Yumika Hayashi

Yumika Hayashi (Japanese: 林由美香, Hepburn: Hayashi Yumika, June 27, 1970 – June 28, 2005) was a Japanese AV idol and pink film actress. She earned the title of "Japan's Original Adult Video Queen" during a 16-year career in which she starred in nearly 200 AVs and appeared in over 180 films.[2][3] Hayashi was also a prominent pink film actress; she was the subject of a 1997 documentary[3] and the recipient of the Best Actress award at the Pink Grand Prix ceremony in 2004 as well as receiving the Special Career Award the following year.[4][5] Her death on June 28, 2005, one day after her 35th birthday, ended one of the longest careers in the AV field[2][6] and made front-page news in Tokyo.[3] Following her death, Hayashi was awarded a second Special Career Award at the 2006 Pink Grand Prix ceremony and became the subject of several theatrical retrospectives and a 382-page biography.[3][7][8][9]

Yumika Hayashi
林由美香
Born	Yumika Oguri June 27, 1970[1] Tokyo, Japan
Died	June 28, 2005 (aged 35)
Height	1.58 m (5 ft 2 in)

Life and career

Yumika Hayashi was born Yumika Oguri (小栗 由美香, Oguri Yumika) in Tokyo on June 27, 1970.[10][11] Her parents divorced when she was in 5th grade, elementary school, and Hayashi was on her own by the time she was in high school.[12] Hayashi's mother managed a popular ramen chain.[13]

Hayashi made her adult video debut in the bishōjo genre[14] with the June 1989 h.m.p. Miss Christine release, Shigamitsuku 18-sai: ojōsama wa shitanai (しがみつく18歳　お嬢様はしたない).[15] She made her pink film debut the same year,[16] and her starring debut with the Xces studio release, Double Rape to Break in a Perverted Wild Filly (ダブルレイプ　変態調教) in October 1990.[6] She became one of the most popular AV Actresses of the 1990s.[3] Several of her early videos were for the V&R Planning studio under the direction of Company Matsuo who was also her lover.[17][18]

Cult director Hisayasu Satō chose Hayashi for a major role in his 1993 film Real Action: Drink Up!,[19] and continued an association with the actress in several films. In his entry in the Molester's Train series, Molester's Train: Dirty Behavior aka Birthday Hayashi had a role in a film whose "austere tone" was in direct contrast to the light, comic tone of the previous films in the series, started by Academy Award-winner Yōjirō Takita in 1982.[3] In the role of the "gluttonous woman" who eats herself in Satō's Naked Blood (1996) Hayashi performed what Allmovie calls "one of the most appalling scenes in Japanese horror", in which her character cooks, then consumes various parts of her body.[20] In 1995, Hayashi played a role in a TBS television series featuring Taro Miyako Nishimura's fictional detective, Inspector Totsukawa, The Izu Coast Road Murder (伊豆海岸殺人ルート, Izu Kaigan Satsujin Ruuto).[21][22]

By mid-1996, another V&R Planning director, Katsuyuki Hirano (who was married) had replaced Company Matsuo as Hayashi's lover[18] and the two of them traveled to the north of Japan in July 1996 on a bike trip. Hirano produced an AV version of their trip titled Tokyo - Rebun 41-day Adultery Bicycle Touring Trip[23] and later in 1997 edited a mainstream documentary on the trip entitled Yumika. Hayashi received credit for the shooting of the film, and Hirano was Hayashi's co-star.[3] In 1998, she was again working in television in the NHK TV drama Blue Fireworks (青い花火 or Aoi Hanabi) broadcast on November 28, 1998.[24] Hayashi also appeared in director Yōichirō Takahashi's drama Nichiyōbi wa Owaranai (日曜日は終わらない) which originally aired on NHK TV as a High-Definition satellite TV broadcast on October 21, 1999.[25] It was subsequently shown as Sunday's Dream (1999) at the 53rd Cannes Film Festival,[26][27] and won the FIPRESCI Prize at the Chicago International Film Festival.[28][29] In their review of the film, midnighteye.com commented, "The big surprise is that former porn star Yumika Hayashi is also very good as the happy-go-lucky Sachiko".[30]

