Hubbry Logo
AV OpenAV OpenMain
Open search
AV Open
Community hub
AV Open
logo
7 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
AV Open
AV Open
AV Open
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

AV Open is a major awards contest for the Japanese adult video industry. It went from a limited sales contest in 2006 to become, via its successor the AV GrandPrix, the major Japanese AV award with nearly 100 participating companies competing for the 2009 awards. The AV GrandPrix awards were not extended beyond 2009 but after a hiatus of seven years, the AV Open award competition was resurrected in 2014. The 2014 AV Open contest ran from 2014 until 2018, when it was once again not extended. No explanation was given for this decision.

AV Open Origins

[edit]

The AV Open awards for Japanese adult video (AV) companies were conceived as a means to improve public relations and provide a measure of quality for adult videos on a par with the AVN Awards for the US porn industry. It was the result of a collaboration between Tokyo Sports, a leading Japanese tabloid paper, and the large Japanese porn conglomerate Soft On Demand (SOD). Adult video production companies were invited to enter a candidate video in the contest and the video with the most number of sales during a set period would be the winner. The first prize award was 10 million yen (about $100,000), the second-place finisher took 5 million yen (about $50,000) and third place was worth 3 million yen (about $30,000). Videos in the contest were specially marked as AV Open entries and could be bought from the official site or at stores throughout Japan. Each contestant was to be given the same amount of space in the store displays.[1][2][3][4]

A second part of the contest, the Challenge Stage, was for the purpose of developing new directorial talent. Multiple videos could be submitted by the companies, but only one per director. Winners were also to be determined by number of sales with a prize of one million yen (about $10,000) for first place, 500,000 yen (about $5,000) for second and 300,000 yen (about $3,000) for placing third. Special awards of 1 million yen each were also to be given for a total prize pool of 25 million yen (about $250,000).[2][3][4]

2006 AV Open

[edit]

The first AV Open contest was held in 2006 and 16 adult video companies participated in the main contest (IEnergy, Audaz, Aroma Planning, SOD, S1 No. 1 Style, Masaaki Kai, Glay'z, Deep's, Dream Ticket, Natural High, Hibino, Prestige, KMP Million, Moodyz, Real Works and Waap Entertainment). The Challenge Stage drew ten entries from six companies, including V&R Products and HMJM which did not compete for the main award. The entries for the main contest were labeled as OPEN-0601 through OPEN-0616 and the Challenge Stage entries were numbered OPEN-0651 through OPEN-0660. The contest dates were May 1 through June 30 and 627 video stores were involved in the contest. In addition to the main awards and the Challenge Stage awards, special awards were also to be given by celebrity judges, including New York Yankees player Hideki Matsui (who suffered a wrist injury playing baseball and had to withdraw from the contest), comedian Hitoshi Matsumoto, and author Lily Franky.[4][5][6]

Results were announced at the awards ceremony held July 11, 2006 with several AV idols, directors, and company heads in attendance.[7][8]

Winners - 2006 AV Open

Honorary President Lily Franky also awarded special prizes to Real Works for Special Galactic All-Stars (責め痴女 ハーレムSPECIAL) with Karen Kisaragi, Riko Tachibana, Hotaru Akane, Noa & Nashigo Tanaka and to SOD for 500 Person Sex (人類史上初！！超ヤリまくり！イキまくり！500人SEX！！).

Winners - 2006 AV Open Challenge Stage

  • 1st Place: SAKKUN (Natural High) for Naked Continent (裸の大陸)
  • 2nd Place: Hiroshi Horiuchi (HMJM) for Young Girl Insertion (少女は挿入される生き物)

As Honorary President, Lily Franky also gave another award to Naked Continent.

2007 AV Open

[edit]

Since the 2006 AV Open proved popular and successful a second contest was held in 2007. For the second AV Open competition, 19 video producers submitted entries (IEnergy, Audaz, Aroma Planning, SOD, S1, Crystal-Eizou, Glay'z, Deep's, Natural High, Hibino, V&R Products, Prestige, Maxing, KMP Million, Moodyz, Real Works, Waap Entertainment, Wanz Factory, Kunitachi Farm). Videos were specially labeled "AV Open" and bore numbers OPEN-0701 through OPEN-0719. There were 12 entries in the Challenge Stage including entries from Akebono, Woman, Cross, Dandy & Dream Ticket which did not enter the main contest. Challenge Stage videos were labeled as OPEN-0751 to OPEN-0762. The contest was run from May 3 to June 30, 2007, and this time, more than 1200 stores throughout Japan participated in the contest. [9][10][11][12]

When results were announced the SOD entry Performer Kotono's First Sexual Experience (芸能人 琴乃 初・体・験 完全240分 10解禁スペシャル) was the winner by a large margin. But rumors began to spread on the Internet and about a month later it was revealed that SOD had actually purchased a large number of the videos with company funds. The company had spent close to 60 million yen (About $600,000) to buy some 16,000 copies out of the total of 30,000 sold. This violation of the contest rules caused the SOD entry to be disqualified and the second, third and fourth-place finishers were all moved up one place. The scandal caused the collapse of the AV Open contest and the official website was closed down.[1][4][13]

Final standing were as follows:[1][14]

Winners - 2007 AV Open

  • 1st Place: S1 - Hyper Risky Mosaic - Special Bath House Tsubaki (ハイパーギリギリモザイク 特殊浴場 TSUBAKI 貸切入浴料1億円) with Sora Aoi, Akiho Yoshizawa, Honoka, Sho Nishino, Asami Ogawa, Yuma Asami, MO ☆ MO, Mako Katase, Chinatsu Izawa, Megumi Haruka, Karin & China Miyu
  • 2nd Place: Crystal-Eizou - Celebrity Debut - Misa Kikoden (芸能人★デビュー！！ きこうでんみさ) with Misa Kikoden
  • 3rd Place: Moodyz - Dream School 11 (ドリーム学園11) with Nayuka Mine, ICHIKA, Chihiro Hara, Erina Kurosawa, Akira Shiratori, Rico, Nami Kimura, Natsuki Ijima & Miina Minamoto

The Lily Franky Honorary President Prizes were given to the S1 and Moodyz entries and also to the Natural High video World Amsterdam (アムステルダムハイ) starring Misaki Asou and the Waap Entertainment entry Deep Lesbian & Hot Semen & Black Fuck (熱吻ブラック) co-starring Marin and Shiho, and directed by K*WEST.

