Zack Arai
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese adult video (AV) director who has worked in a wide range of AV genres.
in Saitama Prefecture
, Japan. After graduating from Takushoku University
in Tokyo, he joined the large Japanese porn conglomerate Soft On Demand
(SOD). Feeling that he had made a mistake joining SOD, he left 3 years later to go to Matsushima Cross' studio CrossWorld. There he joined another former SOD employee, Dragon Nishikawa
, and he began directing at least as early as November 2003. Several of his videos for CrossWorld were for the company's label. During this early period, in addition to CrossWorld, he also directed videos for Max-A
, Shy Plan, h.m.p.
, VIP
, and the Try-Heart Corporation
's Sexia label.
When CrossWorld was dissolved in mid-2005 after two and a half years in business, Arai and Nishikawa both joined Matsushima Cross' new studio, Cross
, in late 2005. While still at Cross, in early 2006, Arai began directing for the new start-up studio, Premium, on their Glamorous label. Arai continued working for Premium and has become one of their major directors. Premium is one of the companies in Japan's largest AV firm, the Hokuto Corporation
, and Arai has also directed for two other companies in the Hokuto group, S1
and Moodyz
.
Arai was one of the directors who took part in the "Ann-Project", the series of retirement videos for AV Idol
An Nanba
in early 2008. He directed her video for Premium, Harem of Amazones with Honoka
and Karen Kisaragi. He also directed the S1 entry in the 2008 AV Grand Prix competition, Confirmed x Confirmed x Girigiri Mosaic which starred Nao Mizuki & Minori Hatsune. The video took the GrandPrix Stage Highest Award, the Best Package Design, the Press Award, and the Dealer Award. As of September 2011, Arai had more than 250 DVDs credited to him as a director at the DMM website, the distribution arm of the Hokuto Corporation
.
Arai is a member of the Directors Guild of Japan
.
Life and career
Zack Arai was born in the city of NiizaNiiza, Saitama
is a city located in Saitama Prefecture, Japan, and is essentially a suburb of the Tokyo conurbation. Niiza is located at the southernmost part of Saitama. As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 159,741 and a population density of 7,010 persons per km²...
in Saitama Prefecture
Saitama Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of the island of Honshu. The capital is the city of Saitama.This prefecture is part of the Greater Tokyo Area, and most of Saitama's cities can be described as suburbs of Tokyo, to which a large amount of residents commute each day.- History...
, Japan. After graduating from Takushoku University
Takushoku University
Takushoku University is a private university in Japan. It was founded in 1900 by Prince Taro Katsura . The university is located in Tokyo and has two campuses: the main campus in the Bunkyō district, and a satellite campus in the Hachiōji district...
in Tokyo, he joined the large Japanese porn conglomerate Soft On Demand
Soft on Demand
, often known as SOD, is a Japanese adult video group of companies which has its headquarters in the Nakano ward of Tokyo. SOD was founded in December 1995 by Ganari Takahashi, who retired from the company in March 2005 and is currently working in agriculture...
(SOD). Feeling that he had made a mistake joining SOD, he left 3 years later to go to Matsushima Cross' studio CrossWorld. There he joined another former SOD employee, Dragon Nishikawa
Dragon Nishikawa
is a Japanese adult video director who primarily works with the Cross AV company.-Life and career:Dragon Nishikawa was born in the city of Kawagoe in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. His family ran a cleaning business and years later he still recalled being heckled as a young boy with taunts of...
, and he began directing at least as early as November 2003. Several of his videos for CrossWorld were for the company's label. During this early period, in addition to CrossWorld, he also directed videos for Max-A
Max-A
is a Japanese adult video studio which is especially known for videos made under its Samansa and Calen labels which produced a number of innovative and quality AVs in the late 1990s and early 2000s.-Company information:...
, Shy Plan, h.m.p.
H.m.p. (Japan)
h.m.p. is a Japanese company which is involved in adult entertainment including the production and sales of adult videos and the marketing of adult toys and sex aids.-Company information:...
