Kyōko Aizome (pronunciation) (Japanese: 愛染 恭子, Hepburn: Aizome Kyōko, born February 9, 1958) is a Japanese erotic actress, singer, writer, and AV and film director. She has been called "the first hard-core porn actress in Japan".[2][3]

Kyōko Aizome
愛染 恭子
Born (1958-02-09) 9 February 1958 (age 66)[1]
Noda, Chiba, Japan
Height1.61 m (5 ft 3 in)
WebsiteAizomeNet

Life and career

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Early life

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Kyōko Aizome was born in Noda, Chiba Prefecture. She grew up in a troubled household, her father was a police officer who beat his wife, and her parents divorced about 1974, when Aizome was 16 years old.[2] Soon after graduation from high school, Aizome was scouted in Tokyo's Shinjuku neighborhood by a photographer for nude magazines. She saw nude modeling as a stepping-stone into a career in entertainment.

Daydream

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Pioneer pink film director Tetsuji Takechi noticed Aizome in one of her nude photo magazine appearances. Pinku eiga, or "pink films", are the softcore genre of sex-film which dominated Japan's domestic cinema during the 1960s and 1970s. Tetsuji had made Daydream (1964), the first big-budget pink film. He chose Aizome to star in his hardcore remake of this film, also called Daydream (1981), giving the actress her leading-role debut. Japan's first theatrically released film featuring hardcore sex, Aizome added to the controversy surrounding the film by admitting to having performed actual sexual intercourse on camera. Though, as Japanese law required, sexual organs and pubic hair were fogged on screen, the Asahi Shimbun calls it Japan's first hardcore pornographic movie.[2] By 1981, hardcore AVs (adult videos) were already starting to win over the adult entertainment audience in Japan,[4] but the film became a hit with theatrical audiences. Uncensored copies of the film were also circulated illegally.[5]

After Daydream

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After Daydream, Aizome became active in Japan's prolific adult video and pink film industries. She made her debut in the still-young AV industry in November 1981 with April of Lust for director Tadashi Yoyogi, making her one of Japan's earliest AV idols.[6] Her name became a marketing tool and was used in the titles of such later theatrical releases as Yoyogi's Kyōko Aizome's Somber Reminiscence (Aizome Kyōko Kareinaru Tsuioku) (1983)[7] and Shin'ya Yamamoto's Kyōko Aizome's Widow's Boarding House (Aizome Kyōko no Mibōjin Geshuku) (1984).[8]

Aizome's fame also led her to embark on a successful live-performance career in striptease, which lasted until her retirement in July 1994. While engaged in stripping, she was arrested twice in 1983 for indecent exposure. She used her jail time to review her career and rededicate herself to a life in adult entertainment. She also resolved to build a two-story, six-bedroom house in Chiba Prefecture, which she gave to her mother.[2]

About 1986, in one of her more remarkable performances, Aizome had her hymen surgically restored so that it could be broken during the film. Previously a common procedure, hymen restorations went out of favor in Japan about the time of Aizome's use of it. The doctor who performed the restoration reports that the last time he did this surgery was on a couple in their 50s who, after seeing Aizome's film, wished to undergo the operation for their second honeymoon. In an article on the procedure, Aizome told Shukan Bunshun, "They strung a thread almost like a piano wire through the entrance to my vagina and pulled it like a drawstring to recreate the hymen. They give your privates a local anesthetic, so the operation itself doesn't really hurt. I really felt like a virgin again."[9]

Aizome gained an international audience in the 1986 Traci Lords film, Traci Takes Tokyo. With her name mis-credited as "Kyōko Izoma", the porn-video was shot in Tokyo before Lords' scandal, and is therefore now illegal in the U.S.

Takechi Tetsuji filmed Daydream for the third time in 1987, as Daydream 2 (Hakujitsumu Zoku), and again hired Aizome for the lead role. According to the Weissers, each filming of Daydream had become progressively more exploitive, with the last, imported to the United States under the title Captured For Sex having the lowest production values and focusing most on sex and a torture orgy.[10]

Later career

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She retired from regular performances in pornography in 1994, but continued to act in erotic films occasionally in later years. She would also work behind the camera in the industry in various capacities including writing and directing.[11][12] In 2001 Aizome was writing a sex- and health-advice column for women in Japan,[2] titled "Auntie Agony".

