Synopsis
In the 1980s, Akira Suei achieved fame as the chief editor of several pornography magazines; his reputation as a trendsetter in the magazine world was built on incorporating the works of distinguished writers, artists, and photographers, such as Nobuyoshi Araki, the internationally renowned photographer. However, due to the pornographic nature of Suei’s magazines, he was constantly under police scrutiny. Still, each time they tried to crack down on his publications, he was right back at it and pushing the boundaries of what was permissible in print.
Born in the countryside of Okayama, Suei lived through the terrible episode of his mother committing double suicide with a young man who lived next door. Her method was novel: a bundle of dynamite to blow up both herself and her lover. Following her death, the village kept Suei and his family under their cold, watchful eye.
After graduating high school, Suei relocated to Tokyo. There, he aspired to become a graphic designer. However, his employers neither understood his enthusiasm nor what it was he hoped to achieve with his designs. The desires within Suei at this time were unable to “explode,” and simply simmered inside of
him. Upon the advice of some friends, Suei obtained work drawing signboard ads for cabarets, which led to his doing artwork for pornography magazines. Eventually, he became the chief editor of his own magazine. His aggressive, raw style attracted a variety of talented people who helped bring about a revolution in the Japanese magazine industry.