R.I.P. Nao Saejima

Saejima Nao: Akume kinenbi (1988)

I've about caught up on the Pink film/IMDb work I wanted to get done before returning here, so let's get things started with a look back at my period of silence. During my month+ off-blog, about 70 of my Pink film submissions were accepted at IMDb. I finished the year of 2003 and started on 1990, from which point I will work forward. Unlike with the pre-1990 project, I am not just submitting entries for Pink films to which I have images, but for complete Pink film releases for each year, as listed at the filmographies at the PG Website. Milestones in my Picasaweb work include the finishing of identifying/labeling posters to 1990, and making a big dent on 1991.

On a sadder note, news from the Pink film world indicates that the second half of this year has seen some major losses. Pink film pioneer and giant, Kôji Wakamatsu died tragically on October 17, after being hit by a taxi in Tokyo. 76 years old, he had just been given an award for Asian Filmmaker of the Year at the Busan International Film Festival in Korea. The intriguing and audacious titles of this Outlaw Master of Japanese Cinema were some of the earliest things to arouse my curiosity in the Pink film back in the '70s. Another Pink film director, one about whom I know less, Futoshi Sakamoto (坂本太) died on June 18. And perhaps most tragically, and nearest to the subject of this blog, the multi-talented Pink actress and AV model, Nao Saejima (冴島奈緒) died on September 29, at the age of 44, after a five-year fight with cancer. She was noted for her busty, yet slim figure in the late '80s, back when a Japanese F-cup was something to gawk at in awe. I'm pretty sure I have some of her photobooks from that era stashed away in my archives... For now, though, let's just take a brief review of this beauty's Pink film career.

At the top of this post we see the poster to Nao's first known starring theatrical film, the Roman Porno, Nao Saejima: Akume kinenbi (冴島奈緒　アクメ記念日 - "Orgasm Memorial") directed by Masahito Segawa and released by Nikkatsu in January 1988, just a few months before their bankruptcy ceased this venerable 17-year series of theatrical softcore pornography.

Saejima Nao: Kankin (1988)

Nao starred in prolific female Pink film director Sachi Hamano's May 1988 release, Saejima Nao: Kankin (冴島奈緒　監禁). Originally released by the now-defunct Million Films, above we see the poster to Shintôhô's 2010 re-release of the film, under the title Misshitsu no bijo: semeru (密室の美女　責める).

Abnormal Excitement: Nao Saejima (1989)

Abnormal Excitement: Nao Saejima (冴島奈緒　異常昂奮 / 冴島奈緒　異常昴奮 - Saejima Nao: Ijô Kôfun) released October 13, 1989 by Nikkatsu's successor, Xces directed by Masahiro Kasai (カサイ雅弘) and scripted by "Mr. Pink"'s prolific wife, Kyôko Godai, was named Best Film at the second Pink Taishô-- the major award of the Pink Film genre.

R.I.P. to this lovely lady, and to the two directors.