BREAKING: Bad News For Aoi Tsukasa Fans!

Catch up on the most trending gossip that we had our eyes on in July

If you’d been waiting all this while for Aoi Tsukasa’s comeback, I’ve a bit of sad news for our readers. Aoi has made it official that she’s retiring.

Yes, the crown jewel of 8MAN agency and one of S1’s most consistent chart-toppers, has announced her retirement via Instagram, breaking the hearts of a thousand fans in the process. But the farewell is equally iconic as her career. Via X, her agency is giving fans one last chance to say goodbye to the actress through a curated “First to Last Photo Exhibition” scheduled on August 5, which will now be immortalized as her last project as a JAV actress.

Now, I know what you’re thinking: didn’t we all see this coming? Yes, we did. But that doesn’t make it any easier.

Let’s rewind to a couple of months earlier. The signs were always there, if you knew where to look. Since her last JAV release was back in August 2024, she has been in a radio silence. In an industry where even a three-month break is enough to spark rumors, Tsukasa’s year-long absence made it obvious that she was about to bow out sooner or later. The fans waited, but when five months turned into ten with no possibilities of a comeback, even the most loyal among us felt the writing was on the wall.

And then there was the incident at the Taiwan Shot Expo earlier. Aoi was supposed to be a headliner, but in a shocking move, she withdrew at the last minute. It was her agency, 8MAN, who later confirmed the rumors: Aoi had been planning for retirement, choosing to avoid public appearances.

Her absence at S1’s 20th Anniversary celebration was the final nail. For someone of her stature, to skip a milestone event that celebrates the very studio that helped shape her career. It was obvious that she was on borrowed time. And now, here we are.

Tsukasa’s “First to Last” photo exhibition feels like a graceful farewell, with all the aspects of an 8Man exhibition. Don’t expect a "maybe someday," as she’s not disappearing abruptly; rather, Aoi’s simply saying goodbye on her terms.

Insiders had been given heed to rumors for a few months: “She’s done.” Even her brief engagement with TSE organizers early last year ended in a soft decline. Initially, she asked for time to "rethink her career." But by the second half of the year, her tone had shifted. "I’m not filming anymore. I’m semi-retired." That shift became a full stop six months later.

What makes Aoi Tsukasa so unforgettable isn’t just her flawless looks, although yes, let’s talk about the infamous breast enhancements that had her fans question her choice. But she’s never been the one to play by the rules. And she’s certainly not starting now.

I wouldn’t bet on a comeback, not in five years, not ever. Tsukasa has always been a woman of substance. When she walks away, you know she means it.

Thank you, Aoi, for showing how it’s done to your fellow actresses and for leaving with class. Wherever life takes you next, we hope it’s just as special.

Yuka Murakami subtly dropped an update that a lot of our readers might’ve skipped over. So I thought this would make for a great column.

For the record, she’s not retiring, but she’s shared an update for fans who prefer treating their idols with gifts. Yuka insisted to her fans via Instagram story that she "will no longer be accepting gifts. Only handwritten letters, thank you very much.”

Now, at first glance, this might seem like her agency had insisted upon it or maybe she’s Marie Kondo-ing her life, trying to re-organize her home or maybe she’s going minimalist and getting rid of extra baggage But no, it is neither of those and you’d be surprised to know the reason, well, a little complicated.

It turns out, our darling Yuka is moving in with her grandmother, and all of a sudden, we’ve a renowned JAV actress trying her best to keep her career a secret from her relatives.

You see, Yuka’s grandma doesn’t know a thing about her double life as a JAV star, and you know how typical grandmas could be. And to keep it that way, she’s minimizing all risks that might trigger suspicious eyes from her beloved nonna. And a stream of gifts and flowers could certainly raise some eyebrows in the household or lead to uncomfortable slip-ups.

But handwritten cards are a different story altogether. Those get tucked away into what she adorably calls a “secret box,” safely hidden from the curious eyes of her grandma. They don’t scream “JAV actress” in any way.

Naturally, fans had questions: Why move in with her grandmother in the first place? And why keep doing AV if hiding it is so hard?

Yuka, always candid, has an answer for that as well. Apparently, she's stepping up to care for her grandmother and her four pet cats (yes, she’s basically a Studio Ghibli heroine at this point, lol). As for continuing in JAV, she admitted that health reasons prevent her from taking on traditional jobs. She didn’t elaborate on the reason behind it, but made it clear enough that she doesn’t want any prying eyes.

And if anyone thought that her career was dying a slow death, lately. Think again!

Yuka had earlier mentioned being back from hiatus, officially rejoining S1 with a soft-launch announcement on X. Barely catching her breath, she jetted off to Taiwan from July 19–20 for a major ForAver photoshoot, a gig that’s not just another job. It indicates that she’s thriving after the comeback.

She’ll be back again next month at the Taipei Red Expo (TRE) from August 8–10, a high-octane, star-studded JAV expo where she’ll have the limelight on her. She’s been tapped as a featured model for AVOneLove, one of the top merchandisers in the business.

It’s this duality that makes Yuka so captivating in my opinion. She’s got one foot in, the other firmly grounded in the quiet intimacy of a remote life with her grandma. And to make both work, isn’t that amazing

So while you may not be mailing her plushies or perfume sets anymore, a simple card might mean the world to her right now. And who knows? It might just end up in that secret box, nestled in her grandma’s attic.

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