She teamed up with "AV Queen" Hitomi Kobayashi in the February 2001 theatrical release, Kyōko Aizome vs. Hitomi Kobayashi: Sexual Excitement Competition (愛染恭子VS小林ひとみ 発情くらべ). Aizome both starred in and directed the film, which was released by Nikkatsu's post-Roman porn distributor of theatrical pornography, Excess films.[13][14] An adult video starring the two actresses and also directed by Aizome followed in March. Entitled Lesbian Wives, the video had Aizome and Kobayashi playing the wives of two yakuza bosses who become engaged in a lesbian relationship.[15] Two years later, she directed the AV Lesbian Politicians (2003), in which she also co-starred with the popular award-winning AV actress Ai Kurosawa.[16] In late 2003, she directed and co-starred with another "mature" AV actress, Eri Kikuchi, in the softcore film Double G-Spot: Kyôko Aizome vs. Eri Kikuchi.[17][18]

In October 2005, she starred in the Madonna hardcore AV Widow's Obscene Desire (愛欲の未亡人), which won her a Madonna Best Actress Award at the 2005 Moodyz Awards.[19] She also appeared in a further video for Madonna, Mother and Son Incest (近親相姦 母と息子) with Yume Imano in May 2006 when Aizome was 48 years old.[20]

Aizome's name was in the news again in 2007 when she was arrested for beating her niece. Aizome admitted to the allegations and was fined 500,000 yen. She explained, "I hit my niece to punish her for dating my boyfriend. But it went too far."[11]

Co-directing with Shinji Imaoka, Aizome filmed a fourth version of Tanizaki and Takechi's Daydream, which was released on September 5, 2009.[21] In March 2010, she played the female lead as Kikue, a masochistic elderly woman in The Slave Ship, an adaptation of Oniroku Dan novella Dorei-bune (奴隷船). Six months later she starred in her retirement adult video Retirement, the Last Production for Moodyz at age 52.[22]

Selected filmography

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Film title[23] Release date Studio Director Notes

Theatrical films

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Daydream
白日夢
Hakujitsumu
1981-09-12 Tetsuji Takechi Debut role
With Kei Satō & Takemi Katsushika

華麗なる愛の遍歴 愛染恭子
Karei Naru ai no Henreki Aizome Kyōko
1982-08-14 Joy Pack Tadashi Yoyogi With Masayoshi Nogami
Kyōko Aizome's Somber Reminiscence
愛染恭子 華麗なる追憶
Aizome Kyōko Kareinaru Tsuioku
1983-03-11 Joy Pack Tadashi Yoyogi With Masayoshi Nogami & Matsu Takada
Kyōko Aizome's Widow's Boarding House
愛染恭子の未亡人下宿
Aizome Kyōko no Mibōjin Geshuku
1984-12-22 Nikkatsu Shin'ya Yamamoto (director) With Kate Asabuki
Daydream 2
白日夢2
Hakujitsumu Zoku
1987-02-07 Tetsuji Takechi With Kei Satō & Kenji Hayami
Early Afternoon Love Affair
昼下りの情事
Hirusagari no Jōji
1993-12-23 Excess Yukio Kitazawa With Manami Ogawa
Kyōko Aizome vs. Hitomi Kobayashi: Sexual Excitement Competition
愛染恭子VS小林ひとみ 発情くらべ
Aizome Kyōko VS Kobayashi Hitomi Hatsujō Kurabe
2001-02-02 Excess Kyōko Aizome With Hitomi Kobayashi
Double G-Spot: Kyôko Aizome vs. Eri Kikuchi
愛染恭子VS菊池えり ダブルGスポット
Aizome Kyōko vs Kikuchi Eri: Daburu G Supotto
2003-12-26 Shintōhō Eiga Kyōko Aizome With Eri Kikuchi & Kyōko Kazama
Also released as a DVD by Japan Home Video
The Slave Ship
奴隷船
Dorei-sen
2010–03-10 Shintōhō Eiga Satoshi Kaneda With Tarō Suwa
Video title[24] Release date Studio Director Notes

Adult videos (AV)

