, with the studio officially announcing her comeback date on November 14, it seems like the storm has finally settled on her career and her fans can breathe easy now.
Now, let's shed some light on how Ideapocket is going all out for Karen's return. They're literally leaving no stone unturned, and it's evident. They've set up a special page for the actress on FANZA, which is not something you see every day. You can only imagine how special this acquisition is for Ideapocket. To me, it very well gives the impression that they've rolled out the red carpet for her.
And the promotions you ask? They're on fire! Ideapocket is selling merchandise like digital photobooks and stickers as part of their ongoing promotions, and the revenue is pouring in, literally in the millions, just from these sales. Pre-orders for Karen's comeback JAV are already available on FANZA for pre-order, and fans are grabbing them up like hotcakes.
Her last known release with Faleno was back in July 20, and now she's ready to take the AV world by storm once again. If one intends to purchase, her photobook is priced at a thousand yen, and I’m speculating that Ideapocket is in for some serious success with this superstar back in the fold. Welcome back, Karen!
Catch up with Karen on Twitter
23 Year Old AV Sweetheart Is A Double Exclusive Now!
I've got some super exciting news for you, if you've been following the journey of this cutie, Ichika Matsumoto! After a solid stint of providing her fans with freelance content in the previous couple of years, the 23-year-old sweetheart seems to have had a change of heart.
For the unversed, Ichika has decided to shift gears on her already hectic AV schedule. Now, I know what some of you might be thinking will this move affect her sales? Well, it's a possibility that her sales might take a hit, but let's not forget that Ichika is approaching her mid-20s, and maybe this is the right move for her.
This AV sweetheart has been burning the candle at both ends with a track record of her multiple JAV appearances within a single month. It was quite a ride, but let's be honest, it wasn't a sustainable one and no one knows it better than Ichika, herself. This tiny monster of an actress has an undeniable energy level, but even she must have realized that she can't keep up that pace forever.
So, the decision to go exclusive seems like a wise one, especially at this specific time in her career. Now, Ichika hasn't been a stranger to exclusivity in the past. She already had an exclusive stint with SOD when she initially debuted with them. But maybe this new double-exclusivity model sits well with her. It will surely allow her to explore different genres while still being committed to a specific studio and in my opinion, it's a win-win situation.
いつもお世話になっている本中さんとダスさんの専属になりました🙂!
— 松本いちか (@MatuMoto_arrows) October 10, 2023
赤字出したら速攻クビだし、フォロワー50万人いかないとクビだし毎日ヒヤヒヤですが応援よろしくお願いします…!
クビになりたくないのでみんな拡散してフォローしてくれたら嬉しいです。助けてください😞 https://t.co/9cTB9mlUZJ pic.twitter.com/Vu9ydpPczL
Now that she has announced her exclusivity vows in public with a humorous take on her announcement, "I am now an exclusive member of Honnaka-san and Das-san, who have always been very kind to me. I'm in a bit of a panic because I'll be fired if I lose money and if I don't get 500,000 followers, I'll be fired! I don't want to get fired, so please spread the word and follow me. Please help me!" It’s funny how Ichika actually asked her fans for help in boosting her following and watch time. She even joked about how the studios might fire her if they sense a deficit.
Now, I'm sure many of us can vouch for the fact that the 23 year old is a true workhorse. She's one of the hardest working stars in the industry, I’ve known in the recent past. The dedication she puts into her work is undeniable. So, the chances of any studio letting her go are pretty slim but it'll be interesting to watch, with this shift to exclusivity, how Ichika copes with resting for multiple days at a stretch
In my opinion, she's not exactly accustomed to the idea of taking it easy. It's like asking a race car to park in the garage for a bit. But this change is also a sign of maturity on her part. It's an acknowledgment that everyone needs a breather now and then, no matter how energetic and dedicated they are. Now, it's up to us to support her as she takes on a new role. So, who’s excited to see her don two hats now, let us know in the comments!
Catch up with Ichika on Twitter
Sumire Mizukawa Isn't Done Surprising Her Fans Yet!
Kind of moves this girl has been making in the recent days, you can bet your horses on her. If you're not in the know, let’s just recap on what the 28 year old Sumire Mizukawa has been upto lately. First off, the actress recently wrapped up shooting for her debut porn in the west under the Vixen banner and that's a bold step that not many in the industry dare to take, and it's garnered a lot of eyeballs. But that's not the only exciting thing about her; she's also caught up in an ongoing dating reality show with Abema TV, and let's just say it's been turning quite a few heads.
Now, just when her fans thought they'd seen it all and they least expected of something solid from her in her in the domestic industry, it now comes as a complete surprise that the sexy seductress has decided to make a game-changing move by signing a contract with the mature label Madonna.
