On February 03, Orient Industry, a leading manufacturer of sex dolls, announced that it will soon cease operations. Founded in 1977, the company has a nearly 50-year history. However, the founder recently decided to retire from the industry, considering his health condition. This announcement has saddened the company’s loyal customers.
In a statement of gratitude, Orient Industry thanked its countless customers for their long-time support, saying, “We hope that our company has become a part of your life and that you will remember the time you spent with us.”
Since its establishment in 1977, Orient Industry has been dedicated to developing life-sized, realistic sex dolls. These sex dolls were not only designed as sex toys but also as female figures that could provide “constant companionship and emotional comfort.”
On its official website, Orient Industry stated, “We have helped those who have experienced sexual pressure due to various reasons, enabling them to find both emotional and physical fulfillment.”
The company, known for its high-quality silicone and TPE sex dolls, has always aimed to create “women who can offer comfort” — dolls designed to soothe and stay close to their owners. The company has sought to create dolls that interact with their users, offering more than just physical intimacy, catering to people who find it difficult to engage in typical intimate behavior for various reasons.
In 1982, Orient Industry opened the “Ueno Counseling Room” (now the sex doll showroom) to explain its products to potential buyers and offer consultations.
Since the early 2000s, the company’s customer base has continued to grow. In the same year, the release of the new sex doll “Fantastic” led to it becoming a mascot in the adult manga magazine “COMIC Penguin Club.”
Moreover, Orient Industry also collaborated with game developer Alice Soft to commercialize characters from the game “Daigakuji.”
In 2003, the company developed a smart caregiving sex doll, “Tomesan,” aimed at elderly care.
In 2005, it launched an adult adventure game themed around the love doll “Candy Girl.”
In 2011, in partnership with Showa University’s dental department and a robotic sex doll manufacturer, the company co-developed a patient robot for clinical practice.
Additionally, Orient Industry has regularly held photography contests for its users to help spread the popularity of sex dolls. In 2017, they hosted a successful 40th-anniversary exhibition, “Now and Then Memorial Exhibition,” at Art Space Atsuko Baroo in Shibuya, Tokyo.
The company is based in Asakusa, Tokyo, and was founded by Hideo Tsuchiya, who initially worked for a moving company. He later spent some time in the “water trade” (adult entertainment) industry in Japan, which includes hostess bars, strip clubs, and erotic massage parlors.
Tsuchiya was invited by a former colleague from the moving company to work at an adult toy store in Shinjuku, Tokyo. “During my time working at the adult toy store, I noticed that the quality of sex dolls was poor, as they were made from vinyl,” Tsuchiya recalled. This prompted him to establish Orient Industry in 1977, with a focus on improving the quality of sex dolls.
Tsuchiya experimented with softer, odorless materials. The company’s first product, a sex doll named “Smiley,” was launched in 1977, priced at 38,000 yen.
At the time, the average annual salary for a Japanese university graduate was 97,000 yen, meaning the price of the “Smiley” doll was roughly equivalent to five months’ worth of a university graduate’s salary. Despite the high price, the doll achieved commercial success. Over time, Orient Industry became known for its high-quality silicone designs and even opened a gallery/showroom in Ueno, Tokyo to display its products.
On August 21, Orient Industry issued a statement on its official website:
“This comes as a surprise, but after many years of leadership, our founder Hideo Tsuchiya has decided to retire and prioritize his health. We would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to all the customers and partners who have believed in and supported Orient Industry. Considering the health of our founder and out of respect for his wishes, we have decided to cease operations. If you are able to remember the time we became part of your life and the moments we shared, we would be very happy.”
Orient Industry has always treated its customers with respect, care, and appreciation.
While male desire has undoubtedly been the core business of the company, it does not mean that the company disregarded its customers. In a 2015 interview, Tsuchiya mentioned that the company’s mission also included providing comfort for widowers or couples unable to engage in physical intimacy due to illness or other reasons.
Tsuchiya explained that although the adult entertainment industry in Japan is thriving, there are men who are unwilling to pay for such services but lack other outlets to relieve their sexual impulses.
In that 2015 interview, Tsuchiya revealed that he was 70 years old at the time, meaning he is now 80, leading many to speculate that his retirement is not due to illness but rather a desire for a more relaxed and peaceful lifestyle.
