Pink film (ピンク映画, Pinku eiga^?) is a style of Japanese softcore pornographic films. Films of this genre first appeared in the early 1960s, were particularly popular in the 1970s and 1980s and are still being produced. The term pinku eiga was coined by journalist Minoru Murai. Pink films should be distinguished from adult videos and non-Japanese sexploitation films. Softcore is a form of pornography that is less explicit than hardcore pornography in depicting or describing sexual behaviour. ... The 1960s decade refers to the years from January 1, 1960 to December 31, 1969, inclusive. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, inclusive. ... 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... Pornography (from Greek πορνογραφια pornographia — literally writing about or drawings of harlots) is the representation of the human body or human sexual behaviour with the goal of sexual arousal, similar to, but (according to some) distinct from, erotica. ... Sexploitation is a term that was first used in the 1940s which describes media that is merely an excuse to purvey sex. ...

Description and Subgenres

All these films use female nudity and scenes of simulated sexual activity, without ever actually showing pubic-hair or genitals. This is a result of strict Japanese censorship rules. Shot on film for release in a network of specialized cinemas, the films are usually about one hour long.

Subgenres produced by Nikkatsu studios include the early (starting in 1971) Roman Porno (short for Romantic Pornography) pink films with well known directors, and an ultra-violent rape-themed subgenre also from the 1970s called Violent Pink. Nikkatsu Corporation (日活株式会社) is a Japanese entertainment company well known for its film and television productions. ... 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1971 calendar). ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, inclusive. ...

Toei studios' genre of erotic sex-and-violence films is termed Toei's Pinky Violence. Unlike Nikkatsu's pink films, most of Toei's pink films were not centered on just eroticism itself, but used it in conjunction with violent action-scenes & story-plots, and have some artistic merit. Several of these films have the theme of strong women exacting violent revenge for past injustices. Examples of Toei's films include Shunya Ito's Sasori (lit. scorpion) series of women in prison films (Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion (1972), Female Prisoner Scorpion: Jailhouse 41 (1972), Female Prisoner Scorpion: Beast Stable (1973)) based on Toru Shinohara's manga and starring Meiko Kaji, who had left Nikkatsu Studios to distance herself from pink films and has only one erotic scene in the series. After first Ito and then Kaji left the project, the series rapidly deteriorated in artistic quality and focused more on sex and violence. Toei Company, Ltd. ... Shunya Ito Shunya Ito (伊藤俊也 Itō Shunya) is a Japanese film director famed for starting the Sasori (Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion, etc. ... Women in prison films are a subgenre of exploitation film. ... Toru Shinohara(篠原とおる) is a mangaka. ... Manga )   is the Japanese word for comics and print cartoons. ... Meiko Kaji on the Lady Snowblood DVD cover Meiko Kaji (Japanese: 梶芽衣子, Kaji Meiko) (born 24 March 1947 in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese singer and actress. ...

Directors

While some directors have used pink films as a steppingstone for their careers, others work exclusively with the genre. Some notable directors of pink films include:

• Ryuichi Hiroki
• Toshiharu Ikeda
• Takashi Ishii
• Shunya Ito
• Masaru Konuma
• Kiyoshi Kurosawa
• Yoshimitsu Morita
• Hisayasu Sato
• Masayuki Suo
• Yojiro Takita
• Takechi Tetsuji
• Koji Wakamatsu
• Takahisa Zeze

Takashi Ishii (born 1946 in Sendai) is a Japanese film director and scriptwriter. ... Shunya Ito Shunya Ito (伊藤俊也 Itō Shunya) is a Japanese film director famed for starting the Sasori (Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion, etc. ... Kiyoshi Kurosawa (é»’æ²¢ 清 Kurosawa Kiyoshi) is a Japanese filmmaker. ... Yoshimitsu Morita (1950-present) is a Japanese film director. ... Masayuki Suo (周防正行 Suō Masayuki, born 29 October 1956, in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese film director. ... Yojiro Takita (滝田 洋二郎 Takita Yōjirō, born December 4, 1955 in Toyama, Japan), is a Japanese film director. ... Koji Wakamatsu (1 April 1936, Wakuya-machi, Tôda-gun, Miyagi, Japan) is a Japanese film director. ...

Actresses

Some notable pinku eiga actresses include:

• Reiko Ike
• Junko Miyashita
• Reiko Oshida
• Naomi Tani

Junko Miyashita (宮下順子 - Miyashita Junko) (January 29, 1949 - ) is a Japanese actress. ... Naomi Tani (谷ナオミ - Tani Naomi) (October 20, 1948 - ) is a Japanese actress who is best known for her appearances in Nikkatsus Roman Porno films with an S&M theme during the 1970s. ...

Films

Some notable pinku eiga films include:

• Flower and Snake (1974)
• Wife to be Sacrificed (1974)
• Rafureshia (Sato 1995)

Further reading

• Macias, Patrick. 2001. TokyoScope: The Japanese Cult Film Companion. Cadence Books. San Francisco. (ISBN 1-56931-681-3)
• Weisser, Thomas and Yuko Mihara Weisser. 1998. Japanese Cinema Encyclopedia: The Sex Films. Vital Books : Asian Cult Cinema Publications. Miami. (ISBN 1-889288-52-7)

External links

• Pink films special, Midnight Eye, 8 April 2004
• Vital flesh: the mysterious world of Pink Eiga by Roland Domenig, 2002
• Collection of pinku posters
• Comprehensive list of Pinku eiga films
• Review of "Beautiful Mystery"