TOKYO — Nanami Matsumoto debuted as a gravure idol in 2015. After gaining popularity thanks to her 100-centimeter bust, she transitioned into a career as an adult video (AV) actress two years later.
On January 5, Matsumoto shocked fans by announcing her departure from her management agency and her “graduation” from mainstream commercial AV to begin operating as a freelancer.
“After working in the industry for so long, I started wondering if simply maintaining the status quo was enough,” Matsumoto said regarding her departure. Feeling a sense of stagnation, she decided to take total control of her career. “I thought, ‘It’s now or never.’ I now handle all my own sales and management.”
In speaking to Spa! (July 4), she pulls back the curtain on her recent shift to the independent adult industry — and a surprising decade-long side hustle.
“You need courage, resolution and persistence”
Matsumoto has shifted her focus to the lucrative but grueling doujin (independent) AV market. Operating alongside a small crew she dubs “Team Matsumoto,” she handles planning, editing and SNS promotion, while managing live events and solo shoots entirely on her own.
However, the AV veteran was quick to shatter the illusion that independent adult content is an easy cash grab.
“I want to clear up a misunderstanding: Doujin doesn’t absolutely guarantee you’ll make money. It is entirely dependent on your own hard work,” Matsumoto warned. “You have to consistently shoot and post. If you slack off, your income drops to zero. You need courage, resolution and persistence.”
Double life
Behind her on-screen adult persona, Matsumoto revealed she has been living a double life. For the past seven to eight years, she has worked part-time as a corporate accountant.
Initially taking the job to help a friend start a company, Matsumoto started with zero knowledge but eventually taught herself enough to earn a Level 2 commercial bookkeeping certification.
“I originally worked at the office, but I was quickly outed by people from other companies in our shared workspace,” she laughed. “It caused an uproar of ‘Nanami Matsumoto is here!’ so I had to switch to remote work.”
Financial independence
Her financial acumen heavily influences her personal life and her stark warnings to other women. While she admits to being highly romantic in her youth—even dropping out of university at age 20 to live with a boyfriend—she now takes a hardline stance against financial dependence in relationships.
“I know a lot of girls who say they can’t break up with a guy because they have no money,” Matsumoto said. “Even if they are suffering from domestic violence or psychological abuse, they can’t escape if they aren’t financially independent. I refuse to be dependent; even if I have a partner, I want to keep working.”
Looking ahead, Matsumoto says she plans to eventually step away from the camera. Armed with her industry experience and accounting skills, she hopes to move behind the scenes to consult, manage, and protect the next generation of women entering the adult entertainment world.