Winners - 2007 AV Open Challenge Stage

  • 1st Place: Captain Ehara (Cross) for Anal Splash Thick Lesbian United! (肛門潮吹き極太合体レズビアン) with Chihiro Hara, Hotaru Akane & Sakura Sakurada
  • 2nd Place: R40 (Dream Ticket) for How to New Half (はじめてのニューハーフ 月野姫) starring Hime Tsukino
  • 3rd Place: AD Tsujiyama (Deep's) for Finding Leah DiXXzon in Europe and US (リア・デ○ゾンちゃんを探しに欧米に行っちゃいました！)

The Lily Franky Honorary President Prize was given to Anal Splash Thick Lesbian United!

2008 AV GrandPrix

[edit]

The demise of the AV Open contest due to fraud in 2007 deprived the AV industry of a popular and useful means of getting publicity and setting standards. An alternative, the similar AV GrandPrix awards (AVグランプリ2008), was set up for 2008 by an SOD rival company, Hokuto Corporation (whose members include S1 and Moodyz). Winners were selected by a combination of sales volume and user votes. Sales in stores were combined with those from the DMM website. Each AV company picked a single video for entry in the contest which ran from December 1, 2007, to January 31, 2008. As with the AV Open contest, all participant videos were specially labeled and were given ID numbers beginning with AVGP or AVGL. A total of 77 companies competed, 39 in the main contest (GrandPrix Stage) and 38 in the Mania Stage for odd and fetish oriented material. Awards were also given in a number of sub-categories which had a more limited number of entries.[15][16] [17] [18]

The results were announced on February 21, 2008. The main award "GrandPrix Highest Award", determined by user votes at the DMM website, paid 5 million yen (about $50,000), the two Stage awards, "GrandPrix Highest Stage Award" and "Mania Stage Highest Award" were determined by sales and paid 3 million yen (about $30,000) each while the Distribution Sales Award for online digital delivery paid 1 million yen (about $10,000). The other 12 Stage awards for individual categories paid 1 million yen (about $10,000) each and were determined by user votes. One of these was for packaging, 10 were on particular themes, and there were also awards voted on by the press and by video distributors. In addition, there were twelve special prizes of 500,000 yen (about $5,000) each for a total prize pool of 30 million yen (about $300,000).[1][4][19]

Winners - 2008 AV Grand Prix Awards

GrandPrix Highest Award

  • Kawaii Special (kawaii* special ギザカワユス！) [Kawaii AVGL-012] with Yuri Kousaka & Miku Ohashi

GrandPrix Stage Highest Award

  • Confirmed x Confirmed x Girigiri Mosaic (了解×了解×ギリギリモザイク Wギリギリモザイク) [S1 AVGL-007] with Nao Mizuki & Minori Hatsune, directed by Zack Arai

Mania Stage Highest Award

  • Female Body Torture Laboratory 11 (女体拷問研究所 11) [Baby AVGP-030] with Rika Nagasawa & Yoko

Distribution Sales Award

  • Female Body Torture Laboratory 11 (女体拷問研究所 11) [Baby AVGP-030] with Rika Nagasawa & Yoko

Best Package Design

  • Confirmed x Confirmed x Girigiri Mosaic (了解×了解×ギリギリモザイク Wギリギリモザイク) [S1 AVGL-007] with Nao Mizuki & Minori Hatsune, directed by Zack Arai

Best SM Video

  • Human Terrible Wrapper (人間酷包 友田真希) [Mill AVGL-026] with Maki Tomoda

Best Featured Actress Video

  • Race Queen Climax Squirt AV Debut (現役レースクイーン絶頂潮吹きAVデビュー！！ 冬月かえで) [Premium AVGL-024] with Kaede Fuyutsuki, directed by Tadanori Usami

Best Mature Video

  • Sayuri Shiraishi, Stepmother Slave (義母奴隷 白石さゆり) [Goro Tameike AVGL-018] with Sayuri Shiraishi, directed by Goro Tameike

Best Amateur Video

  • Final Mariko (まり子 ファイナル) [HMJM AVGP-025] with Mariko and directed by Company Matsuo

Best Variety Video

  • How to Make Your "chin-chin" Grow 3cm (チンチンが3cm大きくなるDVD 気持ちいいオナニーで大きくなれる（秘）トレーニング指南) [Soft On Demand AVGP-046] with Kaho Kasume, Yuko Sakurai, Moe Ooishi, Rika Nagasawa, Nana Saeki & Anri Suzuki

Best Miscellaneous Video (AV Cast Memorial Grand Prix)

  • Shimiken's Private 7 FUCK (しみけんのプライベート7FUCK ) [IdeaPocket AVGL-001] Starring actor Ken Shimizu with Chihiro Hara, Mangetsu Sakuragawa, Nene, Kaede Akina, Natsuki Sugisaki, Yua Aida & Marin

Best Fetish Video

  • Extraordinary Pantyhose Play (非日常的パンスト遊戯 第一章) [AVS AVGL-006] with Nana Saeki & Moe Ooishi

Best Moe Child Video

  • Asuka 2 (あすか2) [Innocence AVGL-028] with Asuka

Best Lesbian Video

  • Insult Lesbian Training (陵辱レズ調教 羞恥と快楽に溺れゆく女達。 ) [U&K AVGP-037] with Chisato Shoda, Ren Hitomi, Rio Nakayama & Misaki Asou

Press Award - (Tie)

  • Final Mariko (まり子 ファイナル) [HMJM AVGP-025] with Mariko and directed by Company Matsuo
  • Confirmed x Confirmed x Girigiri Mosaic (了解×了解×ギリギリモザイク Wギリギリモザイク) [S1 AVGL-007] with Nao Mizuki & Minori Hatsune, directed by Zack Arai