As one of the top erotic actresses of her day, Hayashi was invited to the Cinequint theater in Shibuya to speak at a woman's-only night showing of pink films in March 2002. Similar events had attracted a large audience of young women. On the subject of women viewing her films, Hayashi told the weekly Shūkan Bunshun, "To be honest, I've never really thought about whether my movies were being watched by men or women. We always presume that only guys are going to turn them on... Still, this'll be a great chance for girls to get to know about the porno movie industry. I think the most enjoyable part of the night is going to be the questions asked after the films are over. I wonder what the girls are going to ask me?"[31]

At the 17th Pink Grand Prix awards, for the year of 2004, Hayashi won the "Best Actress" award for her performance in Lunch Box aka Mature Woman: Rutting Ball-Play (熟女・発情　タマしゃぶり, Jukujō: hatsujō tamashaburi).[4][5] Hayashi's prolific career earned her a reputation as a "iron woman" of Japanese erotic cinema,[6] and after her death, the weekly Shūkan Taishū wrote that Hayashi's 180 filmed appearances deserved mention in the Guinness World Records.[6] At the Pink Grand Prix for 2005 she was given a special Career Award for Achievement as an Actress.[32]

Death

When director Katsuyuki Hirano became concerned that Hayashi had not reported for work for a couple of days, he, another AV worker and Hayashi's mother went to her apartment on the morning of June 29, 2005, two days after Hayashi's 35th birthday. There they discovered her dead body in bed.[2] A friend of Hayashi's described the scene to reporters, "Yumika was lying in her bed and the three people who found her thought she was sleeping. When they realized she wasn't breathing, they quickly called for an ambulance, but it was already too late, Yumika's mom was shattered, screaming, crying and going half crazy."[2]

At the time of her death, suicide and murder were both considered possible causes of death.[2] Hayashi's romantic life was seen as a possible cause of foul play. A colleague in the AV industry reported that Hayashi had broken off a relationship with a younger man about three months before her death. "They'd lived together for a while. She seemed to have been pretty shocked when the relationship came to an end."[2]

A neighbor agreed telling reporters, "About three months ago, she had a huge fight with a guy that forced the cops to be called to our apartment block. A pile of men's photos and underpants came flying out of the window of her eighth floor apartment and landed on passers-by."[2]

Hayashi's friend and director Yumi Yoshiyuki disagreed with the possibility of suicide, telling Friday weekly, "She was a really bright kid. She'd told me that she'd just found a new boyfriend and was really happy. I cannot believe she could possibly have committed suicide."[2]

It was later determined that no intentional causes were involved in the actress' death. Instead Hayashi's death was the result of a night of heavy drinking while celebrating her 35th birthday. After the party, Hayashi had choked to death in her bed after vomiting in her sleep.[3]

Legacy

Hayashi was remembered as part of a TV Asahi special on those who had recently died. The show, Sayonara 5, 6 tsuki hen (さよなら　５、６月編), was broadcast on August 12, 2005 and included reminiscences and some details of the day before her death.[33]

Hayashi's last film, Miss Peach: Peachy Sweetness Huge Breasts (ミスピーチ　巨乳は桃の甘み, Misu Piichi: kyonyū wa momo no umami) (2005), directed by Yumi Yoshiyuki, was released in September 2005.[34] Yoshiyuki and co-star Sakurako Kaoru participated in the memorial ceremony for Hayashi at the film's opening at the Ueno Okura theater. The film received a standing ovation.[35] Hayashi's posthumous work was chosen as the fifth best pink release of the year 2005 at the Pink Grand Prix.[32] The 2006 Pink Grand Prix posthumously gave Hayashi her second special award for her work as a pink film actress.[7][36] Yoshiyuki Hayashida, founder of the pink film magazine P*G and the Pink Grand Prix co-authored a 382-page biography of Hayashi in 2006 entitled YUMIKA HAYASHI : A Portrait of the Actress as a Young Woman (女優 林由美香, Joyū Hayashi Yumika).[8][37] In 2009, Japanese-Korean director Tetsuaki Matsue filmed a documentary on Hayashi. Titled Annyeong Yumika (あんにょん由美香, Annyon Yumika), the film includes appearances by Hayashi's former colleagues actress Lemon Hanazawa and directors Company Matsuo and Katsuyuki Hirano.[38]

