eroticism in the Japanese cinema

[Miles Wood]

Julien Seveon wrote:

> In French try "Le Cinéma Japonais au Présent" by Max Tessier, which features
> some interesting articles on the subject (although a little bit dated).
> In English you can find "Eros in Hell" by Jack Hunter and, although it has
> been heavily criticised on this forum, I highly recommend Thomas Weisser
> encyclopedia on the subject "The Sex Film" (available through Asian Cult
> Cinema, check their websites at www.asiancult.com)

"Japanese Cinema Encyclopedia: The Sex Films" is an essential book, but
like
most of Tom Weisser's other publications it has serious flaws. What's
most
useful are the acting and directing credits for the films listed; these
would
seem to be very accurate, as basically what was required here was
translation,
and this task would have been handled by the book's co-author, Weisser's
Japanese wife Yuko Mihara.

Unfortunately the so-called "reviews" could be something of a trap, and
I'd be
surprised if Weisser has actually seen more than a handful of the movies
(you
can generally tell which ones he has seen because VSoM will be selling
pirate
copies of them, and they'll get a high rating). Everytime I watch a
Nikkatsu
RomanPorno I check his write-up of the film afterwards, and not only
does it
usually reveal he hasn't seen the film, but often it bears little or no
resemblance to the "review."  Most of the info has presumably been
culled from
video covers or others sources (which, of course, are often inaccurate),
and
while in the circumstances this might be forgiven (I don't necessarily
expect
him to sit down and watch thousands of Pink Films and AV's),  what is so
throroughly dishonest is the way the author actually judges and gives a
star
rating to each film - he's probably the only person who'll ever call
Konuma
Masaru's HAKA NO NAKA NO ONNA: SHOJO IKENIE / WOMAN IN THE BOX "cheesy."
Consequently, as a guide to what films someone interested in
investigating the
genre should seek out, it is extremely misleading, but used as a
reference to
who did what and who's who it's fairly indispensible.

I've not read what others on the list have said about Jack Hunter's book
(anyone
care to briefly enlighten me or fwd the thread?), but he's obviously
used
Weisser as a guide. Indeed, for Hunter the "important" pink films are
generally
those which "Asian Cult Cinema" has touted in the past (ie.those VSoM
will be
selling pirate copies of!) which  he's been able to access more easily.
There's
a couple of interviews in the book, but they more properly belong in a
magazine
rather than a book.

>From my browsing in Tokyo book stores each time I visit, I've noticed
there have
been more and more books appearing in Japan on Pink films recently,
though my
lack of understanding of the language has meant I've not purchased them.
Others
on the list will be able to help more on this one. The "Konuma Mandala"
book is
worth having though (there are some good photos and the price is most
reasonable), as are two photo-books consisting entirely of stills and
publicty
photos from Nikkatsu RomanPorno films, and two of the beautiful series
of books of
Japanese Film Posters that started last year, are devoted to Erotic
films...at
least that seems to be the theme. Again, I'm sure others can provide
more
details with regard to the publishers and where you might possibly
obtain them
without boarding a plane to Narita.

Miles