Japan’s rare intimacy coordinators in demand after sexual abuse scandals

TOKYO – On a set outside Tokyo, Ms Momoko Nishiyama sits with the drama’s director and watches as a man undresses a woman, guiding the love scene as one of just two “intimacy coordinators” in Japan.

The country’s film and television industry has been hit by a string of sexual abuse allegations recently that have led to apologies and movies being pulled.

But while Hollywood has embraced intimacy coordinators in the wake of the #MeToo movement, they are still relatively new in Japan, where public reaction to the latest scandals has been muted.

“In the United States, everyone knows what an intimacy coordinator is but, in Japan, I have to start by explaining what I do and that I’m not the director’s enemy,” said Ms Nishiyama.

The 43-year-old’s recent projects include a TV series with multiple intimate scenes.

On set, she confers with the director and observes actors, advising them how to move and adjusting their outfits.

But her work starts well before anyone shouts “action”, beginning with a close read of the script.

“I say to the director, ‘Here it says A embraces B, will it go further than that?‘ or ‘What clothes will the actors be wearing? How undressed will they get?‘“ explained Ms Nishiyama.

She then meets privately with each actor to determine his or her boundaries.

“This is a scene without a bra. If we don’t show your chest, are you okay with it?“ is one question she might ask.

For 23-year-old actress Asuka Kawazu, Ms Nishiyama offers reassurance.

“Her presence made discussions easier,” said the actress.

Without an intimacy coordinator, “a case could arise where we agree on something, but when shooting, we realise we’re going much further than we had planned”, she added.

Despite several high-profile allegations, the #MeToo movement was less pervasive in Japan than in some other developed countries.

But Ms Nishiyama has seen demand for her services increase after multiple accusations of sexual harassment and abuse in the industry.

Some of the allegations prompted a group of directors, including celebrated auteur Hirokazu Kore-eda, to call for change, but the reaction from other professionals in the field was more subdued.

Miwa Nishikawa, who is part of the group, said the directors “were shocked” by the accusations and the industry’s inaction.

“Unlike in the West or South Korea, where the #MeToo movement took hold, the Japanese industry wasn’t able to change,” she said.

“I think it shows a lack of solidarity among workers in the industry, where there is no organisation to unite and protect them.”

The group hoped its statement “would make it easier for people to speak out”, she added.

The directors back the use of intimacy coordinators, though Ms Nishikawa cautions that will not be enough to end abuse off-set.

Still, their presence shows that the safety and dignity of actors and staff are more protected.

“That can create an atmosphere that discourages harassment,” she said

She and her fellow directors also want sensitivity training and industry guidelines for casting and shooting, warning that otherwise incidents will keep happening.

On set in Tokyo, director Kenji Kuwashima is happy having Ms Nishiyama there, and sees her as “defending both parties”.

“In the end, everyone wants the same thing: to make the best production possible,” he said.

“Until now, relations were much more top-down, with the director saying ‘do this’, but it’s become more equal and both sides benefit.”

When preparing to go on set, Ms Nishiyama gathers props that help keep scenes realistic while protecting actors.

She is never without a range of silicone patches that prevent contact between intimate parts of the body, as well as “maebari” – a made-to-measure modesty garment.

From a bag she pulls out a collection of underwear ranging from panties to thongs in different skin tone shades.

“I’ve always got about 30 with me,” she said with a laugh.

She started her career as a production coordinator, mainly for Japanese shoots abroad, and took up her current role after an intensive online training course.

The rising demand for her services suggests “things are changing, little by little”, she added.

But she admits feeling “a little powerless” to hear that some industry players accused of abuse have continued to work unchallenged.

“There are people who want to change things, and there are more film sets with a healthy atmosphere. But I think that things must change more.” AFP