Japanese cinema has gained international recognition, with acclaimed directors like:

There are allegations that actresses in such "extreme" productions were not always fully aware of what they were signing up for. Some commentators have suggested that many actresses who appeared in the most brutal Tokyo-Hot films, especially those with tearful "breakdown" narratives, did not appear in any other adult videos. This has led to speculation that they were coerced and that their careers were, in fact, over after just one shoot.