, VIP
Atlas21
, formerly known as VIP, is a Japanese adult video company with headquarters in Tokyo, Japan.-VIP:The AV company was founded in June 1981 and issued its first video, titled , in December of that same year making it one of the first adult video companies to be established in Japan. The studio...
, and the Try-Heart Corporation
Try-Heart Corporation
The is a Japanese adult video company best known for videos produced under its label.-Company information:Try-Heart began releasing videos under the Pink Drug label at least as early as December 1995, and with production codes of the type SEA-xxx for the Sexia studio as early as April 1997 with...
's Sexia label.
When CrossWorld was dissolved in mid-2005 after two and a half years in business, Arai and Nishikawa both joined Matsushima Cross' new studio, Cross
Cross (studio)
is a Japanese adult video studio located in Tokyo at the Ebisu Garden Place Tower.-Company information:Cross was founded by directors Matsushima Cross and Innjean Koga in late 2005, the event being announced at a press conference at a club in Tokyo's Shinjuku district on October 19, 2005...
, in late 2005. While still at Cross, in early 2006, Arai began directing for the new start-up studio, Premium, on their Glamorous label. Arai continued working for Premium and has become one of their major directors. Premium is one of the companies in Japan's largest AV firm, the Hokuto Corporation
Hokuto Corporation
The is a Japanese joint stock company involved in the distribution of adult videos and adult toys. The firm, founded in March 1990, is headquartered in Tokyo at the Ebisu Garden Place Tower. By late 2008, Hokuto was handling products from more than 150 different adult video studios, making it the...
, and Arai has also directed for two other companies in the Hokuto group, S1
S1 No. 1 Style
or just S1 is a major Japanese producer of adult videos which has its offices in Tokyo's Meguro Ward.-Company Information:S1 is one of the many affiliated companies in the giant Hokuto Corporation group. Hokuto distributes the studio's videos via retail sales and online through its DMM website...
and Moodyz
Moodyz
, formerly known as Mr. President, is one of Japan's largest adult video producers, featuring an extensive catalog of video titles.-Company information:...
.
Arai was one of the directors who took part in the "Ann-Project", the series of retirement videos for AV Idol
AV Idol
An AV idol is a Japanese idol who works in the pornographic business, often both as an actress as well as a model as the video performances have a wide range, from just the idol strolling around their house doing chores in bikinis to hardcore porn...
An Nanba
An Nanba
also known as Ann Nanba is a Japanese adult video actress who has had a long and prolific career during which she has won multiple awards. At the beginning of 2009, the DMM and Amazon sites both listed more than 250 DVDs available under her name. She retired from AV work in 2008.-AV debut and...
in early 2008. He directed her video for Premium, Harem of Amazones with Honoka
Honoka
is an award-winning Japanese adult video actress and popular TV personality and actress. She retired from the AV industry in 2008.-Life and career:...
and Karen Kisaragi. He also directed the S1 entry in the 2008 AV Grand Prix competition, Confirmed x Confirmed x Girigiri Mosaic which starred Nao Mizuki & Minori Hatsune. The video took the GrandPrix Stage Highest Award, the Best Package Design, the Press Award, and the Dealer Award. As of September 2011, Arai had more than 250 DVDs credited to him as a director at the DMM website, the distribution arm of the Hokuto Corporation
Hokuto Corporation
The is a Japanese joint stock company involved in the distribution of adult videos and adult toys. The firm, founded in March 1990, is headquartered in Tokyo at the Ebisu Garden Place Tower. By late 2008, Hokuto was handling products from more than 150 different adult video studios, making it the...
.
Arai is a member of the Directors Guild of Japan
Directors Guild of Japan
The is a trade union created to represent the interests of film directors in the film industry in Japan. It was founded in 1936, with Minoru Murata serving as the first president, and has continued to this day apart from a period between 1943 and 1949 when it was disbanded at first on orders from...
.