William Gibson, the man who coined the term cyberspace and who gave the Internet a virtual shape and form a decade before it entered the popular culture described a futuristic netherworld in Japan as:

… a deranged experiment in social Darwinism, designed by a bored researcher who kept one thumb permanently on the fast-forward button.

Gibson’s future-is-now description of Japan also applies to its porn business, possibly giving us a glimpse into things to come in the American industry. Mobile customers with broadband bandwidth are on the hunt for X-rated videos to download on their handsets and are crushing the 3G networks of KDDI and DoCoMo, two of the country’s mobile phone providers.

The explosive growth translate to about 1,000 new members a day, paying up to $105 for the privilege. While American mobile 3G technology languishes from spotty coverage, Japan’s adult industry is seemingly leading the way in pushing boundaries (though with mosaiced naughty bits) and content delivery.

Bloomberg.com: Porn Downloads Strain Japan Phone Network, Prompt DoCoMo Curbs

Gizmodo: Japan’s Unlimited 3G Data Plans Are Being Overwhelmed by Pornhounds [Japan]

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Despite the global downturn in the economy, Japan’s love hotels are flourishing — demonstrating there’s always a market for someplace to bang hookers anonymously as well as someplace where you can bang your girlfriend (your real one) and not worry about your parents walking in.

The hotels with elaborate themes such as castles (the European variety), S/m dungeons with plush animals (yes, really) and the Titanic (presumably in its pre-sunken state) are known for their discretion and the fact that their rooms are used up to four times a day. I would imagine there’s no CSI-themed love hotel with black lights.

Obviously, the places are popular for men and the hookers who love them by the hour. However, more conventional couples take advantage of them as well because the only thing more awkward than being really horny while still living with your folks in a tiny apartment, which many young adults in Japan do, is your parents getting horny while you’re still living at home in their tiny apartment.

But in a land that practically defined sexual deviance for the rest of the world — tentacle sex, shibari rope bondage and used panties in vending machines — leave it to an Englishman to take the kink to 11, Spinal Tap-style.

British businessman Steve Mansfield sees great potential in the industry which has traditionally been shunned by big Japanese corporations put off by its seedy reputation.

The rooms in his hotels are rather straightforward. He says he aims to create the ideal living area which people would have at home if money was no object.

There is a bed, of course, a flat screen television and a projector, a karaoke machine and an outdoor bathroom in the more expensive suites.

So apparently, the only theme love hotels have not explored is a room at the Holiday Inn. With a karaoke machine.

Love beats the recession in Japan

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