When you see a favorite actress, would you prefer her to release a film regularly on the 19th of every month like Yua Mikami, or like Mio Kimishima, releasing films non-stop and seemingly endlessly?
Many people would probably choose the latter. When I introduced actresses who lost their exclusive contracts and became "project actresses," I always saw applause and cheers in the comments. For some fans, becoming a project actress means more films, fewer restrictions on roles, and easier access to unbanning compared to being an exclusive actress—why not?
But did you know? For agencies, exclusive actresses are the real treasure.
Let me give you two examples to illustrate how agencies view the difference: Remember last year's TRE Taipei International Adult Expo? Yu Asakura was unexpectedly eliminated, leaving one less gold card recipient. Each agency wanted to fill the gap, and I personally recommended Sora Shiina (椎名空) because I thought her image was suitable for both men and women, her fanbase was high-caliber, and it was her first appearance at an expo in Taiwan. However, the agencies argued for a completely different reason. They believed Sora Shiina (椎名空) was about to become an exclusive actress for a production company (at the time, I didn't know it was a joint exclusive with Moodyz and One's Factory), and her status was different from other actresses. Who else would they choose?
The second example is that when agents start their own businesses, they try to get their star actresses into the best studios as exclusive actresses. This is because it not only means that they have a great training system, but also that it is more conducive to improving their status. For example, LANTANA (which has now merged with other agencies to form Diaz Group) sent "Aoi" to S1 to debut from the beginning, while Arrows has Hashimoto Arina, a super star who won the DMM Adult Award for Best Actress last year. Right, I know it's hard to imagine two actresses working as solo artists and competing with others for releases, but the two founders had the same idea: actresses should only work for the best studios as exclusive actresses.
Now you know how much agencies care about the title of "exclusive actress"? It's not just because of the potential for idol status and the support of production companies; it's also a symbol of being an actress. That's why S1, Moodyz, SOD STAR, and Prestige are particularly good at securing top actresses. It's because they offer exclusive contracts, giving both the actress and the agency prestige.
Of course, the agencies are aware of the significant difference in revenue between the two. Take C-More, the agency of Asahi Mizuno, for example: their only star is Julia, because she's an exclusive actress for both One's Factory and Oppai, giving her a different status. But when it comes to making money, this agency is incredibly shrewd. Their top talents are Rika Mari and Asahi Mizuno, who is currently in Taiwan. This has created a very interesting phenomenon: when adult expos in Taiwan are looking for talent, this agency always recommends exclusive actresses like Julia and Tsumugi Akari. As for Rika Mari, she stays in Japan to make money, and even if you specifically request her, she might not be available…
