is a Japanese former ''

pink film refers in Japan to movies produced by independent studios that includes nudity (hence 'pink') or deals with sexual content. This encompasses everything from dramas to action thrillers and exploitation film features. Many pink films would be a ...

'' actress and AV idol. She appeared in award-winning ''pink films'', and was herself given a Best Actress award for her work in this genre in 2006.

Life and career

Minami Aoyama was born in

Tokyo Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...

on May 28, 1982 and began her career as an

adult video In Japan, (AV) are sex or nudity themed videos distinguishable from Toei porno feature films, Nikkatsu Roman Porno feature films, indie studio pink films, and less sex-centred 'V-cinema' or other (OV). Adult videos feature sex or nudity, and ...

(AV) actress in 2003 at the age of 21. She made her ''

'' debut that same year in director Toshiya Ueno's ''

Ambiguous Ambiguity is the type of meaning in which a phrase, statement, or resolution is not explicitly defined, making for several interpretations; others describe it as a concept or statement that has no real reference. A common aspect of ambiguit ...

'' (December 2003), which was the winner of the Best Film award at the Pink Grand Prix. In October 2004, she appeared with AV idol

Sora Aoi is a Japanese former AV idol, nude model, and actress. Starring in more than 600 adult films between 2002 and 2011, Aoi is widely considered to be one of the most popular adult video idols of the 2000s. Her popularity as a porn actress alone ha ...

in the mainstream revenge film directed by Kōsuke Suzuki. Aoyama had a featured role alongside Mayu Asada and

Lemon Hanazawa , a.k.a. Remon Hanazawa, is a Japanese ''pink film'' actress who has also performed in adult videos (AV). She has appeared in award-winning ''pink films'' such as ''Lunch Box'' (2004) and '' Molester's Train: Sensitive Fingers'' (2007). She was ...

in the September 2005

J-horror Japanese horror, also known as J-horror, is horror fiction derived from popular culture in Japan, generally noted for its unique thematic and conventional treatment of the horror genre differing from the traditional Western representation of horr ...

pink film , also known as ''Kannō byōtō: nureta akai kuchibiru'', based on the Japanese

urban legend Urban legend (sometimes modern legend, urban myth, or simply legend) is a genre of folklore concerning stories about an unusual (usually scary) or humorous event that many people believe to be true but largely are not. These legends can be e ...

of the

Kuchisake-onna is a malevolent figure in Japanese urban legends and folklore. Described as the malicious spirit, or ''onryō'', of a woman, she partially covers her face with a mask or other item and carries a pair of scissors, a knife, or some other sharp o ...

. As an AV actress, Aoyama was nominated for the Best Actress Award at the 2006

Adult Broadcasting Awards The Sky PerfecTV! Adult Broadcasting Awards are given for performances in adult video programs shown on SKY PerfecTV! satellite TV channels in Japan. The awards complement those presented by the AV Open / AV Grand Prix contests which are given fo ...

ceremony for her work on the Japanese adult satellite TV network

SKY PerfecTV! is a direct broadcast satellite (DBS) service that provides satellite television, audio programming and interactive television services to households in Japan, owned by parent company SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation. SKY PerfecTV! is also a dire ...

in 2005. Among her more prominent ''pink film'' performances was in Shinji Imaoka's '' Uncle's Paradise'', released in May 2006. At the annual Pink Grand Prix, the film was chosen as the eighth best ''pink'' release of the year, and Aoyama was given an award as Best Actress. Aoyama was one of the leads in the 2006 mainstream romantic fantasy , which was also released in the United States in May 2007. Aoyama announced her retirement from AV work at the June 2007 event ''Momotaro Night 2007!'' (桃太郎Night！2007) held in

Shinjuku, Tokyo , officially called Shinjuku City, is a special ward of Tokyo, Japan. It is a major commercial and administrative center, housing the northern half of the busiest railway station in the world ( Shinjuku Station) as well as the Tokyo Metropol ...

. Her retirement was marked by simultaneous releases of videos from the Momotaro and

Attackers is a Japanese adult video (AV) production company located in Tokyo, Japan. History Attackers started as an independent ("indie") studio but is now one of the companies that make up the large AV group, the Hokuto Corporation, which distributes ...

studios on June 7, 2007 and a special photo session appearance by Aoyama for Attackers. After her retirement from adult videos, Aoyama continued to make pink films including starring roles in the 2008 '' Nakagawa Jun Kyōju no Inbina Hibi'' with

Rinako Hirasawa is a Japanese AV idol and ''pink film'' actress. She has appeared in award-winning ''pink films'', and was given a "Best Actress" award for her work in this genre in 2007. Life and career Hirasawa had a part-time job at the video arcade in T ...

, and director

Yoshikazu Katō is a Japanese film director and screenwriter. Life and career Yoshikazu Katō was born in Kyoto Kyoto ( or ; Japanese language, Japanese: , ''Kyōto'' ), officially , is the capital city of Kyoto Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan's ...

's November 2009 film , which won the Best Film at the Pink Grand Prix for 2009. Aoyama was also named Best Actress, 2nd place for her performance in this film. Also in 2009, Aoyama won the Best Supporting Actress prize at the Pinky Ribbon Awards. In addition to appearances on television and in

V-cinema Direct-to-video or straight-to-video refers to the release of a film, television series, short or special to the public immediately on home video formats rather than an initial theatrical release or television premiere. This distribution strate ...

, Aoyama also joined "Gesshoku Kagekidan", an avant-garde theatrical group, and in August 2008 performed in a play by

Shūji Terayama was a Japanese avant-garde poet, artist, dramatist, writer, film director, and photographer. His works range from radio drama, experimental television, underground (''Angura'') theatre, countercultural essays, to Japanese New Wave and "expande ...

. In April 2011, Aoyama co-starred with Nao Ayukawa in director

's pink film and soon afterwards she announced her retirement from the entertainment business and closed her official blog as of June 2011.

Partial filmography

* ''

'' (December 2003) * ''Bitter Sweet'' (October 2004) * '' Uncle's Paradise'' (May 2006) * '' Nakagawa Jun Kyōju no Inbina Hibi'' (March 2008)

References

External links

Minami Aoyama's official blog
(in Japanese) (closed) * * , - ! colspan="3" style="background: #DAA520;" , Pink Grand Prix , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Aoyama, Minami 1982 births Living people Actresses from Tokyo Japanese pornographic film actresses Pink film actors