According to statistics released by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the proportion of lifelong unmarried men in Japan reached 23% in 2015, compared to 14% for women. And it is gradually increasing. The reason is because of the prevalence of non-marriage in Japan. There are many reasons for lifelong non-marriage, such as Japan itself is a low-desire society, which is caused by different concepts.
For example, for men, their income is unstable, and they have to work long commutes and overtime regularly, so they do not have time to meet girls. Therefore, 50% of Japanese men cite the reason for not getting married as "not meeting their ideal partner". What if they can't find the perfect one? So, more and more people are turning to other things for solace. Such as the "cat economy", "otaku" economy, and... Inflatable dolls.
In 2015, for example, Japan's adult products trade amounted to $83 billion, the United States adult products trade amounted to $65 billion, while China's adult products trade amounted to only $18 billion. And the highest sales of products is inflatable dolls, accounting for 19.5% of total sales of adult products. This number, it can be said that quite large. However, even so, for many people, the inflatable doll is not a thing that can be taken to the stage to speak. As a rather intimate object, everyone gives different emotions to it.
Recently, there is a film, but in a completely artistic way in the interpretation of the emotions brought by this object - "love dolls". The creative team is not simple. The director is Yuki Tabata, whose representative work is "Tokyo Love Story". The two main actors, Issey Takahashi and Yu Aoi. Their meeting is amazing, because of the inflatable doll. Tetsuo Kitamura (Ichi Takahashi), a sculptor who has just graduated and can't find a job. Because really can not find a job, had no choice but to go to a factory recommended to him by his brother. However, once inside he was dumbfounded, but all the mutilated bodies. Yes, this factory is precisely to do inflatable dolls. However, these can no longer be called inflatable dolls, should be called adult dolls. With the advancement of technology, inflatable dolls are gradually being eliminated. First, they were replaced by latex and rubber, and then by PVC material, which is dirty and durable. Then later, it is silicone dolls. The skin is tender and smooth, and the texture is completely incomparable to the previous material.
But he still feels far from enough. He wanted to do the doll is to have a human skin-like touch, beautiful appearance, no seams completely integrated body, as if there is a soul living in it. He, who is it? Aikawa Kinji, factory doll prototypist, has been working here all his life, just to make a perfect doll. But after all, he is old, all aspects of aesthetics have not kept up with the times, the need for an injection of young power. Although Tetsuo Kitamura was "tricked" to come here, he agreed to join the team because he was too short of money. With the addition of Tetsuo Kitamura, the whole team became enthusiastic again. A graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts, sculpture students, according to our current language is the class students, naturally learn things faster than ordinary people. Soon, the first silicone doll was made. When Kitamura Tetsuo confidently let the president to check, did not expect to usher in the first blow of his career. "Not qualified, completely unqualified". Big breasts is good? No, that is false. Mannequins need is a sense of truth, truth is beautiful. Yes, how can Kitamura Tetsuo who has not touched a woman for three years make the most satisfying dolls? What is needed at this point is that experience.
Just like sculpture painting needs models, making dolls also need models as molds. So, Kanji Aikawa came up with a way to hire a mannequin on the grounds of making medical artificial breasts. Unexpectedly, someone really came to the door. This person, is Sonoko Ozawa. In order to help more women, Sonoko willingly came to be a breast model. A gentle and kind-hearted woman, how can one not be moved. In the moment of feeling her with her hand, the current came. When Sonoko left, Tetsuo Kitamura dashed out and caught up with Sonoko to confess his love, and Sonoko said yes after just a moment of confusion. Although a little embarrassed, Sonoko said that the moment she fell in love with him was that brief moment of nakedness. This is the most primitive and honest love at first sight. And the doll made by Tetsuo Kitamura this time really fits the bill. Not only real, but also given a kind of emotion, a kind of Kitamura Tetsuo love for Sonoko. And this originally represents the erotic doll, but inadvertently became a link between Tetsuo Kitamura and Sonoko. From knowing, to loving, to living, to... Death.
They got married. After the marriage, Tetsuo Kitamura was devoted to his work. Tired of working every day to the point of falling asleep even when applauding for love. Putting too much energy into his work is bound to leave his wife cold. And this is the beginning of the problem. Because of the inflatable doll, they met. Because of the inflatable doll, their love created a rift. Who knows, at this point, the accident happened again. His wife stayed out all night and cheated on him. In order to get his wife back, Tetsuo Kitamura and Sonoko had a heartfelt conversation. About careers, about the two cheating, but, unexpectedly, after confessing, Sonoko still said she wanted a divorce. After repeated questioning, Sonoko told the reason, because of cancer. Yes, Sonoko has cancer, the kind that can not return. Usually, people in their last moments, if they can't be saved, usually consider the quality of life and what wishes they want to accomplish. Next, Sonoko's words became the turning point of the whole movie. "I want you, to make a body of me". Her last wish is to help Tetsuo Kitamura to complete a perfect doll. Just like making breasts at the beginning, restore the most realistic woman.
This is not only to give the doll a soul, but also the continuation of Sonoko's life. Again, because of the inflatable doll, their relationship grew closer. Again and again. Eventually, the "love doll" was really made. But Sonoko disappeared forever. It can be said that in the world of Tetsuo Kitamura, adult dolls have long been not just a thing for people to vent, but a symbol of the most real emotions. Although the film has many shortcomings, such as too heavy traces of the script, and eventually fell into the form of Japanese pure love. But, after watching it, it's nice to be able to go back on the road with a warmth, isn't it?