Dealer Award

  • Confirmed x Confirmed x Girigiri Mosaic (了解×了解×ギリギリモザイク Wギリギリモザイク) [S1 AVGL-007] with Nao Mizuki & Minori Hatsune, directed by Zack Arai

2009 AV GrandPrix

[edit]

The 2009 contest ran from November 22, 2008, to February 2009. There were 97 participants[20] competing for 30 million yen ($300,000) in prize money. In addition to the main prizes AV GrandPrix (97 entries) decided by voters at the DMM website, Digital Sales (97 entries), and DVD Sales (97 entries), there were also separate awards for Featured Actress 2009 (14 entries), Violence 2009 (15 entries), Mature Woman 2009 (15 entries), Amateur 2009 (16 entries), Variety 2009 (14 entries), Fetish 2009 (17 entries), and Lovely/Moe 2009 (7 entries) videos. Additionally, there were awards from dealers, news media, for packaging, and from supporters.[21][22]

Results for the 2009 AV GrandPrix contest were announced February 18, 2009. The main GrandPrix Award determined by sales and user votes at the DMM website, paid 5 million yen (about $50,000). The two main sales awards, Digital Sales and DVD Sales each paid 2 million yen (about $20,000). The Retailers Award (voted on by video stores), the Press Award (voted on by magazine and newspaper editors), the Package Design Award and the Supporters Award paid 1 million yen (about $10,000) each. The Best Video Awards in the categories Featured Actress, Violence, Mature Woman, Amateur, Variety, Fetish and Lovely (all decided by user votes) each paid 1 million yen (about $10,000). There were also twenty runner-up Special Award prizes of 500,000 yen (about $5,000) each in the various Title categories. The total prize money amounted to 30 million yen (about $300,000). The hosts for the 2009 event were former AV star Honoka and mainstream actor Nagare Hagiwara.[23]

Winners - 2009 AV Grand Prix Awards

GrandPrix Highest Award

Digital Sales Award

DVD Sales Award

  • Double Risky Mosaic, Rio & Yuma (Wギリモザ Rioとゆま) [S1 AVGL-109] with Yuma Asami & Rio (Tina Yuzuki), directed by Hideto Aki

Retailers Award

  • Double Risky Mosaic, Rio & Yuma (Wギリモザ Rioとゆま) [S1 AVGL-109] with Yuma Asami & Rio (Tina Yuzuki), directed by Hideto Aki

Press Award

  • The Sex Cannon Ball Ride 2009 (テレクラキャノンボール2009 賞品はまり子*Gカップ) [HMJM AVGP-136] with Mariko, directed by Company Matsuo

Best Package Design

  • Double Risky Mosaic, Rio & Yuma (Wギリモザ Rioとゆま) [S1 AVGL-109] with Yuma Asami & Rio (Tina Yuzuki), directed by Hideto Aki

Supporters Award

  • Incest Family (近親相姦 昭和禁断血族「母さん、この家は狂ってます」) [Glory Quest AVGP-115] with Natsumi Kitahara, Reiko Yamaguchi & Kasumi Nanase

Best Featured Actress Video

  • Double Risky Mosaic, Rio & Yuma (Wギリモザ Rioとゆま) [S1 AVGL-109] with Yuma Asami & Rio (Tina Yuzuki), directed by Hideto Aki
Special Awards - Featured Actress Video
    • Virtual Story Iyarashi (癒らし。) [Audaz AVGP-103] with Nao Ayukawa
    • E-Body Special [E-Body AVGL-105] with Risa Kasumi, directed by Minami Haou
    • Oral Venus (おしゃぶりVENUS) [M's Video Group AVGL-111] with Maria Ozawa, Erika Sato & Reina Matsushima

Best Violence Video

Special Awards - Violence Video
    • Rope Lover Masochists with Beautiful Tits (激情M淫縛調教 縄好き美乳マゾ) [Art Video AVGP-101] with Shion & Saki Otsuka, directed by Kazuya Mine
    • Decadence of Pleasure (電マ悪魔祓い儀式) [BZ Zone AVGL-127] with Miyuki Majima, Yuu Haruka & Sayaka Honami
    • Death Loop Vol. 1 [Black Baby AVGP-141] with Serina Komuro(小室芹奈) & Yusuba Hirai, directed by Baba the Babee

Best Mature Woman Video

  • Incest Mother and Child Swap (近親相姦母子スワップ 僕の母親を抱かせてやるから、君の母さんをヤらせてくれ) [Takara Visual AVGP-127] with Natsumi Kitahara & Reiko Nakamori
Special Awards - Mature Woman Video
    • Slave Mother-in-Law (義母奴隷 浅倉彩音) [Goro Tameike AVGL-129] with Ayane Asakura, directed by Goro Tameike
    • Working Married Woman - Part-Time Love (働く人妻 パートタイムラブ) [Big Morkal AVGP-138] with Ren Takanashi, Asuka Ayanami, Aya Natsuki & Sayaka Kawase, directed by YUMEJI
    • Raped Female Teacher (犯された女教師) [Madonna AVGL-136] with Reiko Makihara, directed by Eitaro Haga

Best Amateur Video

  • S-Cute Ex Special [S-Cute AVGP-107] with ICHIKA, Tsubomi, Nurie Mihana, Anri Kawai, Mimi Kousaka & Kurara Iijima
Special Awards - Amateur Video
    • Big Breasts 24-year-old Piano Teacher Shiofuki (潮吹き巨乳ピアノ講師 かすみ24歳) [Toyohiko AVGL-131] with Kasumi Ayase, directed by Toyohiko
    • (彼ちんスペシャル!! カップルなら！彼氏のチ○ポ彼女のマ○コ当ててみろ!!2) [Hajime-Kikaku AVGL-133] directed by Hajime
    • H Cup Boin Amateur Nakadashi (Hカップボイン素人ナマ中出し) [Mune Kyun Kissa AVGL-145] with Kyoko

