The New AV Law (AV Shinpō) in Japan came into effect on July 1, 2023, and turned the entire Japanese adult film industry upside down.
Slowing down the frenetic pace of production, forcing the withdrawal of a significant portion of studios' catalogs, and causing undeniable economic damage to the adult content production sector.
The law appears to be inspired by ideologies that, under the guise of "protecting victims," impose restrictions on freedoms worldwide, particularly in matters related to sex.
That said, it’s important to acknowledge that, prior to this law, Japan had a notable tolerance for abuses committed by and within this industry.
From a Western perspective, it’s striking that certain aspects of the industry remained unregulated until now.
Key Points of the New AV Law
- Reflection Period: Establishes a one-month period between contract signing and the start of filming, allowing performers to reconsider their decision.
- Right to Refuse Specific Acts: Performers can decline to perform specific sexual acts without penalty.
- Right to Withdraw Consent: Performers can withdraw consent for video distribution up to two years after release.
- Protection Against Coercion: Prohibits coercion or deception to pressure someone into participating in AV productions.
- Age Restrictions: Sets a minimum age of 20 for participation in AV productions.
- Obligations for Studios: Companies must clearly explain job details and provide copies of contracts to performers.
The law not only protects performers but also imposes responsibilities on AV production and distribution companies.
Impact of the New AV Law on Shibari
To understand the impact of this law on the Japanese shibari scene, we must first examine the structure of the adult industry, particularly a niche sector like shibari/BDSM.
Shibari in Japan is a small industrial sector. However, when we say "small," we mean within the context of Japan’s adult industry. Its scale far exceeds that of the rest of the world combined.
Nearly all top-tier riggers and models—those who are "popular" in the West—routinely work for production studios and companies.
The corporate structure managing these businesses is highly hierarchical, competitive, and, until the introduction of the new AV law, largely "under the radar."
It’s an open secret that the sector is controlled by the yakuza (note: the yakuza is a legal organization in Japan!!!), which has significant implications not only for working conditions but also for the lives of those involved.
For example: A "hardworking employee" receives a modest salary in exchange for their full dedication, but their other needs—housing, food, clothing, etc.—are covered by their "employer."
However, this support lasts only as long as they remain profitable. The moment they can no longer work or generate income, they lose everything and end up on the streets.
This situation, which could be described as "exploitation," is exacerbated by the Japanese population’s inability to save and the country’s lack of social services, which leaves those without steady income at risk of exclusion.
For instance, before the pandemic, a top-tier rigger would work on three video shoots per week for porn studios. Each shoot lasted at least 12 consecutive hours.
In addition, they would perform two nights a week at clubs or events organized by "producers," rounding out the week with classes, workshops, or promotional activities at stores or online platforms.
The production system in this sector works as follows:
There’s no script. The director or producer has an idea, calls the necessary people, and schedules a day for filming. The entire video is shot in one go, edited the next day, and by the third day, limited copies are available in sex shops.
This dynamic explains why Japanese riggers rarely visited the West before the New AV Law, as they were far more profitable working in Japan than spending a couple of weeks abroad.
The law’s requirements for reflection periods and waiting times, along with its disruption of the established hierarchy—by empowering performers, especially actresses—led to the closure of many studios and a sharp decline in productions, resulting in less work for the entire sector.
Even though these are small studios, each production involved around ten people, including performers, riggers, technicians, and assistants, not to mention the higher-ups who take the lion’s share of the profits.
As a result, since 2023, Japanese riggers have shifted their focus to the West, conducting workshops almost every week.
Undoubtedly, the economic impact of the New AV Law on the sector has been immense. This is reflected in the skyrocketing fees for these workshops, which have multiplied several times over in just two years.
It’s clear that, beneath the surface, there’s a power struggle among various factions of Japanese society, with the porn industry caught in the crossfire.
Meanwhile, in the West... Well, as liberals say, "the market dictates." As long as there’s demand from event organizers, riggers will continue to raise their fees.
This would be fine if it were accompanied by an improvement in the quality of service provided. But, staying within the realm of economic liberalism, "the market adjusts itself."
To gain insight into the modern world of the yakuza, beyond the image portrayed in movies, I recommend this documentary from the ARTE channel.