JAV News Roundup - September 2023 - Volume 1

Trapstar here, reporting live from ZENRA headquarters. Bringing you the latest buzz in the Twitter JAV space in recent days

This might come off as a shocking but recently, the AV industry woke up to the horrifying news of a particular Maiha Minato, a Madonna talent, who found herself in a rather complicated situation in Hong Kong. Notably, on September 5th, the Hong Kong regional police authority arrested her, along with 11 others, on allegations of involvement in a risque case. You heard that right and frankly, it is something that no one saw coming.

But let's back up a bit for those who might not be familiar with the 40 year old seductress. For the unversed, she broke into into the AV scene as an exclusive performer for Madonna, one of the biggest studio in the adult industry with our staff writer labelling her as 'a horrible performer'. Maiha’s debut JAV hit the screens on April 12, 2022, and here's a crazy good trivia, she claimed to be in her late 30s at the time of her JAV debut. Now, that's a bold move in an industry that often rewards youth. Since then, the Madonna exclusive hasn't really flooded the market with her movies. In fact, she's only got four AV titles to her name under the Madonna banner until now. So, you could say she's more of a quality-over-quantity kind of performer or maybe she ran out of opportunities that she had to resort to provide services overseas.

I did a little digging into her background and found out that she used to be a gravure model and even did some modelling for a beverage company in the past. But here's where it gets interesting, she was born on September 28, 1985, so statistically it makes her almost 40 years old in today’s age. Now, in an industry that typically favors the nubile, that's definitely bucking the trend. But again, different strokes for different people, right? What’s even more fascinating is that her handlers in Hong Kong were apparently promoting her as a sprightly 26-year-old. You know, age is just a number, but when you're fudging it by more than a decade, things tend to get a bit fishy but I’m glad her overseas clients didn’t get a gist of it. Even more surprising is that these AV actresses are still venturing into Hong Kong for, shall we say, "extracurricular activities." As per reports, Hong Kong has been cracking down hard on anti-vice operations for quite some time now. It's a risky move, and one can't help but wonder why these actresses are risking their lives and taking these chances. Could it be that the pay in Japan has gotten so abysmal that they're willing to risk getting arrested in a foreign country for a bigger payday?

This incident brings back memories of Noa Aizawa, another JAV actress who found herself in hot water in Hong Kong last year. It seems like Hong Kong isn't the safest place for JAV stars looking to supplement their income. With this jaw-dropping incident with Maiha at the center of it all, I hope other AV actresses take note. Who knows what the future holds for her, but one thing's for sure, this scandal has added a new layer of intrigue to her already unconventional career.

Stay updated with Maiha's Twitter

Now let’s flip the page and talk about Mio Nozaki, who made her debut in the adult business back in February last year. Now, here's some interesting trivia about the actress that caught my attention, Mio made her debut at the age of 33 and her claim in her first AV that she hadn't been kissed by her husband for a whole decade certainly raised some eyebrows. If that's true (what a freak of nature this woman must be), well, she's quite the anomaly in that department!

Fast forward to the current day, and Mio has taken to X to share some bittersweet news with her fans. "I wrote this at the time of her graduation from the AV industry. I didn't think I would be able to continue as Mio Nozaki for 2 years (my debut film was shot in December 2021). I would like to thank all of you for your continued support. I have only 4 months left, but I will cherish the time I have with my fans." The 33 year old has decided to retire from the AV industry within just an year from her debut. Frankly, it is always heart-wrenching to see an AV performer step away from the business, but at least in the case of Mio, her loyal fans can expect a little relief as the actress is nowhere close to making an instant exit. As per the statement, she plans to retire by the end of this year, which means her fans will have a bit more time to cherish her work. In her statement, Mio made it clear that her decision to retire stems from her desire not to continue further in the AV industry. Sometimes, the heart wants what it wants and fans really don’t have much to say regarding a performer’s decision. For Mio however, it's time to move on to something new. It's perhaps a choice she has made after careful consideration, and we can only respect that.

But here's a silver lining for fans of Mio, as she mentioned that there are some future releases in the works. So, even though she might be bidding farewell, there's still some content in the upcoming months to look forward to. Anyway, It's a nice parting gift for her fans who've supported her all this while. "To the makers, I would like to work hard on filming within this year, so I would be very happy if you could give me some time off". The 33 year also expressed her wish from her employer, for a little breather from her hectic schedule. After all, she's had quite a busy few months with multiple JAVs releasing this year alone. It's understandable that she'd want some time to focus on cherishing the remaining moments with her fans before she officially bids adieu to the industry. So, as we bid farewell to Mio's AV career, let's take a moment to appreciate the work she's contributed and the entertainment she's provided to her fans. While it's always sad to see someone retire, it's also the start of a new chapter in her life. We wish her all the best in her future endeavors and eagerly await her upcoming releases to relish a bit more of Mio's magic.

Stay updated with Mio's Twitter

Now, let's talk about someone who might not be on your radar but certainly deserves a worthy mention in this column, Meru Ishihara. Now, if you haven't heard of her before, don't worry; you're not alone. But trust me, there's a story here that I felt worth sharing. We all know that Meru has been discreetly active in the adult industry for half a decade now. She made her debut with SOD, and as time went on, she transitioned smoothly into a freelance career. That's quite a journey, isn't it?

