TOSTO-008 Shimohara Dance

Actress: Ai Uehara (Mai Shinahara) (18)
Studio: Studio Tony

Release Date: 2011-05-27
Runtime: 90 Minutes

6.3/10

Introduction

Ai Uehara needs basically no introduction at this point. If you are new to JAV, then it won’t be very long before you stumble into this veteran of the industry. Ai Uehara debuted back in 2011 under a variety of aliases until she settled with her final name. Browsing her early works and you can run into names such as Mai Harada, Rin Akimoto, or in the case of this IV, Mai Shinahara. The film being reviewed today was AiU’s (Ai Uehara) first IV, although if you search around without using this particular alias you tend to get her debut in 2012 as Rin Akimoto with Raven, but that was nearly a year later. Let’s see how AiU’s debut Gravure film fared during her first year in the adult industry. 
 

Production & Setting

Where to start with this one. Production wise, the overall film is not great. The BTS portions included after each scene is a nice touch as always, as is the interview at the end, but beyond that, this was a very uninspired IV, regardless if it was a debut or not. Starting with the first scene, the backdrop is a basic room with drapes and sheets covering furniture and the rest of the room to create a plain setting, likely as a means of emphasizing that AiU is the focus. She is wearing a bikini and then switches to poses involving a brightly colored towel that hide her breasts and lower region. The progression of this scene is rather unevenly paced. It starts off with some rather basic zoomed in glamour shots, then it moves to AiU playing with herself (without a censor mosaic, although the clothing gets in the way of anything). This entire scene nudity is present but as a viewer you see nothing other than a couple quick shots of AiU’s nipples. The music as well, it’s interesting to say the least. I’m just not sure rock music really is suitable for this type of content.
 
The second scene is better in a variety of ways. The backdrop is more dynamic than the last, featuring a bit more of a varied color palette and one that works relatively well with AiU’s zebra bikini. The music is closer to a standard IV track list but it’s still a little too rock, but it works. AiU is interacting with her body a bit more but her expressions and the direction of the camera work leave much to be desired. The camera hangs at one angle for far too long, especially when not much is being done on the actress’ part. Following this and an amazing transition effect, the music is slowed to a simple percussion track while someone rubs oil on AiU, this is the first real time you get a better look at AiU somewhat naked. This scene basically shifts to an up-close view of AiU’s vagina which is being fingered/played with by the assistant. You can here AiU make sounds like she is enjoying it, perhaps she is, either way the scene was plain and not much effort went into it. 
 
The next scene is short, typical shower scene, at least to start, although there isn’t much effort done in terms of filming AiU in any sensual way. The angles aren’t particularly great, and while AiU does try to work some poses (even with some nudity), it just sort of falls flat, and the music doesn’t really match what’s on the screen. The shoot shifts over to a sudsy portion, but its all lathered on AiU’s lower half so we can get some shots of a water gun used on her backside. The music is even worse during this portion, with the only saving grace I guess is that you get a glimpse of some uncensored butthole. AiU’s expressions are acceptable, but it certainly looks like this person is an entirely different AiU than what fans and the industry became accustomed to over the years.
The remaining few scenes are more of the same, insert random bedroom setting, have AiU in a bikini, and almost immediately jump into masturbation or simulated sex content. The scenes themselves aren’t anything particularly special, involving typical dildos, vibrators, hands, and other sorts of toys (such as a vibrating flip phone). The camera work wasn’t anything special, the music is average, but the lack of censors is a nice touch, even though not much is shown outside of breasts and a fairly extreme pubic hairstyle that you’d see on some character in a tony hawk game. The best parts of this film are the BTS/interview portions (not including the interesting transition effects), primarily because viewers get to see how stuff is done which isn’t that common, and we get to see an early AiU talking about her experiences and such.
 
Score: 6.5/10 (Production), 6/10 (Setting)

Music

The music overall is acceptable, it’s there during most of the scenes and in the BTS features. The first piece of music is bad, it doesn’t suit the pacing of the scene nor is it in line with AiU’s actions. The third track starts off well, but then falls apart towards the toy play portion of the scene. Rock music rhythms need a particular setting to work, being fingered is not one of them. One thing to note is the abrupt shifting of tracks even during the same scene. Mid-scene track changes aren’t uncommon in Gravure films, but they generally have a transition that lets the viewer know a change is coming, often during the scene change. To go through three distinct pieces during the same simulated sex scene is sloppy. 

The music during the shower/bathtub scene is alright, but the sound effect inserts just throw it off. The toy play portion at the end of the scene is far too upbeat and sounds like it belongs in a 1990s arcade game, vocal track and all. Following the shower scene we are back into toy play territory but the track here is actually decent, it should have been used for some intro glamour shots instead, but it lasts only a few seconds before being replaced by the sound of AiU. The music from here on out makes short reappearances between the gaps of AiU’s sex sounds until effectively disappearing for the remaining two simulated sex scenes (one being another toy play scene). There is music during AiU’s interview, which is a nice touch, it’s subtle to not overpower her responses which is a thoughtful implementation.

Score: 6.5/10

Aesthetics & Performance

Visually, the set pieces were uninspired, which doesn’t have to be a bad thing if the rest of the parts that makeup a Gravure film can carry the load, such as acting, music, visual fidelity, etc., similar to how in JAV a boring bedroom can still make for a solid scene. AiU is of course young during this film and thus isn’t quite on the same level as her later appearances in JAV and Gravure. Nonetheless she does not look bad, and her outfits at least work with her, even though they rarely match the backdrops except for the third scene with the zebra bikini, that works well with the color palette of the room. 

Performance wise, unfortunately, was not great. Given that almost the entire film was focused on simulated sex or toy play, there wasn’t really any attention or direction given to AiU to work on more glamour like acting, instead we got the typical moans and such one has during sexual stimulation. Fake or otherwise, the sounds weren’t great, and the performance was subpar. The direction given to AiU clearly was lacking but I also must pin some of the blame on AiU herself, although not as much as she is still a rookie at this point. This is her first Gravure video and she should have been given the direction needed to understand it is not done in the same manner as a JAV film.

Score: 6.5/10 (Aesthetics), 6/10 (Performance)

Summary

Going into this film I didn’t have high expectations to be honest. I had never heard of this label and looking up their releases they were a one hit wonder that died off within a year (so I guess the wonder part was left out). Seeing a young AiU was interesting for sure, seeing her not quite know what to do within the context of the film was interesting given my exposure to her was during her later years as a JAV megastar. Unfortunately, this film falls on its face. It’s not very well done and there are many reasons as to why. However, given what I know of AiU in future IVs, and in JAV, I know that this was just a bump in the road early on and likely her more well known Gravure debut with Raven is a better representation of her capabilities in this field.

If you are a fan of AiU you should watch this at least for its historical merit at this point. Otherwise this is not a very good debut IV and it’s not a very good IV in general. Even if you like toy play and simulated sex this film likely isn’t for you either. All in all, an interesting take on the genre by the studio and an interesting film showing off a young and new AiU. 

Score: 6.3/10
Pros

– Early AiU
– AiU’s pubic hair is pretty rad (that’s a pro right?)

Cons

– Uninspired shoots
– Subpar camera work
– Some questionable music choices