Timing and Translation by JM84

(Continue to Second Half)

Where were you when ASAHI MIZUNO burst onto the JAV scene? What did you make of her? For this author at least, it was initially a muted reaction. More so then than now, short hair was just not my bag and thus did not think much. A thousand apologies for long-time fans of hers. This has been remedied on our site throughout a series of updates starring a Japanese woman with a near perfect body and in (rather delayed, sorry again!) her return and now seemingly second retirement from JAV, we are dedicating two days of updates to showcasing a compilation of hers like no other.

Yes, the ASAHI that came back a few years ago was not as good as she was in her initial run. The biggest issue was less a few extra kilograms that some fans lamented about, but her almost cop-out of a decision to go from a wickedly popular freelancer ping-ponging from studio to studio leaving a trail of unique and diverse titles in her wake to filming one relatively dull and uninspired release on a monthly basis. This may upset some readers, but let me lay my cards out: in most situations, the "exclusive signed to one JAV studio to do one vanilla movie a month" setup that many a big name performer follows may be a 'safe' career choice for reasons that will take this review on a tangent it will never recover from, but a dreadfully boring one. While everyone with functioning eyes and libido, for example, probably has nothing but nice things to say about MAYUKI ITO, a robust career full of jaw-dropping performances in movies covering a smorgasbord of themes it is not. ASAHI MIZUNO 1.0 bucked the trend just as HIBIHATA have been doing for years and what we get in WAAP BEST COLLECTION albeit slightly on the vanilla side is top rank examples of her in peak form.

I've always considered WAAP to be the best major "independent" studio. In other words, they get bigger names and put on bigger performances, but are surprisingly not another label owned by a big conglomerate. Their movies are always slick and professional. No bloopers, no goofs, just quality through and through. What we get in the following 240 minutes of ASAHI is no exception. Originally released to coincide with her surprise return to filming (with MADONNA...), are snippets from four of the movies she shot for them before her first retirement. That all are seemingly directed by K*WEST may be the reason these are the four chosen and not others such as DREAM SHOWER. In a way, since the director and actress are the same, the four hours feels less like the type of haphazard compilations JAV studios are known to churn out and something much more coherent.

That this is an ASAHI MIZUNO vehicle means we don't get any scenes featuring her alongside other actresses. In fact, most but not all scenes are one on one encounters. They work out great though. Each one brings something new to the table. Some may prefer the massage-focused lotion sex partway through, others the more vanilla but still passionate to a T play that happens later, but others like myself the guerrilla vibe of the first two scenes featuring a scantily clad (with an overcoat when outdoors) ASAHI visiting the apartments of real fans. It may lack some of the production finesse shown in other scenes (especially in the lighting department!) but as a fan of reality, it feels the most authentic.

ASAHI MIZUNO was--or hopefully is if she chooses to return again if her nail salon business sours again--the possessor of one of the best bodies ever in JAV. A beauty from head to toe and surely proud of it. A fan of bukkake, a fan of harder play, charismatic, and all out unforgettable. Here's hoping that this double update is not our swan song with this living legend!