References

1. Infobox data from 林由美香 (in Japanese). 'Web I-dic' (Idol Dictionary). 2006-07-02. Retrieved 2009-02-16.
2. Connell, Ryann (2005-07-11). "Porno queen's mysterious death -- murder or suicide?". Mainichi Shimbun.
3. Sharp, Jasper (2008). Behind the Pink Curtain: The Complete History of Japanese Sex Cinema. Guildford: FAB Press. p. 299. ISBN 978-1-903254-54-7.
4. "Best Ten of 2004 (２００４年度ベストテン)" (in Japanese). P.G. Web Site. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
5. ピンク映画界のアカデミー賞というべき"ピンク大賞" 蒼井そら、林由美香らが来場する、年に一度の祭典に密着！ (in Japanese). www.walkerplus.com. 2007-05-08. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
6. Kamiyama, Masuo (2005-10-22). "The sultry secrets of AV starlets' prolonged careers". Mainichi Shimbun. Yumika Hayashi, who after her acting debut in "Double Rape to Break in a Perverted Wild Filly" in October 1990, achieved a reputation as an "iron woman" for her enduring 16-year career, in which she appeared in over 180 films. That alone, opines Shukan Taishu, should have earned her an honorable mention in the Guinness Book of Records. Last June 29, Hayashi was found dead in her Tokyo apartment. A forensic autopsy failed to determine the cause of death. She was 35.
7. "Best Ten of 2006 (２００６年度ベストテン)" (in Japanese). P.G. Web Site. Retrieved January 18, 2009.
8. "女優 林由美香 (YUMIKA HAYASHI : A Portrait of the Actress as a Young Woman)" (in Japanese). Webcat Plus. Retrieved 2009-02-22.
9. Naoi, Takatoshi; Yoshiyuki Hayashida; Kiichiro Yanashita (2006). YUMIKA HAYASHI : A Portrait of the Actress as a Young Woman (女優 林由美香 Joyu Hayashi Yumika). Eiga hiho collection (Movie treasure collection). Tokyo: Yosensha. ISBN 4-86248-072-1.
10. 林由美香 (in Japanese). 'Web I-dic' (Idol Dictionary). 2006-07-02. Retrieved 2009-02-16.
11. Nakano, Tatsuji (2006-10-25). 「たまもの」主演女優・林由美香さん追悼イベント いまおかしんじ監督らを魅了した女神よ、永遠なれ (in Japanese). www.walkerplus.com. Retrieved 2009-03-15. 【林由美香プロフィール】: 1970年6月27日東京生まれ。
12. Nakano, Tatsuji (2006-10-25). 「たまもの」主演女優・林由美香さん追悼イベント いまおかしんじ監督らを魅了した女神よ、永遠なれ (in Japanese). www.walkerplus.com. Retrieved 2009-03-15. 【林由美香プロフィール】: 小学5年のときに両親が離婚し、高校時にはすでに自活していた。
13. Nakano, Tatsuji (2006-10-25). 「たまもの」主演女優・林由美香さん追悼イベント いまおかしんじ監督らを魅了した女神よ、永遠なれ (in Japanese). www.walkerplus.com. Retrieved 2009-03-15. 林由美香さんのお母さんがラーメンチェーン店の経営者であることはファンの間では有名だ。
14. Nakano, Tatsuji (2006-10-25). 「たまもの」主演女優・林由美香さん追悼イベント いまおかしんじ監督らを魅了した女神よ、永遠なれ (in Japanese). www.walkerplus.com. Retrieved 2009-03-15. 【林由美香プロフィール】: 1989年よりアダルトビデオに美少女系女優として出演。
15. "1989" (in Japanese). AV 研究所 (AV Research Laboratory). Retrieved 2009-02-22.
16. "林由美香 (Hayashi Yumika)". Shin-Toho official site. Archived from the original on 2008-06-21. Retrieved 2009-03-15.
17. Schoenherr, Johannes (December 29, 2006). "Company Matsuo and the World of Japanese Adult Video". Midnight Eye. Retrieved 2009-08-07.
18. Otsubo, Kemuta (January 4, 2006). いまさらですが2005年ＡＶ界を振り返る！ (in Japanese). All About. Retrieved 2009-08-07.
19. Firsching, Robert. "Nama Honban: Nomihosu!". Allmovie. Retrieved 2007-10-07.
20. Firsching, Robert. "Megyaku: Naked Blood". Allmovie. Retrieved 2008-01-24.
21. 西村京太郎サスペンス　十津川警部シリーズ「伊豆海岸殺人ルート」 (in Japanese). TBS TV. Retrieved 2009-03-12.
22. 十津川警部シリーズ「伊豆海岸殺人ルート」 (in Japanese). www.bs-i.co.jp. Archived from the original on 2007-10-24. Retrieved 2009-03-12.
23. 東京～礼文島 41日間自転車ツーリングドキュメント わくわく不倫旅行 200発もやっちゃった (in Japanese). vandr.co.jp. Retrieved 2009-09-05.
24. 青い花火　女ふたり愛を求める心の叫び (in Japanese). www.tvdrama-db.com. Retrieved 2009-03-24.
25. "Show Details" (in Japanese). NHK. Retrieved 2009-03-11.
26. "Festival de Cannes: Sunday's Dream". festival-cannes.com. Retrieved 2009-10-16.
27. Elley, Derek (2000-06-06). "Sunday's Dream: Nichiyobi Wa Owaranai (Japan)". Variety. Retrieved 2009-03-17. Reviewed at Cannes Film Festival (Un Certain Regard), May 11, 2000
28. "日曜日は終わらない". www.cinematopics.com. 2005-10-22. Retrieved 2009-02-17. 第53回カンヌ国際映画祭正式出品作品 / 第36回シカゴ国際映画祭国際批評家連盟賞受賞
29. "Awards for Nichiyobi wa owaranai". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 2009-02-17.
30. Rucka, Nicholas (2002-08-01). "Sunday's Dream". www.midnighteye.com. Retrieved 2009-02-17.
31. "Pink flicks poised to pull in female fannies". Mainichi Shimbun. 2002-03-24.
32. "Best Ten of 2005 (２００５年度ベストテン)" (in Japanese). P.G. Web Site. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
33. さよなら　５、６月編 (in Japanese). TV Asahi. Retrieved 2009-03-11.
34. Sharp, Jasper (2008). Behind the Pink Curtain: The Complete History of Japanese Sex Cinema. Guildford: FAB Press. p. 299. ISBN 978-1-903254-54-7.
35. Kanno, Naomi (2005-09-23). ピンクの女王・林由美香主演！遺作『ミスピーチ　巨乳は桃の甘み』舞台挨拶 (in Japanese). Cinema Topics Online. Retrieved 2009-02-15.
36. Toda, Miho (2007-05-08). ""Pink" Films Seen with Great Excitement on the Shinbungeiza Theater's Big Screen! The Academy Awards of the R-18 Film "19th Pink Prize" (新文芸坐の大スクリーンで観る"ピンク"な映画に大興奮！ R-18映画のアカデミー賞こと＜第19回ピンク大賞＞は立見続出!!! Shinbungeiza no dai screen de miru "Pink" na eiga ni daikofun! R-18 eiga no akademiisho koto "Dai 19kai pinku taishō" wa tachikenzokushutsu!!)" (in Japanese). www.walkerplus.com. Retrieved January 18, 2009.
37. 女優 林由美香 / Joyū Hayashi Yumika = YUMIKA HAYASHI : A Portrait of the Actress as a Young Woman. WorldCat. OCLC 76889942.
38. An nyon yumika (2009) at IMDb