Yes, you read that right! Sumire will be releasing films exclusively under the Madonna banner from now on and she didn't keep us waiting; the actress confirmed the news earlier on October 10th by quoting a tweet confirming the move. It's a certainly a move that's taken her fans by surprise.
ついに!みんなに公開できます!
— 水川スミレ Sumire mizukawa (@mizukawasumire) October 10, 2023
マドンナ専属です🥹❤️ https://t.co/23bchxHNHH
In case you didn't know, Sumire has had her fair share of Instagram bans in the past and now that she has been banned for the seventh time on the platform, it’s frustrating to say the least and a constant struggle for adult performers to navigate these social media platforms and keep their profiles intact. Now, you might be wondering when you can catch her first JAV under Madonna. Well, hold on readers, because it's set to release in the month of November under Madonna's sub-brand, Achijo, much like Karen’s.
So, what does Sumire's recruitment mean for the mature label Madonna? For starters, it's certainly a boost to an already stacked lineup of mature talents. We're talking about names like Kanna Fuji, Maki Hojo, and the recently inducted Yuna Shiina.
But here's the intriguing part. We've seen Sumire juggling various endeavors, from OnlyFans to shooting in the West. Will this exclusivity vow change things for her? It's a question that's on everyone's mind. Will she be able to strike a balance between her previous commitments and her newfound exclusivity with Madonna? It's a challenge, but if anyone can pull it off, it's her!
There's also some truth to the fact that her agency LINX has played a significant role in facilitating this move. Good relations with Madonna have undoubtedly been a catalyst. The entertainment industry is more interconnected than we're aware of, and it all comes down to making the right connections.
From her VIXEN debut to her involvement in a dating reality show, and now her exclusive contract with Madonna, it's safe to say that she's keeping her fans at their toes. Stay tuned for her upcoming JAV release, and let's see how this exciting chapter of her career unfolds!
Catch up with Sumire on Twitter
SOD Cutie Retires After Severing Ties With The Studio
Moving on, I've got some rather disappointing news for all you fans of SOD. Now, I know for a fact that the studio has been riding high on its fair share of fame and even solidified its position in the industry with the grand relaunch of its AV themed park, SOD Land on August.
But guess what? Things aren't looking too bright for the studio lately, with a noticeable outflux of talent in recent times. And to add to the bummer, one of their former stars has just made an exit from the industry, and it's none other than the cute 21-year-old Riko Hashimoto.
Now, some of you might not be too surprised by this, considering that, to the best of my knowledge, how the brown haired cutie must’ve seen it coming afterall. As per my knowledge, Riko had already severed ties with the SOD label back in April of this year and her career trajectory seemed to be on a downward slope from there on.
Considering her affinity for looking cute and enamour fans with her kawaii features, she did manage to bag a couple of gigs with the banner Kawaii after her departure from SOD. But ever since then, she's been pretty much out of the limelight, with not much recognition to her name.
In a statement posted on X, Riko shared some insights into her JAV stint, "I am graduating from the AV industry. I entered the industry for money and out of curiosity, but before I knew it, I was having fun and kept going. I had a lot of fun, so from now on I will work hard for my future dreams! Positive decision! Thank you to all the people who were involved and to all my fans! I love the porn industry. I love all my fans".
She revealed that it all began as a run-of-the-mill experiment, where she initially joined the industry with the goal of making some decent money. However, things took a turn, and she found herself having a blast on the sets, not treating her work as just work. Sounds like she was living the dream!
With this announcement, the now 21-year-old Riko wants to put an end to her JAV career. In fact, her supposed retirement JAV with First Star has already hit the floor this month. For the unversed, Riko decided to go out with a bang. She did something quite out of the ordinary, and I literally mean out there. Her farewell JAV is themed around outdoor training, which might just be one of her last cards to play before waving goodbye to the industry. I guess it's safe to say that she wanted to make her exit memorable for her fans.
Now, Riko didn't just drop this bombshell and vanish, she did take some time to connect with her fans through a Twitcasting live session. During this live session, she dished out some juicy details about her AV stint and her plans post-retirement. I'll admit it's fascinating to get a glimpse into the life and thoughts of someone who's been part of such an industry and I bet her fans must’ve loved it.
We wish her all the best in her future prospects, and who knows, maybe she'll find new adventures that are just as exciting as her time in the JAV industry. Until then, let's raise a toast to Riko!
Catch up with Riko on Twitter
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Comments
Yes and no. Western actresses usually have to do more on their own, but have way more control over their image. Studios may pay JAV stars more on paper, but agencies take a huge cut. The take-home for a day's work (let's say 2 sex scenes and 2-3 foreplay-type scenes) for a western star and JAV star after agency cuts is probably not far off from each other.
By trapstar @ January 8th, 2023