In Kabuki-cho, the infamous red-light district in Shinjuku, there is a newly opened eatery where all the waitresses are Japanese Adult Video actresses or brothel workers. Soft on Demand, one of Japan’s biggest JAV group of companies, launched a brand new concept of “adult theme park” known as SOD LAND. Friend of J-List Kaho Shibuya visited, and here’s her special report!
Kaho Shibuya Visits SOD Land
As a former JAV actress myself, I, Kaho Shibuya had the opportunity to coordinate and join the shoot of Joey “the Anime Man” when he visited the place for his channel.
Knowing that JAV actresses are heavily managed by their agencies from past experience, I thought it’d be easier if I played the part of the waitress rather than hiring an actress and having her manager silently watching in the background. So I decided to wear the SOD LAND uniform and try giving a realistic view from behind the counter.
Plus, we would have had to pay for having an actress for the interview and cover their food/drink service, which cost the video sponsor $200 already. I wanted to go easier on his budget by appearing as one of the girls so we didn’t have to hire another one for $100 more.
So if you ever wondered whether I actually worked there, I’m sorry to deliver “no” as an answer. Being a non-drinker, I wouldn’t consider serving at any bars in general. However, not just current but even former actresses are welcome to work here if you’re interested. They even made me a name tag, which I’ll be giving away to one of the readers for this article, along with their stylish mask I wore, to thank you for reading this!
Read J-List’s long interview with Kaho Shibuya here!
Our Visit to SOD LAND Begins
Entering the building, Joey experienced a shower of sanitizer…literally. It’s quite ironic that the place to explore your dirty minds can be this hygenic. Because this new landmark had to open during COVID and in the middle of Kabuki-cho, where was under harsh criticism during Tokyo’s state of emergency (technically our version of lockdown) with a number of cases from host or hostess clubs there, SOD LAND tries extra hard to make sure it’s a safe place to visit.
The building consists of 5 floors, and each has its own theme. The 1st floor is the reception area where you learn about their system, where you get a name tag which has not only your name but also your fetish. The entrance surely helps you find one!
The B1 floor is a “standing bar” where you can talk to freshly-joined and lesser-known JAV actresses, hence customers can feel less nervous or star-struck. Also, the prices are the lowest here, rising as you go upstairs.
Do you see that snacks are sitting high up there? When you order them, girls would do their best to take them, possibly jumping. This is to let you get a view up their skirt.
Let’s Check Out the Second and Third Floor
The second floor, Kakubutsu Salon, has girls from brothels, “soaplands” and erotic massage places working. You see an elegant display of vibrators and other sex toys here.
If you want to meet rather famous JAV actresses, the third floor “SOD Employee Bar KABUKICHO” is what you are looking for, and where we got to film most of the next photos. I too had the privilege to work on the floor that day as a big name. I appreciate it!
You Can Win Kaho Shibuya Name Badge! (Details Below)
Each special drink comes in not only a special glass, but you get to enjoy a special moment with an actual JAV actress who is serving you.
There are several things you can order on the menu, like a “love confession” from a JAV actress, or asking her to talk dirty to you as your senpai, kohai, or whatever you want in your dream situation. I asked her to confess her feelings toward me at school. This had always been my own fantasy, since I went to all-girls schools for 12 years…
Another option is to have a drink served with a shoulder massage. This one I tried as a waitress, and apparently I have good hands.
The menu is filled with interesting concepts, like this spicey Female Employee Curry. The sausage in the middle with eggs on both sides looks quite ready to be eaten.
For Takoyaki, or octopus balls, they splash mayonnaise to represent bukkake. I’m more of a regular sauce person when it comes to Takoyaki, but the idea is tasteful.
The top floor, SILENT BAR, is the most covid-free area of the entire building. The important part of this theme is a magic mirror (a 1-way mirror) inspired by the SOD’s most famous JAV series called “The Magic Mirror,” a track with a gigantic magic-mirror window in which you feel exposed to pedestrians but it’s a “safe thrill” since they can’t really see you.
This time, the bar counter is covered by a magic mirror, so the actresses behind the counter only see themselves. They cannot figure out where you’re looking at… their thighs, arm pits, or any other kinky areas. It’s a cool idea not just for someone who enjoys checking out women when their guard is down, but for someone so shy that they would be too nervous at constantly having eye contact with actresses.
Each floor has its originality with different types of sex workers, so you should definitely explore every part. But if you want to get their “special services” or see more of their skins, you need to visit the brothels around Kabuki-cho or watch JAV videos. Even though conversations and atmosphere can extremely titillating, the bar is basically a PR opportunity for most of the actresses, hence you need to behave not to cross the line by touching them. There is a famous saying in Japanese that “Customers are Gods,” but in SOD LAND the waitresses are the Goddesses the customers worship.
Of course, protective plastic panels would help remind you that touching is not allowed. Although SOD LAND would have expected more customers if not the coronavirus, at least the crisis gives SOD the excuse to keep some space between customers and the actresses.
Events to meet JAV actresses tend to be rather touchy like they’re holding your arm so close to you that you can feel their breasts against your elbow. But such physical communication only comes from the actress as a generous fan service. At most meet-and-greets in Japan, attendees are not allowed to touch the talent, just like the “cosplay is not consent” rule at anime conventions. Even a gesture like putting hand on her shoulder can be stopped by a staff member since it’s not part of Japanese culture, and that’s why we have “hand-shaking events” for idols.
However, sometimes customers get the wrong idea and try to cop a feel, which makes girls feel genuinely scared. This has happened to me, and I also saw and heard about other actresses as well back in the days. Yes, they might have been touched by other men for work but those were “actors” at professional shoots. Appearing on adult videos doesn’t mean they can be treated like that in real life. In fact, COVID is actually a helpful excuse to bring a healthy environment in many ways.
Sex works need to create fantasies for men, yet it’s also important to protect female workers. SOD seems to be doing both well in this place.
Mr. Funai from the PR department shared that their initial idea was to make bars for retired actresses so that they could easily have a second career. The industry has been rather known to treat women as disposable, though SOD LAND has a lot of potential to make the situation better.
Thanks for reading this special report by Kaho Shibuya and The Anime Man! See the video of their visit to SOD LAND here, and if you want to order Kaho’s book about the JAV industry, you can find it in physical or Kindle form here.
Win Kaho Shibuya’s Badge and Mask!
Since you’ve come this far, let’s have a giveaway! You can win the badge Kaho Shibuya was given during their visit, as well as the mask she was wearing, by entering the contest below! Just follow J-List’s Twitter as well as Kaho’s, and retweet this tweet for a chance to win!
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