NEWSLETTER

A 74-YEAR-OLD JAPANESE PORN STAR

INTERVIEW BY TOMOKAZU KOSUGA
TRANSLATED BY LENA OISHI

Video still from Tit-lover Old Man Kameichi and His Horny Pranks (Glory Quest)

Do you ever use Viagra during shoots?

I have tried it before when a director offered me some. I only had half or a quarter of one though, as I had to consider my age. And even that was six years ago. It was indeed effective, but in my case I completely lost interest mentally. I could keep it up for a long time, though, so even if I wasn’t into it, I had a great erection. So I can say that I have experienced the effect of the drug, although again, I would say that the effects totally depend on who I’m costarring with.

Video stills from Tit-lover Old Man Kameichi and His Horny Pranks (Glory Quest)

What’s your favorite position?

I like having the girl on top and letting them take the initiative. I actually don’t like taking the lead myself, which might be surprising since it’s the complete opposite to the roles I play.

What motivates you to keep starring in porn even at your old age?

I mentioned before that I like films that are set up like TV dramas. This is partly because I’ve always had the desire to turn into all sorts of different people. So personally, I don’t get off just having sex with somebody. I continue working in this industry not because I like starring in adult films, but because I am given the opportunity to act in various roles. The appeal for me is in the fact that I can play different people, not that I can boast about my acting skills. Consequently, most of the films that I’m in have a proper plot and narrative.

What’s the most important thing that you keep in mind when working in this industry?

I think the most important thing is to stay healthy. There are times when I have to walk around with a light summer kimono in the freezing winter or wear many layers in the summer heat. The seasonal setting of a shoot might be completely different from the actual season, so I find that it’s very important to take care of my health on a daily basis. I’ve always liked outdoor activities as well, so in that sense I think I’m more physically fit than other people my age. Also, this might be because of my days of mountain-climbing, but I can adapt very easily to different climates. I don’t sweat all that much in the summer and don’t feel very cold in winter—I walk around barefoot. I’m not sure if my body learned to adapt or if I’m just not very susceptible to these things. Maybe it’s an innate ability I have. Another thing that I keep in mind on set is to always communicate with the staff and other actors because in the end it’s all about people socializing and connecting.

Do you have any interesting stories about experiences that you had on set?

About five years ago, I was in this TV-drama-like porn film called Japan During the Greater East Asian War. I was the head of the municipal community, telling everyone in the neighborhood to evacuate because we were being bombed. Then I find this sick girl who has been left behind, so I carry her over my shoulder to a shelter where we have sex. This was a very memorable shoot because I’m familiar with what it was like during the war and I was given the opportunity to reenact that.

What are your views on the sex climate in Japan?

I first learned about sex in the postwar period, when we didn’t have anything. Everybody was so focused on living, studying, graduating, and working that neither my classmates nor myself were all that interested in sex. So for my generation, it’s all about getting back those lost dreams of our youth. Society is more open about porn now, which I guess is a good thing. But personally, I think that sex should be regarded as something more austere. I mean, it’s the physical communion of two people. I know it sounds rich from somebody doing the work I do, but I sincerely believe that. I would like to make a deeper human-to-human connection with the people that I sleep with.

Do you have any ambitions in terms of working in porn in the future?

I turned 74 this August, and obviously it’s difficult for me to continue working in this field for decades to come. I would perhaps like to produce my own film one day, though, something that might stand as a memorial piece of work in my career. It will be based on my own sexual preferences, so I don’t think it will be very popular commercially. Everybody has their own sexual tastes, and I would like to express my personal preferences in my own film, even though maybe only a handful of people will appreciate it.

What exactly do you have in mind?

I don’t have the details laid out yet. But it will be based on my idea that with videos, everybody relies on the movements within the picture to give meaning. But I don’t necessarily think that the creator’s intentions are always expressed adequately through movement. That said, it would be boring for the audience if they were made to watch a still image where the people in the videos never moved. So there needs to be some movement for the video to say something to the audience. In my case, though, I get more out of seeing still images, rather like photography, but in a video format. My dream is to create emotionally moving still-video porn. But this is only a personal project and I don’t necessarily need an audience. I’ll make it so that I can watch it myself and I’ll be satisfied. I still need to figure out the details, so it probably won’t happen for another couple of years.

You’re going to continue starring in porn until you die, right?

Sure. Right now I don’t have any illnesses, so I guess I’ll keep watching my health and at least try to go on until I’m 80 [laughs].


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