Best Variety Video

  • Lovely Schoolgirl's Paipan Educational Institution (制服パイパン美少女学園) [Yellow AVGL-106] with Rei Kitajima, China Yuuki, Reika Kudou & Nami
Special Awards - Variety Video
    • GAL CIR 3 [IdeaPocket AVGL-101] with 14 actresses
    • Nanpa Grandprix (ナンパグランプリ) [Hayabusa Agency AVGP-137] with 12 actresses
    • Lesbian Vampire (レズビアンヴァンパイア) [U&K AVGP-144] with Natsumi Horiguchi, Nana Saeki, Ramu Suzumiya & Ai Asho

Best Fetish Video

  • Big Hip Cowgirls (デカ尻JKのピストン騎乗位DX) [Aroma Planning AVGL-103] with Keito Inamori, Rina Aina, Aki Nagase, Risa Sanada, Aoba Ito, Rui Yazawa, Arisa Suzuki & Yui Kodama
Special Awards - Fetish Video
    • Hot Chocolate AV Grand Prix 2009 Limited [Digital Ark AVGP-130] with Rina Aina & Yume Ayaka
    • Tsubomi - Semen Club (蕾に滴る野蛮な汁) [Waap Entertainment AVGP-148] with Tsubomi, directed by Takuan

Best Lovely / Moe Video

  • Tera-Dick (Real Creampie Absolute Angel) (真正中出しの絶対アングル テラちんぽ) [Miruki Ipurin AVGL-141] with Yuka Osawa
Special Award - Lovely / Moe Video
    • Lolita Pretty and Sex (ロリータ美少女と性交) [Dream Ticket AVGP-133] with Alice

2014 AV Open

[edit]

Seven years after the last AV Open awards in 2007, the competition was reactivated as AV Open 2014, under the sponsorship of the Intellectual Property Promotion Association (IPPA) (知的財産振興協会). As previously, the contest was for sales over a set period of time at retail adult video outlets. AV Open 2014 officially opened with a press conference on May 27, 2014. Videos were submitted by the manufacturers on May 30, and the results were announced in November 2014.[24] Seventy-five adult video production companies submitted entries for the competition. The companies were sorted into three groups for the competition: very large makers in the Super Heavyweight (スーパーヘビー級) class, large makers in the Heavyweight (ヘビー級) class, and smaller makers in the Middleweight (ミドル級) class. Prizes were awarded in the overall competition and for winners in the individual classes. Ten companies were in the Super Heavyweight class, twenty-nine in the Heavyweight class and the remaining thirty-six in the Middleweight class. A special prize was also awarded for sales from the online distributor DMM.[24]

Prize money for the awards were: 5 million yen (about US$45,000) for Grand Prix, 2 million yen (US$18,000), 1 million yen (US$9000), and 500,000 yen (US$4500) for 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place in the Super Heavyweight class, 1.5 million yen (US$13,500), 700,000 yen (US$6250), and 300,000 yen (US$2700) for the Heavyweight Class, and 1 million yen (US$9000), 500,000 yen (US$4500) and 200,000 yen (US$1800) for the Middleweight Class.[24]

Winners - 2014 AV Open[25]

Grand Prix

  • Moodyz - Anal Bukkake Fuck Now! (ぶっかけ中出しアナルFUCK！) - Starring Minako Komukai, directed by Katsuyuki Hasegawa

DMM.R18 Distribution Sales Prize

  • Honnaka - 100 Person Nakadashi Ai Uehara (100人×中出し 上原亜衣) - Starring Ai Uehara, directed by Tiger Sakei

Super Heavyweight Class

First Place
  • Moodyz - Anal Bukkake Fuck Now! (ぶっかけ中出しアナルFUCK！) - Starring Minako Komukai, directed by Katsuyuki Hasegawa
Second Place
  • S1 No. 1 Style - Video That Packs a Punch V - Comprehensive Angle of Tits and Ass Together Presented Before Your Very Eyes (迫力映像V 乳・尻・結合が目前に迫る徹底アングル 宇都宮しをん) - Starring Shion Utsonomiya, directed by Hideto Aki
Third Place
  • Idea Pocket - BEACHY VENUS - Starring Aino Kishi, Airi Kijima & Mayu Nozomi, directed by Beach Boys (ビーチクボーイズ)

Heavyweight Class

First Place
  • Honnaka - 100 Person Nakadashi Ai Uehara (100人×中出し 上原亜衣) - Starring Ai Uehara, directed by Tiger Sakei
Second Place
  • Prestige - Nakadashi Camp (中出しキャンプ) - Starring Honoka Minami, Sakurako Umemiya, Natsuki Hasegawa, Mayu Honoka, Haruka Chisei, Haruna Ikoma & Natsumi Iku, directed by San Michuru (みちるサン)
Third Place
  • DANDY - Wild Kingdom (Special Edition) - Screwing Raw With African Natives (野性の王国 特別編 アフリカ原住民と生中出しをヤる) - Starring AIKA, directed by Sakkun

Middleweight Class

First Place
  • DEEP'S - Call On! Female College Students Limited Magic Mirror Issue Thorough Verification! Friendship Between Men And Women Is Approved!? ... (顔出し！女子大生限定 マジックミラー号 徹底検証！男女の友情は成立する！？ ...) - Amateur cast, directed by Luminax
Second Place
  • Goro Tameike - 27-Year-Old Talent Married For Five Years, She's Taking Non-Nude Erotica to the Limit (結婚5年目 27歳 人妻タレント 決意の限界着エロ 東 凛) - Starring Rin Azuma, directed by Goro Tameike
Third Place
  • Aroma Planning - Little Devil JK Bold Skirt Collection Special - Large Number Of People Provocation Version (小悪魔JK 大胆パンチラコレクション Special 大人数挑発バージョン) - Starring Yūki Natsume, Hibiki Ōtsuki, Ruka Kanae, Marie Konishi, Nanase Otoha, Tsugumi Taketou, Aina Takahashi, Reina Ōmori & Yoku Ayumi, directed by Kijin Kasai (笠井貴人)

