Gripe of the month

[hairy_bush]

the old R18 shutdown case....
here's what my dependable assistant has found and summarized (ChatGPT can make mistakes)

R18 Closure — Summary of Key Reasons (Prioritized)

Rank	Reason	Explanation

1

Payment processors (Visa, Mastercard) refused service

The biggest factor. After Pornhub’s 2020 scandal, Visa/Mastercard started avoiding any adult site with “youthful” or risky themes, even if technically legal. R18’s themes (schoolgirl, loli-style genres) were too high risk for Western payment processors.

2

Piracy and illegal downloads exploded

As JAV became globally popular, piracy grew massively. Even loyal fans often downloaded illegally due to geo-restrictions or payment problems. R18 was a victim of its own popularity. Loss of paying customers hurt foreign revenue badly.

3

Uncensored JAV leaks

Widespread leaks of uncensored content (無修正流出) hurt R18’s value proposition. Why would users pay for mosaiced content when uncensored versions were circulating for free? This also increased legal scrutiny.

4

Regulatory pressure (Japan + international)

Japan passed stricter laws on porn production/distribution in 2022. Globally, financial regulators pressured banks to avoid adult industries. No official order to shut R18 down, but indirect pressure mounted.

5

Regional blocking / geo-restrictions

Regional access limits frustrated overseas customers, pushing them toward piracy. VPN use rose, but this further reduced legitimate payment options.

​

About the SJW angle...
There is no concrete evidence that "social justice warriors" (SJWs) in the United States directly pressured Japanese studios or the Japanese government to shut down R18.com. However, broader international scrutiny of adult content, particularly from Western financial institutions and advocacy groups, likely contributed to the challenges faced by platforms like R18.

Why Visa and MasterCard still saw R18 as a risk
“Youthful” themes can trigger corporate and legal alarm bells. Even though all actresses were legally adults (18+ years old), Genres like schoolgirl uniforms, loli, step-sibling scenarios, or “first-time” themes still look or sound like underage situations. In Western legal and corporate culture, perception matters as much as legal compliance. Payment processors fear public backlash or lawsuits claiming they support “child-like pornography,” even when legal.

Precedent from Pornhub crisis (2020) - In 2020, Pornhub lost Visa and Mastercard support even though most content was technically legal. Public and political pressure accused Pornhub of hosting videos that “looked” like exploitation or underage content. Visa and Mastercard pulled out to avoid risk, even though many creators followed the rules.

Strictest compliance rules introduced (2021 onward) - After 2021, Mastercard required age verification documents, content moderation, and banning of “youthful appearance” content for adult performers in many regions. Even suggestive titles or themes (like “teen,” “schoolgirl,” “first time”) were flagged as non-compliant by some processors.

Japan’s adult industry hard to separate from “youth” themes. A large portion of JAV genres focus on school settings, “first-time” experiences, or petite actresses. Even if fully legal, Western partners (Visa/Mastercard) cannot accept the risk of accidental perception as child-like content.

 

[hairy_bush]

they don't really care for foreigners but if you don't want any trouble so ban them

ahh that was the case a long time ago.....but since the yen is weaker against other major currencies and the salaryman's spending amount is a lot less than before...But you would be correct if you exclude OSAKA and TOKYO..smaller cities don't have too many foreigner tourist so they can ba foreigners

Increased Foreign Clientele in Japan's Sex Industry (after CoVid Lockdowns Lifted)

The reopening of Japan's borders has led to a surge in foreign tourists, many of whom are exploring the country's nightlife and adult entertainment options. This influx has been particularly evident in areas like Kabukicho, where some sex workers report that nearly half of their clients are now foreigners. The weakened yen has made services more affordable for tourists, further boosting demand.

Adaptation of Businesses to Foreign Demand

Some businesses have adapted to cater to this new demographic. For instance:

• Sparaku, a sex shop in Tokyo, reportedly saw 60–70% of its revenue come from foreign tourists. The establishment adjusted its services to accommodate non-Japanese speakers, including the use of translation apps for communication.
• Street-level sex workers in areas like Okubo Park have also noted an increase in foreign clients, with some preferring them over local customers due to fewer price negotiations and higher payments.