Bibliography of cited sources

• "林由美香 (Hayashi Yumika)". Shin-Toho official site. Archived from the original on 2008-06-21. Retrieved 2009-03-15.
• "林由美香 (Hayashi Yumika)" (in Japanese). Shin-Toho official site. Archived from the original on 2008-06-21. Retrieved 2009-03-15.
• Sharp, Jasper (2008). Behind the Pink Curtain: The Complete History of Japanese Sex Cinema. Guildford: FAB Press. ISBN 978-1-903254-54-7.
• "Yumika Hayashi". AV Idol Directory. Retrieved 2010-10-13.

Further reading

• "In Memoriam: Yumika Hayashi - 追悼　林由美香" (in Japanese). P.G. Web Site. Archived from the original on 2009-02-26. Retrieved 2009-03-15.
• Takatoshi, Naoi; Hayashida, Yoshiyuki; Yanashita, Kiichiro (2006). Yumika Hayashi: A Portrait of the Actress as a Young Woman (女優 林由美香 Joyu Hayashi Yumika). Tokyo: Yosensha. ISBN 978-4-86248-072-9.
• "Yumika Hayashi Pink Filmography - 林由美香フィルモグラフィー" (in Japanese). P.G. Web Site. Archived from the original on 2009-10-09. Retrieved 2009-03-15.

External links

• Yumika Hayashi at IMDb