Notes

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

AV Open

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The AV Open was an annual competition in the Japanese adult video (AV) industry, where production studios vied to create innovative and commercially successful videos, judged primarily on sales performance and creativity across various categories. Inspired by the American AVN Awards, it encouraged bold, experimental content such as large-scale orgies and unique themes, fostering competition among dozens of studios. The event highlighted the industry's emphasis on high-stakes production, with entries released under a specific DVD code (AVOP or OPEN) during a limited two-month window to allow for sales tracking. Launched in 2006 by Tokyo Sports and (SOD), the inaugural AV Open featured a prize pool of 25 million yen (approximately $250,000 USD at the time) and categories like Best Mature Video and Best Packaging Design, drawing participation from 16 studios. The 2007 edition expanded but ended in when SOD was disqualified for allegedly purchasing 15,000 copies of its own entry, costing about $600,000, leading to a hiatus. It was temporarily replaced by the AV Grand Prix in 2008 and 2009, which introduced fan voting and a 5 million yen grand prize, but the original format revived in 2014 under sponsorship by the Promotion Association (IPPA). The revived version structured competitions into "weight classes" (, , ) based on production scale, attracting over 70 studios by 2016 with diverse entries including debuts, group scenes, and niche genres like mature women and ladyboys. The competition concluded after its 2018 edition, as the industry shifted toward more conservative, low-risk productions amid economic pressures and the rise of digital streaming. Over its runs, AV Open produced iconic titles, such as SOD Create's 500-person video and Natural High's Naked Continent in 2014, underscoring its role in pushing creative boundaries within Japan's vast AV market. Digest compilations like AVOD-301 (2017) preserved highlights, featuring trailers and interviews that captured the event's promotional energy.

Background and Origins

Industry Context

The Japanese adult video (AV) industry began its rapid growth in the early 1980s, coinciding with the widespread adoption of VHS home video recorders that enabled the production and distribution of explicit content beyond theatrical venues. Previously dominated by softcore erotic films from studios like Nikkatsu's Roman Porno series, the market shifted as AV titles gained popularity for their direct accessibility, surpassing traditional pink films in sales by the mid-1980s. This expansion occurred under strict regulatory constraints, including Article 175 of the Penal Code, which criminalizes the distribution of obscene materials and requires mandatory mosaicking of genitalia in visual depictions to comply with obscenity standards. By the 1990s and early 2000s, the industry had matured with the emergence of prominent production companies that emphasized high-volume output and genre diversification. Key players included Soft On Demand (SOD), established in 1995 as a pioneer in innovative AV formats, Moodyz, founded in 2000 to focus on premium titles, and S1 No. 1 Style, launched in 2004 with an emphasis on visual quality and celebrity-like idols. These studios, along with earlier entrants like Diamond Visual from 1988, drove annual production to around 20,000 titles by the mid-2000s, with DVD formats accounting for the majority of sales in a market valued at approximately 500 billion yen. Recognition within the industry prior to formalized competitions relied on informal mechanisms such as retailer sales rankings and limited niche awards, including the X City Adult Video Grand Prix (1998–2004) and studio-specific honors like SOD's annual awards. These approaches, while highlighting commercial success, suffered from fragmentation, lacking industry-wide participation and criteria for artistic or technical merit, which hindered broader promotion of quality and competitive innovation. Media outlets like Tokyo Sports contributed to visibility through dedicated adult film categories in their annual awards from 1991 to 1999, fostering some public discourse on AV talent. Amid these developments, the AV sector increasingly pursued legitimacy by drawing inspiration from international models such as the in the United States, which celebrate professional achievements in adult entertainment and elevate industry standards. This context of robust growth, regulatory navigation, and fragmented acclaim underscored the demand for a unified platform to honor excellence and professionalize the field.

Inception in 2006

In early 2006, the tabloid newspaper Tokyo Sports and the prominent adult video production company Soft On Demand (SOD) jointly announced the creation of the AV Open, a groundbreaking sales-driven contest intended to identify Japan's top adult video while boosting overall industry quality and public visibility. The organizers' motivations stemmed from a push to foster innovation in AV content amid competitive market pressures, with SOD contributing its extensive production infrastructure to support entries and Tokyo Sports utilizing its media platform for widespread promotion and credibility. Promotional efforts included features in Tokyo Sports editions starting in late April 2006, building anticipation through coverage of the contest's rules and participant selection process. The foundational structure featured 16 select studios, such as Real Works and , divided into a Main Stage for established producers and a Challenge Stage for new directors. Each submitted a single title, with the Main Stage judged by sales volume from May 1 to June 30, 2006, across 627 video stores and online retailers; the Challenge Stage followed similar sales criteria. Special awards in categories like Best Package Design and Best SM Video were judged by a panel of celebrities including and . The prize structure included 10 million yen for first place, 5 million yen for second, and 3 million yen for third in the Main Stage; 1 million yen, 500,000 yen, and 300,000 yen respectively in the Challenge Stage; plus 1 million yen each for special awards, totaling a prize pool of 25 million yen and emphasizing commercial success alongside creativity.

Early Competitions (2006-2007)

2006 AV Open

The inaugural 2006 AV Open featured submissions from 16 major studios in the summer of that year, with each studio limited to one original title entry to ensure a focused competition on innovative content. Participating studios included Real Works, (SOD), , and Natural High, among others, selected for their prominence in the industry and commitment to new productions labeled OPEN-0601 through OPEN-0616 for the main contest. Sales performance was tracked over a two-month period in summer 2006 (e.g., May–June), providing an objective measure of market reception, with the awards ceremony held in November to announce the results before an audience of AV idols, directors, and executives. The Grand Prize, worth 10 million yen (approximately $85,000 at the time), was awarded to S1 No. 1 Style for their entry Hyper – Barely There Mosaic (ハイパーギリギリモザイク), which topped the sales rankings. Moodyz's Dream School 10 secured the runner-up position, earning 3 million yen (about $25,000), while 20 special awards of 500,000 yen each (roughly $4,200) were distributed across various title categories, bringing the total prize pool to 25 million yen. Collectively, the entries achieved over 100,000 units sold during the tracking period, demonstrating strong consumer interest and positioning the AV Open as an influential sales benchmark that encouraged competitive innovation in the Japanese video market.