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April of Lust
淫欲のうずき
Inyoku no Uzuki
1981-11 Japan Video
(日本ビデオ映像)
Tadashi Yoyogi Debut AV
Dizziness Kyoko Aizome
愛染恭子のめまい
1982-01-01 Athena Eizou Tadashi Yoyogi
Secret Sexual Technique Part 1: Soaking Wet
性感極秘テクニック 1 「ぐしょぐしょなの…」
1983 Athena Eizou / Mimizuku Video Pack
MV-9063
Tadashi Yoyogi
Secret Sexual Technique Special
性感極秘テクニックスペシャル
1984 Athena Eizou
AV-T905
Tadashi Yoyogi
Psycho Hypnotic Ecstasy Part 1
サイコ催眠エクスタシー PART-1 驚異のマインド・オーガズム
1985 Athena Eizou
AS-603
Tadashi Yoyogi
Traci Takes Tokyo 1986 Steven Cartier
Tadashi Yoyogi
With Traci Lords & Don Fernando
Three Mature Sisters Chapter 1
熟女三姉妹 第一章
1999-07-15 V&R Planning Ume
SER-022
Eitaro Haga With Junko Misaki, Yuka Takemura & Midori Ōtsuka
Three Mature Sisters Chapter 2
熟女三姉妹 第二章
1999-07-15 V&R Planning Ume
SER-023
Eitaro Haga With Junko Misaki, Yuka Takemura & Midori Ōtsuka
Three Mature Sisters Chapter 3
熟女三姉妹 第三章
1999-07-15 V&R Planning Ume
SER-024
Eitaro Haga With Junko Misaki, Yuka Takemura & Midori Ōtsuka
Three Mature Sisters Chapter 4
熟女三姉妹 第四章
1999-07-15 V&R Planning Ume
SER-025
Eitaro Haga With Junko Misaki, Yuka Takemura & Midori Ōtsuka
Three Mature Sisters Chapter 5
熟女三姉妹 第五章
1999-07-15 V&R Planning Ume
SER-026
Eitaro Haga With Junko Misaki, Yuka Takemura & Midori Ōtsuka
Lesbian Wives
極妻レズ
2001-03-16 Alice Japan Babylon
KR-9144
Kyōko Aizome With Hitomi Kobayashi
Mellow Sales Lady
熟女セールスレディ
2001-04-21 Shy Plan Bold
BL-068
Satoru Kobayashi
Molester In A Hospital
痴漢病棟
2002-10-25 Alice Japan Babylon
KR-9172
Kyōko Aizome With Yuri Komuro & Mayumi Sawaki
G Pleasure
Gの快感
2002-12-24 Alice Japan Erotica
KS-8562
Kyōko Aizome
Crimson Sisters
紅姉妹
2003-01-24 CineMagic Collect
DD-052
Oniroku Dan With Minako Ogawa & Mayumi Sawaki
Princess Hunting
姫狩り
2003-02-25 Alice Japan Babylon
KR-9178
Kenichi Fujiwara With Kyōko Kazama & Moe Nishimura
Kyoko Aizome Special
愛染恭子スペシャル
2003-04-18 Alice Japan
DV-235 (DVD)
Compilation DVD
Lesbian Politicians
政界レズビアン 女戒
2003-09-19 Alice Japan Babylon
KR-9191 (VHS)
DV-277 (DVD)
Kyōko Aizome With Ai Kurosawa, Hitomi Shimizu & Mariko Kawana
Kyōko Aizome vs Eri Kikuchi Double G-spot
愛染恭子VS菊池えり ダブルGスポット
2004-09-30 Alice Japan Babylon
KR-9217 (VHS)
DV-396 (DVD)
Kyōko Aizome With Eri Kikuchi
Love Sexuality
あいぞめ
2005-02-25 Kazoo Planning Sizzle
SCS-01
Gravure video (non-sex)
Widow's Obscene Desire
愛欲の未亡人
2005-10-25 Madonna
JUKD-284
Mother and Son Incest
近親相姦 母と息子
2006-05-25 Madonna
JUKD-400
Retirement, the Last Production
引退、最後の本番… 愛染恭子
2010-09-13 Moodyz Gati
MIGD-356
Hara Ichigo

