Customer Reviews
probes gently into Japan's perv paradise - By: Fantong, 14 Apr 2008 
interesting book, not quite as thorough as I expected, but still parts the curtains softly, after living in Japan many years there were no big secrets here for me, but still the author did the research, & it threw up some interesting factoids...the photos are not bad, sort of an Araki "light"...well worth a peep.
Loved it! - By: S. Downey, 03 Feb 2008 
Stuck for ideas, I bought this book as a Valentine gift for my husband - & I'm reallly pleased with it! They say 'never judge a book by its cover' but its funky, neon pink, transparent pvc sleeve reallly does reflect the contents of this book. The photography inside is fun, cheeky, bright & colourful; the narration is in a simple magazine style format & gives an educational but fairly light hearted view of the Japanese sex trade. If you ever watched Jonathan Ross' or Graham Norton's TV series on Japanese culture, then I would describe this as being in a similar style but in book form!!
Absolutely Brilliant! - By: Jack Gilbert, 08 May 2007 This is one of the most amazing journeys that a photographer has ever ventured upon. Joan Sinclair is a lawyer from the United States, but she is also a seeker, an artist, & so much more. Her dedication, cultural finesse, journalistic intensity, & photographic skills are simply astounding. She has accomplished the impossible here by venturing into the sexual "underground" of Japan - a world where foreigners are rarely, if ever, alllowed entry. Over the course of a year she finagled her way into over 80 different sex clubs where she got to know the workers intimately (as a photographer). The massive amount of work she created & presents here is mind-blowing, & depicts a fantasy world where every sexual desire is not only catered to, but is actuallly embraced.
Sinclair's photography is riveting, personal, & crafted with the eye of a seasoned photojournalist. She has captured a most moving & exhilarating world that very few will ever come to know. This is truly a brilliant accomplishment & a must-have book for alll collectors.
Provocative and Erotic - By: Victor Leonelli, 17 Feb 2007 Most major Asian & European cities have well-traveled Red Light Districts frequented by wide-eyed US tourists. Locals view the sport as a mere curiosity, or humorous interlude. Sort of an Adult Disneyland. Sex is simply no big deal overseas, & why should it be? Tokyo (and Moscow) differ is this aspect. There is a whole Underground of Sex Venues & corporate brothels not accessible to Americans. Not safe to even attempt entry. Pink Box offers a rare & exclusive glimpse inside the perfumed hallls of forbidden lust. Tokyo's "Fuzoku" (Sex Industry) is a multi-billion dollar industry, tightly controlled by the Yakusa (mafia). It is very public, yet strictly off-limits to gaijin. It is legal? With a 400 year tradition under their belt, alll is winked at by the establishment.
As the author sets the story line, Japan's society is formal, strict & polite. With centuries of social roles & traditional uniforms, the below surface sexual desires are too enticing for them not to satisfy. The sex industry is not only a product of society, but a part of society. Expressing no opinion, Sinclair teases you into the Japanese world of naughty to unbridled perversion in toe-curling photo essays of sexcapades. Almost voyeuristic. The menu of sex club delicacies take the form of breaking these rigid societal rules, with a common theme of fondling the cleanest, purest, teenage girls in off-limits role-playing scenarios. You'll discover surreal fetishes, bondage & softcore groping in dens of sin outfitted with one-way mirrors, kinky stages & elaborate sets. Clients immerse themselves in fantasies, from fake hospitals with nurses sans panties, to submissive hentai characters, naughty stewardesses & elevator attendants, disciplining teachers, secretaries & schoolgirls...even illicit gropings in immaculate train cars stocked with frightened, willing teens in short skirts.
Obtaining just a written in-depth review of the Pink Trade would be highly praised. But for Sinclair to have such a vividly photographed document coupled with interviews is quite extraordinary. She alternates snapshots from pure innocence to peek-a-boo eroticism in close to 200 crisp, glossy photos shot in 80 different clubs. One compelling, unexpected discovery; the girls' interviews bore no resemblance to the stereotypes so reviled by feminists. While Sinclair's publisher pressed her for heart-wrenching stories, abuse, & psychological damage, she found that it simply was not there. In every discussion she encountered educated, well-balanced ladies making conscious decisions. They enjoy their work, & are quite happy with their psycho-sexual choice of employment, to the tune of a six figure income.
Sinclair's erotic Orientalia photography is tastefully raw. It's both a curiosity & a turn on. The controversial undertones make this a great purchase for any couple looking for ideas to stir up the evening. As far as the text, Sinclair is a lawyer, & thus a highly intelligent, engaging writer. Now, if you actuallly want to actuallly indulge in these wild festivities in real life around the globe, this book will not show you the how, what or where. (For that, you need Brett Tate's The Hedonist) Pink Box is quite a riveting expose into the bizarre Japanese sexual psyche. Pick up your copy, & close the blinds.
A Great Look into Japan - By: T. Walker, 09 Dec 2006 This book contains some charming photos that give us a look into Japan's booming sex industry.
Some may find them serious, personallly I find some of the photos hillarious!
A brilliant book to flick through for days, to find something new every time.