2007 AV Open

The 2007 AV Open represented a substantial expansion from the previous year's limited format, drawing entries from 19 studios and fostering greater industry participation. This growth enabled a broader range of productions, with the introduction of specialized categories such as "Idol" for gravure and debut-themed works and "" for innovative production concepts, allowing studios to showcase diverse creative approaches beyond standard narratives. Building on the 2006 edition's sales-driven model, the competition judged entries primarily on units sold during a two-month period, emphasizing commercial viability while highlighting thematic variety through these new avenues. The event's execution, however, was severely undermined by allegations of misconduct. (SOD), a prominent organizer and participant, initially claimed the Grand Prize with its entry Geinōjin hatsu taiken: Kanzen 240-bu 10 kaikin supesharu starring Kotono, but investigations revealed the studio had inflated sales by purchasing approximately 16,000 copies of its own video using around 60 million yen in company funds, including employee contributions. This manipulation violated contest rules, leading to 's disqualification, the revocation of its 10 million yen prize, and the upward promotion of lower-ranked entries. Amid the ensuing chaos, S1 No.1 Style secured the Grand Prize for Haisoku mōsō: Tokushu yokujō Tsubaki, a high-concept bathhouse-themed production that capitalized on the scandal's fallout to claim top honors. Other notable results included second place for Crystal Eizou's Geinōjin ♥ debut!! and third for Moodyz's Dream School 11, while the Challenge Stage awarded its top spot to Cross's niche entry Kōmon shiofuki gokubuto. The controversy eroded trust among participants and sponsors, prompting immediate announcements of the competition's suspension, heated financial disputes over prize distributions and organizational costs, and an effective halt to the AV Open format until its eventual revival years later.

AV GrandPrix Period (2008-2009)

2008 AV GrandPrix

Following the collapse of the 2007 AV Open due to widespread fraud allegations, the AV industry rebranded and relaunched the competition as the AV GrandPrix in 2008, organized by a broader coalition led by and including along with numerous studios, to restore credibility and broaden participation. The new format featured hybrid judging, combining sales performance (50%) with fan votes conducted via the DMM website (50%), and involved 77 participating companies submitting works across diverse categories such as Grand Prix, actress awards, and genre-specific honors like SM or amateur. Submissions occurred during the summer, followed by an October voting period open to the public, culminating in a December awards ceremony that highlighted industry innovation and market favorites. In its inaugural year, the AV GrandPrix awarded the top Grand Prix to Kawaii* label's Special (AVGL-012), featuring performers Yuri Kosaka and Miku Ohashi, for its blend of moe aesthetics and high engagement. Notable entries from major studios included Moodyz's contributions in fetish categories and S1 No.1 Style's strong sales-driven performances, underscoring the event's emphasis on both commercial success and creative diversity.

2009 AV GrandPrix

The 2009 AV GrandPrix marked the peak of participation in the early phase of the competition, attracting entries from 97 studios vying for a total prize pool of 30 million yen. This edition built upon the format established in 2008 by further expanding the scope to reflect evolving distribution trends in the industry. Categories were broadened to include a Digital Sales Award, emphasizing online and accessibility alongside traditional metrics. Judging criteria incorporated online polls that allowed public voting to influence outcomes in tandem with sales performance data from both physical and digital channels. The process highlighted the growing role of consumer input in recognizing high-impact works. The event timeline spanned from November 22, 2008, through February 2009, with studios submitting recent releases for consideration during this period. Awards were announced shortly thereafter. S1 No.1 Style's entry, Double Risky Mosaic, Rio & Yuma (released November 2008 and starring Rio and ), claimed the GrandPrix Highest Award, underscoring trends toward high-production-value collaborations featuring prominent performers. The video also secured additional honors, including the DVD Sales Award, Retailers Award, and Best Package Design Award, illustrating the emphasis on multifaceted excellence in production and market reception. This win exemplified the era's preference for polished, star-driven content that balanced artistic elements with broad appeal.

Hiatus (2010-2013)

Reasons for Suspension

The four-year hiatus of the from 2010 to 2013 stemmed from a combination of internal controversies and external industry shifts that eroded the event's viability. A pivotal internal factor was the 2008 disqualification of (), a primary organizer alongside Sports, for manipulating sales figures by purchasing over 15,000 copies of its own entry video at a cost of approximately 60 million yen (about $600,000 USD). This fraud scandal, which violated rules designed to measure genuine consumer interest through physical sales, severely undermined the event's credibility and fueled judging controversies, leading to diminished trust among participating studios. Compounding these issues were escalating production costs for contest entries, often involving elaborate, high-budget videos that strained studio resources amid shifting priorities toward . Participation interest waned as companies redirected efforts to online platforms, reducing the incentive for costly campaigns central to the AV Open format. The AV Grand Prix, which replaced AV Open in 2008 and 2009, was not extended beyond 2009. In 2010, organizers formally announced the suspension, citing these cumulative challenges from prior years. External pressures further exacerbated the decline, including the post- global economic downturn that prompted fiscal prudence across the Japanese AV sector and heightened regulatory scrutiny on promotional activities. The rapid rise of digital streaming, exemplified by DMM's dominance as a key distributor handling content from over 150 studios by late 2008, accelerated the transition away from physical metrics that underpinned the . This shift diminished the event's relevance, as studios increasingly focused on over traditional retail promotions. The suspension had repercussions for the organizers, including reputational damage to from the scandal, while Tokyo Sports pivoted toward other media ventures, effectively sidelining its involvement in AV awards. These factors collectively halted the AV Open, marking a transitional period for the industry.

