PINK BOX

[Samurai_Jerk]

I have to go with Marvin and agree that this is something new and interesting. Yes, others have documented Japan's sex industry, but how many Western women have had this kind of access? Plus, this is being marketed to the West, not Japanese people and not FG Japanophiles who spend their time jerking off to fuzoku go-annai websites

[Kuang_Grade]

While I will defer to more qualified reviewers, I've 'read' through it and it's not bad...It is not something that you'd keep under your mattress nor is it a overly high minded work. Overall, it is rather dispassionate in its descriptions and it lets the photos do most of the talking. Some are joyous, some are rather disheartening, many are just of women at their job, which in this case involves various forms of undress and/or physical manipulation. Interspersed between the photos are quotes from both customers ('I think all men are universally perverted....It is just in Japan, we do something about it") and employees ("It would take a year to earn the money for my purse if I was working in an office."). While there are some rather amusing shots (my favorite is a translation of a 'order sheet', not dissimilar to a hotel's room service breakfast order sheet, except this one includes much more selections of what, in where, what sequence order, what do you want her to do with it, ect.)...although the funniest bit is when she explains in the authors note that on her 30th birthday, her husband proposed starting a family and she said "there is something I have to do first", which was doing this book. She also give a shout out to Donald Richie in her acknowledgments page.

[craigorr]

[Mulboyne]

Guinea Pig

[GomiGirl]

In the series, our English presenter, Ashley Hames, travels across the world observing and meeting people involved in alternative lifestyles. Ashley usually gets really involved with the people he meets and becomes great friends with them. So far in the series he's had his testicles nailed to a plank, directed porn and been a blow job tester!

Hi Craig - welcome to FG. This sounds like a standard night out for most of us here!!

When you are planning your trip, drop us a line and we can organise a welcome wagon drinking night in the seedier parts of town that most tourists wont ever see.

There are lots of resources for you on this board - don't be shy.

[Marvin Feltcher]

Joan Sinclair has done a pretty good job with "Pink Box," IMHO. She's presented what can often be a difficult and confusing world in an easy to understand manner.
The pictiures are of decent quality, helped by the subjects not being afraid of the camera and many photos taken naturally (as opposed to poses, of which there were also many).
Like Kuang-Grade, I loved the translation of the order form, but some of the English in it -- and in other parts of the book -- was a bit rough. The draft could probably have been proofed one more time.
The comments were also great. I found the explanations of the particular services were generally good. It would have been nicer to hear a bit more from the girls, who are, after all, the mainstay of the industry. But I understand that Ms. Sinclair didn't have much time at each outlet and getting these comments may have been a bit prohibitive.
If I have one major criticism, it's the essay at the start of the book by James Farrer, a sociology teacher at Sophia University. He's recycled nearly every cliche in existence regarding the Japanese sex industry in a dry, bland essay that doesn't really do justice to a world's that thriving, exciting and dynamic. Donald Richie would have been a much better choice for the introudction.
All in all, though, Ms. Sinclair has done the English speaking world a big favor and deserves a huge pat on the back for her efforts. "Pink Box" will be counted among my favorite books on Japan.

[Greji]

Hi Craig - welcome to FG. This sounds like a standard night out for most of us here!!

Just Standard? Nailed to a plank? Sounded a bit time for you Gomi! But, I'd volunteer to attend the guided tour!

[Western All Stars]

[Taro Toporific]