Recently, the 26 year old dropped some news that, had it not been for me mentioning it here, might have slipped right under the radar. Meru publicized that she has decided to retire from the industry. Now, I know what you might be thinking, retirement after just five years? Isn’t that unusual? But, in her statement released on Instagram, Meru opened up about the tough decision she had to make. She admitted that coming to terms with the reality of retiring was no walk in the park. And, I believe no one can blame her. Five years is a significant chunk of her life, and she's had her fair share of experiences during that time working in the adult industry.

"I, Meru Ishihara, will retire as an AV actress at the end of September! It's been five years since I made my debut, and although I had been aware of it for the past few years, I felt that it would all come to an end if I just said the words, I have been unable to make a decision for a long time, and today I am finally able to make an announcement." She mentioned that she couldn't come to terms with the fact that she had to retire after just five years in the business. It's understandable; when you've built a career and a fanbase, saying goodbye isn't easy. Through her statement, she feared that being in the comfort zone would hinder her career’s growth and that she was tired of being at a comfortable place for a while and wants to take up the challenge rekindle her career, maybe by moving away from AV is her way to do that. "I could just relax and be pampered in a comfortable place, but I don't think that would allow me to grow in any way. I'm getting a little tired of it. So, I'm moving on to the next step. I don't mean to say goodbye completely".

Now, I have a hunch that this might not be exactly what her fans were hoping to hear. Her statement clearly indicates that she's not ready to bid a permanent farewell to the industry. It's more of a "see you later" than a final goodbye. Meru is clearly leaving the door open for a potential comeback with this move. Furthermore, in her retirement announcement, Meru also mentioned that she doesn't want to drop the bomb entirely on her retirement. So, there's a fair chance that she might plan a farewell bash in the future. "I have a lot to tell you, but today is not the last time. I don't want to make it too long. I'm retiring from the industry, but I have confidence in everything I've accumulated and experienced over the past 4 years. So I hope you will continue to believe in me and watch over me. I will only be here for a short period of time, until the end of this month, I hope you will continue to support "Meru Ishihara" for the rest of this month."

Though, she did hint that she might entirely stop pursuing AV post September. But who knows? The future is unpredictable, and Meru seems like someone who's up for a challenge. Perhaps she'll find a new interest to pursue post her retirement from AV.

Stay updated with Meru's Instagram

Ah, the JAV renaming saga continues, my fellow readers! This time, it's none other than the busty Mahiru Sakura who's in the spotlight. For the unversed, Mahiru kicked off her career with Oppai in September last year and then made a switch to E-Body in the later half of her career, both under exclusive contracts. But now, the 23 year old is ready to embrace the freelance path, which seems to be gaining popularity among AV performers, lately.

Now let’s recap on Mahiru’s journey. This J-cup beauty burst onto the scene with Oppai, and let's face it, they pretty much scoop up any actress with a handful pair, you know what I mean! But for the latter half of this year, she shifted gears and joined E-Body, where she graced us with quite a number of notable JAVs. Fans caught a gist of her turning freelance from what I could make of the discussion going on in those adult boards. And then, bam! It didn't take long for Mahiru to drop the bomb on her move to a new agency. The lucky agency in question? Bambi Promotion. Now, for those wondering if this change would come with a fresh start, the answer is a resounding yes!

I have been under the care of Bambi Promotion since September. A year has passed quickly since her debut, and I thought about it a lot and decided that I would like to continue to do my best with her activities. I decided to change my name due to moving offices. I feel very sad that the name Sakura Mahiru, which I have known since my gravure activities, will end, and I feel like I will lose all of the things I have worked so hard for as an idol. At times like these, I would like to express my warm words to the people at the office and those around me. I was heartened by the positive words I received. Therefore, I will do my best to make a fresh start so that I can be more active than ever. I would be happy if everyone could watch over me. Please support me as Miki Horikita from today.

In her announcement, the J-cup beauty declared that she would no longer be going by the name she had been using since her gravure days. It’s sad the she chose to bid farewell to the name Mahiru and embrace the new alias, Mikuru. Now, one might be wondering, why the name change, right? Well, here's where it gets interesting. The J-cup beauty expressed her hesitancy about making this change, mainly because she feared it would account for her losing credibility over all the hard work and credibility she had built up through her previous works. It's a valid concern – in the world of AV, your name becomes your brand, and changing it can be a bit like starting from scratch.

Now, whether she should have changed her alias or not is a topic for debate. AV actresses have often taken a page from the ‘AV book of tricks’, where a name change can sometimes give a career the shot in the arm it needs. It's a move that's known to open up new opportunities with employers who might have overlooked an actress under her old name. So, in a way, it's a strategic move that some performers opt for to reinvigorate their careers.

As fans, we can't help but feel a mix of excitement and nostalgia when our favorite performers rebrand themselves. It's like getting to know them all over again, and we're eager to see how Mikuru will continue to captivate us on screen. Her trajectory in JAV has been a fascinating one so far, and with this new chapter as Mikuru, we can't wait to see what she has in store for us. So, whether you remember her as Mahiru or look forward to her new adventures as Mikuru, one thing's for sure, she's keeping us on our toes, and we're here for it!

Stay updated with Mikuru's Twitter

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