Alternative Awards During Hiatus

During the hiatus of the AV Open from 2010 to 2013, the Japanese adult video (AV) industry saw the emergence of alternative recognition systems that filled the void left by the absence of a centralized sales-based competition. These substitutes emphasized different metrics, such as and broadcasting performance, reflecting broader changes in consumer behavior toward online platforms. The rise of digital-focused awards was exemplified by DMM's annual rankings, which began prominently tracking download and streaming metrics around as declined. DMM, Japan's leading AV platform, compiled yearly charts for top works, series, and actresses based on digital data, providing a data-driven alternative to traditional DVD-focused contests. These rankings highlighted the shift to online consumption, with categories evaluating popularity through verified purchase and view counts rather than retail units. Other notable events included the , which focused on televised AV content and continued annually during the period, awarding excellence in satellite programming. This event prioritized broadcast quality and viewer engagement over sales, with categories for actresses, productions, and specialized genres like high-definition content. Key examples from 2011 included Ai Haneda winning Best New Actress for her versatile performances across multiple channels, while Uta Kohaku received Best Production in HD for innovative no-panties news segments. Studio-specific honors, such as the , also persisted as internal celebrations at year-end parties, recognizing top performers and directors within individual labels like , which honored achievements in over 200 titles annually. By 2012, these alternatives expanded to better capture evolving industry dynamics, with DMM's rankings incorporating more actress-specific categories to reflect fan preferences in the download era, such as top new talent based on streaming views. This move aligned with a broader industry shift from physical sales competitions like AV Open to fan-voted and digital metric-based recognitions, as platforms like DMM increasingly derived revenue from online sources. Events like Sky PerfecTV! further adapted by adding media prizes, such as the Yukan Fuji award won by Shiori Kamisaki in 2013 for crossover appeal. Overall, these systems sustained industry morale and innovation, emphasizing accessibility and viewer interaction in a digital-first landscape.

Revival and Final Years (2014-2018)

2014 AV Open

The AV Open competition was revived in 2014 after a seven-year hiatus, with the Intellectual Property Promotion Association (IPPA) announcing its return at a press conference on May 27, 2014, in Tokyo. This resurrection adapted the event to the digital era by incorporating evaluation criteria based on physical and online sales data—tracked through platforms like DMM—reflecting the industry's shift toward streaming and digital distribution. The format emphasized broader accessibility, with outcomes determined by rental and purchase metrics. Participation reached a record scale, with 76 studios submitting 79 works across three budget-based classes: (high production costs), Heavyweight, and Middleweight, designed to level competition among varying studio sizes. Categories were updated to better suit online content trends, including specialized genres like "Digital Mosaic" that catered to digital mosaicking techniques and high-definition streaming formats popular in the evolving AV market. This structure encouraged innovation in digital-friendly productions, such as enhanced visuals and interactive elements, while maintaining the event's focus on overall excellence. Entries opened in summer, from late May to , with judging based on sales accumulated through fall, culminating in a year-end awards ceremony on November 14, 2014, at Tokyo's Differ Ariake during the Adult Expo. The event drew significant attendance and media coverage, marking a successful relaunch. claimed the Grand Prix in the Super Heavyweight class for Bukkake Creampie Anal FUCK! starring , directed by Katsuyuki Hasegawa, which topped sales metrics, signaling renewed competitive vigor among major studios.

2015-2018 Editions

The 2015 edition of AV Open marked a continued emphasis on digital distribution and online sales metrics following the 2014 revival, with 86 manufacturers submitting 88 works across categories such as planning, actress, and fetish. The Grand Prix was awarded to Moodyz's collaborative production 【限定共演】MOODYZファン感謝祭 バコバコバスツアー2015-1泊2日でイクッ！夢の大乱交AVオールスターズ！, highlighting the appeal of fan-engagement events in driving sales. In the actress category, S1 No.1 Style's Living Together Harem Life with the S1 Seven Sisters took top honors, featuring performers like Aoi Tsukasa and Minami Kojima, underscoring the growing influence of established studios alongside emerging talents. Participation reflected heightened industry interest, with total prize money reaching 1.5 million yen, and sales data amplified digital trends. Building on this momentum, the 2016 edition introduced dedicated actress-specific awards to spotlight individual performers, attracting 90 works from various studios and emphasizing multi-channel sales—cell, streaming, and rental—to determine outcomes. achieved a repeat Grand Prix victory with Gカップ完璧ボディ芸能人 高橋しょう子 AVデビュー!!, starring , who swept seven awards including actress categories, demonstrating the commercial power of high-profile debuts. The event's structure emphasized multi-channel sales, resulting in dominating those metrics as well. With categories expanding to nine, including amateur and hard genres, the edition solidified AV Open's role in promoting diverse content while adapting to digital consumer habits. The 2017 edition reached a peak in revival-era participation, with 88 manufacturers entering 90 works, and introduced a dedicated VR category featuring 49 submissions to reflect innovative technologies like virtual reality experiences. S1 No.1 Style claimed the Grand Prix for 【新人NO.1STYLEグラビアアイドル 吉高寧々 AV解禁】, starring Nene Yoshitaka, who also secured a triple crown in actress and work categories, exemplifying the draw of gravure idol crossovers. Other highlights included Tsubomi's win in the otome category and diverse genre awards in planning, fetish, and documentary, with online metrics playing a pivotal role in evaluations. This surge in entries and tech-focused categories illustrated AV Open's adaptation to emerging media, contributing to sales impacts that surpassed pre-hiatus years. By 2018, the final edition showed signs of gradual decline, with approximately 68 works entered across 10 categories, including ongoing VR and actress departments, amid shifting industry priorities. The Grand Prix went to Idea Pocket's FIRST IMPRESSION 131 芸能人AVデビュー 優月心菜, a debut hybrid production starring Kokona Yuzuki, which also earned multiple accolades and highlighted cross-media appeal. While VR-1 Grand Prix recognized immersive innovations, overall participation dipped from prior peaks, with no formal discontinuation announced, leading to a end. The event's reliance on online sales data persisted, but total industry engagement waned, closing the revival period on a note of established digital integration. Across these years, AV Open trended toward online metrics for judging, with streaming and digital rentals increasingly weighting outcomes, resulting in cumulative exceeding those of the 2006-2009 era and fostering broader accessibility for fans.

