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Nikkatsu to ‘Reboot’ popular ‘roman porno’ genre

The popularity of releases of 'roman porno' classics prompted the production of new films
The popularity of releases of ‘roman porno’ classics prompted the production of new films

TOKYO (TR) – After a more than two-decade lapse, venerable studio Nikkatsu will resume its legendary genre of soft-core pornography known as “roman porno,” reports Nikkan Sports (May 1).

The new films, produced under the “Roman Porno Reboot Project,” are expected to hit theaters sometime in 2016. Shooting for the series will begin this summer, and a release schedule is expected to be announced at the end of this year.

In explaining the reason for the move, Nikkatsu said that re-releases of roman porno classics in 2012 proved to be popular with young people.

Between 1971 and 1988, Nikkatsu released 1,133 films in the genre, which stipulated a sex scene every 10 minutes and a running length of around an hour.

The style found an audience from the start. The first film, “Apartment Wife: Afternoon Affair,” a chronicle of the extramarital activities of a woman residing in a suburban block-housing unit, spawned 20 sequels. In addition to housewives, the films routinely portrayed the erotic endeavor of SM queens, office ladies and sex workers.

In spite of their racy content, roman porno films launched the careers of numerous members within the conventional film industry. Yojiro Takita, who won a best foreign-language Oscar in 2009 for “Okuribito” (Departures), directed a number of roman porno productions in the 1980s.

For the new films, Nikkatsu will be partnering with satellite broadcaster BS SKY PerfecTV. In addition to theatrical releases, the new productions will also be broadcast on the network in edited form.