Sources

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References

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  1. ^ Infobox data from "愛染 恭子 – Aizome Kyouko (Profile)". Web I-dic. Retrieved 2007-03-01.[permanent dead link] and Koizumi, Shinichi (December 1, 2001). "Porn-star label now a badge of honor for actress". Asahi Shimbun. Archived from the original on 2001-12-03. Retrieved 2007-03-03.
  2. ^ a b c d e Koizumi, Shinichi (December 1, 2001). "Porn-star label now a badge of honor for actress". Asahi Shimbun. Archived from the original on 2001-12-03. Retrieved 2007-03-03.
  3. ^ "Kyōko Aizome". xxx.xcity.jp/SHIN-TOHO/. 2005. Archived from the original on 2007-03-10. Retrieved 2007-03-03.
  4. ^ Weisser, p.29
  5. ^ Weisser, p.91
  6. ^ "1981". AV 研究所 (AV Research Laboratory). Archived from the original on 2011-06-20. Retrieved 2007-07-21.
  7. ^ Firsching, Robert. "Aizome Kyōko Kareinaru Tsuioku". Allmovie. Archived from the original on July 19, 2012. Retrieved 2007-04-19. This softcore pinku eiga film from Joy Pack Film and director Tadashi Yoyogi was made to capitalize on the notoriety of starlet Kyōko Aizome. She had attracted some notice by breaking the Japanese film taboo of displaying pubic hair in Tetsuji Takechi's 1981 remake of his 1964 classic Hakujitsumu.
  8. ^ Weisser, p.230
  9. ^ Connell, Ryann (2006-12-04). "Surgeon says demise of hymen restoration operations no skin off his, er... nose?". Mainichi Shimbun. Archived from the original on 2008-01-01. Retrieved 2007-03-03.
  10. ^ Weisser, p.102-103
  11. ^ a b "Hell hath no fury like a porn star scorned -- just ask her niece". Mainichi Shimbun. 2007-05-12. Retrieved 2007-05-14. After retiring from the porn world in 1994, Teranishi became a sex counselor and a porn film director.[permanent dead link]
  12. ^ Film credits at: "愛染恭子 (Aizome Kyouko)" (in Japanese). Japanese Movie Database. Retrieved 2007-05-14.
  13. ^ 愛染恭子VS小林ひとみ 発情くらべ (in Japanese). Japanese Movie Database. Retrieved 2007-05-31.
  14. ^ Scott, A. O. "Bed Partner 1988 (review)". The New York Times. Retrieved 2007-05-31. ...the legendary studio proper [Nikkatsu] (its stepchild, Excess Films, limped along for years thereafter...
  15. ^ "Lesbian Wives". AV Idol Directory. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2007-05-19.
  16. ^ "Lesbian Politicians". AV Idol Directory. Archived from the original on 2007-01-01. Retrieved 2007-06-01.
  17. ^ 愛染恭子VS菊池えり ダブルGスポット (in Japanese). JMDB. Retrieved 2009-10-25.
  18. ^ "Aizome Kyôko vs Kikuchi Eri: daburu G supotto". IMdB. 26 December 2003. Archived from the original on 2007-07-28. Retrieved 2009-10-25.
  19. ^ Otsubo, Kemuta (January 19, 2006). ムーディーズ&ドグマ年末イベントレポート (in Japanese). All About. Archived from the original on July 17, 2012. Retrieved 2009-08-02.
  20. ^ 近親相姦 母と息子 (in Japanese). www.madonna-av.com. Archived from the original on 2009-08-15. Retrieved 2009-08-02.
  21. ^ 白日夢(2009)(邦画) (in Japanese). Kinema Junpo. Archived from the original on 2011-10-07. Retrieved 2009-10-18.
  22. ^ 引退、最後の本番… (in Japanese). Moodyz. Archived from the original on 2014-05-12. Retrieved 2014-05-09.
  23. ^ Filmography based on 愛染恭子 (in Japanese). JMDB. Archived from the original on 2007-08-01. Retrieved 2009-10-24. and "Kyôko Aizome". IMdB. Archived from the original on 2007-08-01. Retrieved 2009-10-24.
  24. ^ Filmography based on "Kyoko Aizome 愛染恭子". Urabon Navigator. Archived from the original on July 15, 2012. Retrieved 2009-10-24., 女優一覧>愛染恭子 (in Japanese). www.arzon.jp. Retrieved 2009-10-24., 愛染恭子 作品覧 (in Japanese). www.sokmil.com. Retrieved 2009-10-26. and 愛染恭子 (in Japanese). www.alicejapan.co.jp. Retrieved 2009-10-24.
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