Legacy and Impact

Influence on AV Industry

The AV Open significantly promoted quality standards within the Japanese adult video (AV) industry by incentivizing studios to invest in higher-budget productions, innovative scripting, and advanced techniques to compete for awards based on and fan reception. like the 2006 inaugural contest and its 2014 revival encouraged elaborate entries, such as Natural High's Naked Continent series, which combined travel documentation with narrative depth, setting benchmarks for production values that influenced non-competing works across studios. This shift toward professionalism was further supported by post-2004 industry reforms emphasizing , , and ethical practices on set, transforming AV from a low-stakes medium to one prioritizing and technical excellence. Economically, the AV Open drove measurable growth by tying awards to combined DVD, , and streaming over evaluation periods, motivating aggressive and distribution strategies that amplified visibility for entries. Participation surged over time, with seeing a record 90 works from 88 studios— the highest in the event's history—alongside expanded prize pools rising from 14 million yen in 2014 to 23.5 million yen in , reflecting heightened industry investment and competition. Winning or nominated titles often experienced substantial uplifts due to promotional tie-ins, such as special AVOP-coded releases, which helped sustain revenue amid broader market shifts from to digital platforms. Culturally, the AV Open elevated the status of AV actresses through high-profile ceremonies and fan-influenced categories, fostering a transition from transient roles to viable career paths and reducing societal stigma around the . Actresses like Sora Aoi and gained mainstream recognition via award wins, inspiring a new generation to view AV as a launchpad to broader , while fan voting in select editions empowered audience engagement and highlighted performer agency. This democratization helped normalize AV as legitimate , with events drawing thousands and featuring star-studded lineups that mirrored music or film awards. Over its run, the AV Open served as a key documenter of AV trends, chronicling the evolution from DVD-dominated eras in the mid-2000s to streaming and virtual reality (VR) integration by the late 2010s. Early contests emphasized physical media sales, but by 2017, a dedicated VR category was introduced to accommodate emerging technologies, awarding immersive works that pushed boundaries in viewer interaction and production innovation, thus capturing the industry's pivot to digital and experiential formats.

Discontinuation and Aftermath

The concluded after its 2018 edition without an official announcement of renewal, amid a shifting in the Japanese adult video (AV) industry where it was increasingly overshadowed by the DMM/FANZA Adult Awards, a digital platform launched in that emphasized data and fan voting for broader accessibility. Contributing factors included rising production costs driven by higher standards for video quality and talent compensation, as well as the widespread impact of streaming , which eroded revenue streams for physical and digital central to the event's competitive model. No formal revival efforts have materialized since , with the industry pivoting toward streamlined annual digital ceremonies like the FANZA Adult Awards, which continue to dominate recognition for AV works and performers through online metrics rather than large-scale production contests. The aftermath has seen fragmented award systems emerge, including niche events hosted by individual studios—such as OPPAI's mini Grand Prix in 2020 and Dogma's VR Grand Prix—filling the gap left by AV Open, while communities maintain a sense of for its era of industry-wide spectacle and innovation. As of 2025, the AV Open remains discontinued with no resumption announced, though ongoing evolutions in the AV market, including global streaming platforms and AI-enhanced production, suggest potential for analogous events to recapture its competitive spirit in a digital-first environment.

References

  1. https://www.zenra.net/blog/the-av-open-the-history-behind-the-former-biggest-event-in-jav
  2. https://www.jsexnetwork.com/programs/
  3. https://blog.javmuseum.com/blog/avod-301/
  4. https://manoa.hawaii.edu/aplpj/wp-content/uploads/sites/120/2011/11/APLPJ_04.1_alexander.pdf
  5. https://en-academic.com/dic.nsf/enwiki/5054934
  6. https://manga.fandom.com/wiki/Soft_On_Demand
  7. https://en-academic.com/dic.nsf/enwiki/1381634
  8. https://www.economist.com/asia/2023/08/19/japans-porn-industry-comes-out-of-the-shadows
  9. https://en-academic.com/dic.nsf/enwiki/11449743
  10. https://archive.ph/nxOeZ
  11. https://ebrary.net/272202/education/changing_landscape
  12. https://pan-pan.co/detail/201812
  13. https://www.boobpedia.com/boobs/AV_Open_2007
  14. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1331677X.2018.1553682
  15. https://www.tokyoreporter.com/japan-news/national/ai-haneda-yu-kawakami-and-yu-asakura-take-top-2011-porn-awards/
  16. https://www.tokyoreporter.com/entertainment/adult-video/uta-kohaku-of-paradise-tv-wins-best-production-in-hd-for-no-panty-news-at-2011-porn-awards/
  17. https://www.tokyoreporter.com/entertainment/adult-video/shiori-kamisaki-wins-yukan-fuji-media-award-at-2013-porn-awards/
  18. https://npn.co.jp/article/detail/28251119
  19. https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/articles/-/98327
  20. http://sumomo-ch.com/blog-entry-3065.html
  21. https://jav.guru/tag/av-open-2014-middleweight/
  22. https://erotica-t.jp/news/43/32319/
  23. https://www.sanspo.com/article/20141115-S7MM7Q3GYZMX7PTEYNOV65ACCM/
  24. https://nikkan-spa.jp/981951
  25. https://dxbeppin-r.com/archives/4970
  26. https://news.dmm.co.jp/article/989008/
  27. https://www.playno1.com/article-21701-1.html
  28. https://wpb.shueisha.co.jp/news/lifestyle/20171203-96006/
  29. https://dxbeppin-r.com/archives/50989
  30. https://news.dmm.co.jp/article/995913/
  31. https://www.menscyzo.com/2019/05/post_101118.html
  32. https://seesaawiki.jp/w/sougouwiki/d/AV_OPEN_2018
  33. https://news.dmm.co.jp/article/1029031/
  34. https://nikkan-spa.jp/1364562
  35. https://tv.rakuten.co.jp/static/cpn/spl000034/wc003_011/
  36. https://orientaldaily.on.cc/cnt/adult/20170804/mobile/odn-20170804-0804_00290_002.html
  37. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16687023
  38. https://www.mpa-apac.org/2017/11/online-piracy-in-japan-how-big-is-the-problem-and-whats-an-effective-solution/
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.