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Japan is renowned for its avant-garde and peculiar culture, and one man solidifies this notion by converting his two-story house into a private museum of erotic dolls.
Turning a Private Residence into an Erotic Doll Museum
Situated just outside Tokyo, specifically in the suburbs of Yashio City, Saitama Prefecture (Japan), Yashio Hihokan (translated as Yashio Adult Museum in English) showcases the personal collection of 'love dolls' belonging to Yoshitaka Hyodo, meticulously arranged within every centimeter of the house, down to the smallest detail.
This belongs to a 49-year-old single man. The self-made museum not only houses dolls in various poses and outfits but also features a wide array of adult-themed artworks, chilling exhibitions, and an enchanting collection of vintage items.
“Since I was young, I've been fascinated by robots and artificial life forms. Before I knew it, my destiny became intertwined with such things, and my house became a treasure trove,” Hyodo wrote on his blog.
Hyodo embarked on his doll collection journey over 20 years ago, triggered by the discovery of a vintage doll amidst a landfill. It ignited a desire surrounded by dolls. Since then, he has amassed around 50 dolls, including sex dolls, vintage dolls, and various other anatomical models.
Hyodo reveals that approximately half of his collection he purchased with his own funds, while the remainder was obtained from acquaintances who no longer needed them due to marriage, caring for parents, or other personal reasons.
The majority of Hyodo's sex dolls come from Orient Industry, a company based in Tokyo specializing in high-quality adult toys since 1977. The company is renowned for producing lifelike female body models, leading the industry with prices not cheap, around 700,000 yen (4,780 USD).
An Unusual Passion of a Single Man
Hyodo is not just your ordinary sex doll enthusiast. He comes from a background as a doll photographer, often creating scenes for them in ruins and other locations for photoshoots. Hyodo's works have been exhibited in Paris and Tokyo. He even has a documentary film about his life, screened at select theaters across Japan in September 2022.
In 2021, Hyodo established Dai Nippon Rabu Dooru To (Great Japan Love Doll Party) to counter Tokyo Deep Annai, a website he believes portrays negative perceptions of Yashio City with unfounded criticisms, and a major television station—accused by Hyodo of fabricating stories about him in a documentary.
Hyodo's experiences have soured his perception of the private broadcasting industry. He also sympathizes with Hana Kimura, a cast member of the reality TV show Terrace House, who tragically took her own life in 2020 after being cyberbullied.
“I feel that if I had fought harder back then (against cyber violence), that incident might not have happened. Because seven years ago, I warned that the Japanese private broadcasting industry would eventually kill someone,” Hyodo shared with SCMP .
Hyodo has faced death on multiple occasions. At the age of 14, he was caught up in a yakuza conflict in the deep mountains of Shikoku, western Japan. As an adult, he has suffered from heart attacks and health complications due to a tumor in his thyroid gland 10 years ago.
However, the photographer notes that his life has taken a turn for the better since opening his private museum in 2015. Yashio Hihokan is gaining more attention from people. He expects to welcome around 300 visitors this year.
“I can interact with people from all over the world. As a result, I participate in more events and various unexpected occurrences. My life has always had significant ups and downs, but now it's even more elevated,” he narrated.
According to the sex doll collector, the interest from foreign tourists in Yashio Hihokan has significantly increased since the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions. He welcomes many people from different countries such as the United States, China, Antigua and Barbuda, or Ukraine... A television program from Hong Kong (China) even came to request filming.
Hyodo always warmly welcomes international visitors. He is grateful for the opportunity to connect with people from all over the world as he cannot travel abroad due to poor health conditions.
Joe McReynolds (37), an American urban studies scholar at Keio University (Japan), visited the sex doll museum for the first time in November 2019 on the occasion of the release anniversary of Blade Runner, the famous science fiction film by director Ridley Scott in 1982. This cinematic masterpiece was a major inspiration for Hyodo when designing the museum.
“I found it intriguing to be in a space that reflects a unique and comprehensive perspective of a man,” noted McReynolds.
The expert points out that while Hyodo's “extreme art” may not be for everyone, the existence of the museum still holds significant meaning. It shows that Tokyo is a city that accepts individuals with unique visions, styles, and expresses that individuality to everyone through this special museum.
