Ask John: How is Hentai Viewed in Japan

Question:
We all know and have our own opinions about Japanese hentai, but I was curious about how hentai anime is viewed in Japan itself. What do most Japanese citizens think of it? Is there any exchange of talent between mainstream anime and hentai anime (in terms of artists, voice talent, etc.) or do the two camps stay separate? Also, is there any sort of social or occupational stigma for people who work on hentai anime?

Answer:
Allow me to preface my answer by stating that I am far from an expert on this topic. Based on my limited knowledge, though, Japan is much more accepting of adult material and subject matter than Westerners are, in general. Hentai, in Japan, is considered adult material, and restricted from children, but is not hidden away in dark corners to be perused and furtively purchased in secrecy. In my own experience in Tokyo, I found hardcore hentai manga shelved in anime stores, video game stores and regular bookstores right next to any and every other type of merchandise. I found street merchants selling adult manga magazines on blankets on sidewalks next to children’s manga magazines and daily newspapers. It’s simply strict Japanese morals that prevent youngsters from handling things they know they shouldn’t be looking at.

There is actually, quite a good deal of talent overlap between hentai and more mainstream, “legitimate” types of anime. Most of this, though, comes in the form of creators rather than voice actors. As just a few examples, Toshihiro Hirano, creator of Iczer One and director of the Devilman Lady and Vampire Miyu anime series, created Legend of Lyon: Flare and the two Mako episodes of Cream Lemon. Yuji Moriyama, director of Project A-ko and Geobreeders, directed several episodes of Cream Lemon. Yasuomi Umetsu, creator of Yellow Star, Kite and Mezzo Forte also worked on Megazone 23 part 2 and the “Presence” segment of Robot Carnival. After creating Tenchi Muyo and El Hazard, Masaki Kajishima created at least two hentai OAV series: Space Opera Aga Ruta (to be released by CPM as Agga Rutter) and Gosenzo San E (to be released by CPM as Masquerade), and Oh! Great, creator of the Silky Whip manga series and Junk Story OAV also provided the character designs for the Himiko-den TV series and Playstation game.

I really don’t know much about voice actors overlapping, or social stigma coming from roles in hentai anime, but there may be some. For example, Central Park Media was unable to release a subtitled version of the first O-Genki Clinic OAV. They explained this by revealing that the Japanese voice actors involved in the OAV didn’t want their association with this anime brought up again. This may have something to do with Kikuko Inoue, best known as the voice of Belldandy, having had a role in O-Genki Clinic.