Is it common for actresses to use (multiple) pseudonyms?

[TakahashiKyoto]

So, in a recent thread, we cam to discuss about a newcomer called 八神のえみ, with only 2 videos under her name.
While browsing some AV site I stumbled about a known face.

A quick search on https://av-wiki.net/av-actress/八神のえみ/ and, obviously, it was indeed the same actress... with actually five videos in her filmography:
2 under the 八神のえみ name
1 under the 多江 name
1 under the Asuka name
1 seems uncredited
and at least 2 of these videos claim to be "AV debut".

I'm lost here... is that common practice? I mean, it seems awfully counterproductive to use so many different names when launching a career.
I can't seem to find any logical explanation here.

 

[IdeNali]

Yes, it is common practice and I agree it is confusing.

I'm collecting JAV and while cataloging I learned it is more the norm that an actress has multiple stage names over their career than they stick with only one.

Usually they don't have multiple names at the same time but they change the name when they change agencies that represent them (e.g. doing a rebrand) or when they start working with a new studio. Or they use/used one name for more vanialla content and another name for more hardcore content. I also learned that often the actresses are not deciding the name but the agencies/studios are.

But in the end it is confusing and you can miss a lot of content from an actress that you like if you don't know about her other pseudonyms/aliases. Websites like minnano-av.com are your friend or googling the name you know and check if some other website gathered all the other names.

 

[hairy_bush]

especially if they want to sell as "an amateur" they'll change names.....since lots of people seem to be interested in that genre

edit: or if they did uncensored stuff..some had different names, back in the day...also check sougouwiki

here's one of my favorite oldies "Satomi Suzuki" had a bunch of different names

鈴木さとみ（すずきさとみ）／鈴木夕子／浅田真美／佐藤みさと／佐藤絵美／吉井麻紀／美香／凛奈／まお／りんこ​