Synapse's "Nikkatsu Erotic Films Collection" [ADULT]

[chloes_fork]

A short history lesson: in the early '70s, Nikkatsu, Japan's oldest major movie studio, found itself in financial dire straits as a result of the influx of television into Japanese households. In response, starting in late 1971 and continuing for nearly 17 years, Nikkatsu turned its entire well-oiled production machine over to a line of erotic films it dubbed "Roman Porno." According to various accounts, the "Roman" was either supposed to be short for "romantic," or else referred to the French word for "novel," to invoke a certain literary cachet. In either case, the idea was to suggest a more artistic and sophisticated pedigree than Japan's already established industry of low-budget independent "pinku" (pink) sex films.

In many cases, Nikkatsu's Roman Pornos lived up to this billing. Certainly they were visually appealing and slickly-produced films, well-shot widescreen productions made with the considerable skill and resources available to a major (albeit cash-strapped) movie studio. They also received unusual recognition from the mainstream film world, occasionally finding themselves on top-ten lists and the nominees, or even recipients, of prominent awards.

It should be noted that the content of these films might in many cases be unappealing, shocking, or offensive to modern Western viewers -- even those otherwise receptive to pornographic material. As anyone who's watched much hentai anime knows, Japan, even today, is not squeamish about eroticizing sexual violence. Many Roman Pornos also feature heavy BDSM themes, which became more extreme as the line continued in a perhaps inevitable effort to top itself. But if you can stomach the more graphic and/or misogynistic content, and place it in some kind of cultural and historical perspective, you'll find the movies themselves are often quite fascinating.

Ironically, in terms of how much flesh is actually shown, the films are quite restrained by modern standards. Japanese censorship laws prohibited the showing of genitalia or even pubic hair, so these areas are either "shot around" or obscured somehow (by objects in frame or simply by optical masking). So you had this often outrageous and extreme content narratively and thematically, coupled with visuals that were limited in terms of actual exposure to boobs 'n' butts.

The impetus for my writing this mini-dissertation is that the US company Synapse Films has acquired rights to 27 (!) Roman Porno movies, and has recently started releasing them on subtitled DVDs under the banner of "The Nikkatsu Erotic Films Collection." Other American companies have released the occasional Roman Porno in the past (and they're definitely worth seeking out), but Synapse's ongoing effort is by far the biggest offering of these titles from a single source ever in this country.

The first two titles have already been released (LINKS NSFW): Debauchery and True Story of a Woman in Jail: Sex Hell. Announced for June are Eros School: Feels So Good and Zoom Up: The Beaver Book Girl, while July brings Zoom In: Sex Apartments and True Story of a Woman in Jail: Continues.

Collect 'em all!

[DocWatson]

See Wikipedia's "List of Nikkatsu Roman Porno films". I'd be interested in Apartment Wife: Affair In the Afternoon, out of curiosity and because it started the "jukujo" ("mature woman")/"hitozuma" ("other person's wife") genre of porn, which still continues today.

[chloes_fork]

Originally Posted by DocWatson

See Wikipedia's "List of Nikkatsu Roman Porno films".

Yeah, that's a pretty incredible resource. I've spotted a minor error or two in it, but it's still a great feat of research and an invaluable reference.

I'd be interested in Apartment Wife: Affair In the Afternoon, out of curiosity and because it started the "jukujo" ("mature woman")/"hitozuma" ("other person's wife") genre of porn, which still continues today.

Unfortunately, I haven't seen that particular title listed among Synapse's current group of licenses. (Its trailer is included on the Nikkatsu Roman Porno Trailer Collection they released a couple of years ago, but the films in that collection apparently only partially overlap with the ones Synapse is actually releasing.) I've got a number of other Roman Pornos that are high on my personal wish list for legit English-friendly releases. I have this fantasy that these will sell well enough for Synapse that they will just keep licensing batch after batch, until that whole long Wikipedia list is occupying a new room in my house built just to accommodate all the DVDs.

[chloes_fork]

A small update: it seems the rather in-your-face cover for Zoom Up: The Beaver Book Girl linked to above had to be changed to appease certain bluenosed retailers. The good news is, upon inquiry to Synapse, I'm told the cover will be reversible, with the originally intended art appearing on the flip side. Nice of them to go the extra mile like that.