Japan’s Most Infamous Porn Location: “That Pool”’s True Backstory
If some of you avoid public pools because you don’t want to bathe in other visitors’ urine, this pool is one you’ll flee from because it had much more than just a little pee floating in the chlorinated water.
Japan has quite a list of iconic landmarks. Whether it be beautiful temples, jaw-dropping art installations, unforgettable nature sceneries, and neon-crowded streets that feel like home, it’s pretty recognizable. But if you were browsing the web around 2009, specifically on Incognito Mode, you must be familiar with a certain pool of Tokyo. Precisely, No. 136 Hanazono Room, also known as “That Pool”.
“That Pool” has no hot tub extension, no wave machine, no tanning spa, nor a collection of inflatable flamingos and beds. It doesn’t look special at all, but it wouldn’t be so known without its backstory.
Located in Shinjuku, this pool was used for countless Japanese pornographic films and photoshoots, so much to the point that it became identifiable. It was managed by P-Studio, which would rent it to adult content agencies that were numerous nearby. As Japan-made adult films rose to popularity, so did the pool: it was nicknamed “That Pool” as it became a meme in the early 2010s on forums and textboards. As memes do, it was blown out of proportion: even Minecraft gamers were recreating it. Ironically, the building is right in front of an elementary school.
Now, adult video shootings are prohibited. The pool required a deep clean after every shoot to avoid the spreading of diseases and various health hazards, and it became too expensive for pornographic video companies to afford. It’s still in use for photoshoots, notably gravure, but no more bodily fluids are involved.
About the Author:
Mizuki Khoury
Born in Montreal, based in Tokyo. Sabukaru’s senior writer and works as an artist under Exit Number Five.
