Japan is known for many things, and its rich and robust culture attracts people from around the world. Besides food, movies and manga, the country also has a reputation for having one of the biggest pornographic and adult-toy industries in the world. While sex is a natural thing, Thailand is rarely open about it because we view it as taboo, vulgar and immoral. But whether you admit it or not, we have all seen 18+ content from Japan at some point in our life.
It's quite an irony. Despite being a very conservative country, Japan is liberal and open-minded in some aspects, especially when it comes to sex. It's a place where TV commercials feature sexually suggestive themes, and where there is a massive seven-floor department store selling sex goods in the centre of Tokyo. It's also a place that has its own annual fertility festival that parades giant penis sculptures down a busy street every April. This begs the question of why the country is so open about sex when it is also a very conservative nation?
Much like Thailand and other Buddhist countries, South Korea also rarely discusses sex openly. In fact, any business that deals with adult content is illegal. That's why it's quite interesting to see Risqué Business: Japan, a Korean-made documentary/variety show on Netflix that follows two South Korean hosts and TV personalities, Shin Dong-yup and Sung Si-kyung, across the streets of the buzzing neighbourhoods of Shibuya and Shinjuku to deep dive into the story of the sex entertainment industry through interviews with adult filmmakers, AV idols and visits to adult-themed shops.
With less than a week having passed since its premiere, Risqué Business: Japan has received mixed reviews from viewers and critics as it discusses adult video (AV) content which is still illegal in many countries. However, I found the show entertaining and informative. It is ambitious enough to tackle taboo subjects and can instil a new mindset in people, especially in Asian countries where sex is not discussed openly. Watching this series is an an eye-opener.
The first season of Risqué Business is divided into six episodes. In Episode 1, the hosts visit M's Pop Life Department, a seven-level sex shop in the heart of Akihabara. With seven other locations now around the country, M's is purportedly the largest sex shop chain in the world.
Comedian Shin Dong-yup and singer Sung Si-kyung in Risqué Business: Japan. (Photos: Netflix)
Despite discussing mostly sex, the series doesn't feel obscene or inappropriate. Throughout the show, we see the two hosts banter and prank each other which offers an intimate and casual vibe. It can be clearly seen that it's unusual for them too to talk about sex or masturbation openly, and at times, they seem uncomfortable as well. Both show their raw reactions to various sex toys in the building. They also try VR adult content and awkwardly interview shop employees, which is hilarious to watch.
The second and third episodes are extensive interview-style episodes with adult filmmakers and famous AV actors and actresses. Besides talking about their work, they also discuss how they were first introduced to the industry and what the AV industry really means to them.
In Episode 4, the show takes viewers to the headquarter of TENGA, a company specialising in male masturbation toys. They interview employees who have received multiple industrial design awards. The duo then tour Kabukicho to research "host clubs", where male idols act as drinking buddies and entertain female customers. In the last episode, Dong-yup and Si-kyung meet young Japanese couples for drinks and discuss dating, marriage, sex culture, the negative effects of AVs on relationships, and the cultural differences between Japan and Korea.
Risqué Business: Japan is part of the new wave of variety shows from South Korea that dare to present aspects that society does not talk about. It's funny and very informative at the same time. The adult film industry in many countries is still considered a dark business, but this show is open to everything new and makes people feel comfortable talking about unconventional topics. By the end of the final episode, the two hosts hint at Taiwan as their next destination for Season 2. Let's just hope the show won't get cancelled before then.
- Risqué Business: Japan
- Starring Shin Dong-yup, Sung Si-kyung
- Now streaming on Netflix
