Steamy, subversive, exotic & bizarre! Behind the Pink Curtain takes the reader on a wild joy ride deep into the hinterlands of Japanese culture, society and radical politics by way of the weird and wonderful world of the country's distinctive sex film movements. Behind the Pink Curtain focuses on one of the most notorious sectors of Japanese filmmaking, the erotic Pink Film, or pinku eiga genre, and the closely related Roman Porno films produced by Nikkatsu studios from 1971 to 1988. From the early '60s onwards major Japanese film studios and independent producers alike have kept up a conveyor belt level of output of pornographic features intended purely for cinema release. Still today, just short of 100 such titles are shot on 35mm every year intended for screening in a specialist network of adult cinema across the nation. In recent years, many have been released on DVD in the West or screened at international film festivals, while many of Japan's most noted filmmakers today cut their teeth in this industry. Read about: -- the ins and outs of Japanese censorship from the wartime onwards; -- how topless deep sea diving girls came to woo local audiences in the '50s; -- how a TV nature documentary maker made nude female Tarzan movies; -- how '60s mavericks Koji Wakamatsu and Masao Adachi met John and Yoko; -- how one of Japan's most famous literary figures ended up the subject of the country's first gay porno movie; -- how one of Nikkatsu's leading directors went it alone to make a film about powerboat racing and ended up in the bad books of the yakuza; -- how the sex farce Horny Home Tutor: Teacher's Love Juice was re-titled The Glamorous Life of Sachiko Hanai and became one of the most talked-about Japanese films ever, playing at over twenty international film festivals. Based on extensive interviews with many of the leading figures in the field, Behind the Pink Curtain is a colourful and exhaustive expose' of Japan's most vibrant and prolific filmmaking sector.
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About the Author
Jasper Sharp is the co-editor of the Japanese film website Midnight Eye and has curated for London's Raindance Film Festival and acted as an advisor for the Japan Foundation UK's annual touring season since 2005. His critically-acclaimed book The Midnight Eye Guide to New Japanese Film, joint-written with FAB Press author Tom Mes (Agitator: The Cinema of Takashi Miike and Iron Man: The Cinema of Shinya Tsukamoto), was published in 2003.
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Fab Press have plugged another gap in cinematic education with this veritable encyclopaedia (414 pages!) about Japanese `Pink' films - readers should be aware that the subject matter does not concern the genteel art of flower arranging. A glance at the cover which shows a young lady in a state of semi undress & trussed up with rope should give a further indication of the content. Regarding the caption at the top of the cover readers should also be aware that Sex in Japanese Cinema bears no relation to the term `making love'. The low budget exploitation films about which the author writes in minute detail depict bondage, torture, degradation, perversion, depravity & humiliation of subservient females. If you think I'm over reacting consider this charming scene - 2 characters pass a slimy raw egg between their mouths prior to getting down to business on a kitchen table (from Moistening Housewife: Pantyless apron).The book discusses the bizarre Japanese concept of censorship which basically means that it doesn't matter what is happening on screen as long as genitalia are `pixellated.' The author has thoroughly researched his subject & informs us about all the companies & `performers' involved in this sub genre : he gleaned valuable information by visiting Tokyo's Adult Video cinemas - although these films first appeared way back in the early 1960's they have become more accessible due to Film Festival screenings and now, of course, you can find them on DVD.
If not already totally motivated to buy this book you may like to know about the lurid, utterly tasteless colour photos that are in the centre: if seeing females being subjected to unmentionable atrocities are your thing you'll love this. However, I did find the still photos of extremely unattractive Japanese men groping these poor actresses whilst wearing spectacles un nerving yet amusing! I've given the book 5 stars for all the work that has gone into it - it will take hours to read every page but as a reference book it's indispensable.
If not already totally motivated to buy this book you may like to know about the lurid, utterly tasteless colour photos that are in the centre: if seeing females being subjected to unmentionable atrocities are your thing you'll love this. However, I did find the still photos of extremely unattractive Japanese men groping these poor actresses whilst wearing spectacles un nerving yet amusing! I've given the book 5 stars for all the work that has gone into it - it will take hours to read every page but as a reference book it's indispensable.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By Doctor Dee
Format:Paperback
A well-illustrated, scholarly, accessible and entertaining history of the type of Japanese films you won't see in your average high street retail outlet. From the expected to the bizarre, this history covers in depth the development and themes of the Japanese sex film industry, and contains many surprises...my favourite so far is a film that covers the political situation in North Korea, Chomsky, and has - or appears to have - a certain George Bush as a sex aid. And above all this book provides an insight into a mostly hidden side of Japan.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By S. P. Ridley
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I snapped up this book on release several months ago now.I wanted to learn more about Japanese Pink cinema and to a large extent reading this book will increase your knowledge greatly.That being said i found this book a challenging read which took me quite awhile to finish.The writing style is very dense with information and the layout does not lend itself well to dipping in and out of at leisure,i found it difficult to use as an easy reference guide because of this.I guess i was after something more along the lines of an A to Z guide for 'Roman Porno's' initially perhaps?
This is no fault of the book/author though as it's an exhaustive well researched history of the genre and will likely be the most in-depth book written in english on these films for many years to come.All of which makes it a must buy if you have any interest in Japans own brand of sexploitation cinema.
This is no fault of the book/author though as it's an exhaustive well researched history of the genre and will likely be the most in-depth book written in english on these films for many years to come.All of which makes it a must buy if you have any interest in Japans own brand of sexploitation cinema.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
One of the most authorative books on Japanese Pink Cinema
This is an extremely well-written book on Japanese Pink Cinema. Beautifully illustrated, and researched, it is a welcome addition to a poorly understood subject to date.
Published on 15 Jun 2009 by Dr. Colette Balmain
5.0 out of 5 stars
Behind the Pink Curtain
Received this today,what a joy,packed with editorial,quality photographs,well paced and presented.If you have any interest in Japanese Erotic Film,Japanese Culture then buy this,I... Read more
Published on 6 Dec 2008 by Ian M. Kinnis
5.0 out of 5 stars
Recommended
I loved it. If you like the cover, you'll like the content - lots more of the same.
Published on 18 Nov 2008 by SUPER GT JUNKIE
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