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with his film "Nikurai no Ichiba," or "Flesh Market" in 1962. Following soon after in 1964, kabuki director Tetsuji Takechi added to the genre with "Daydream." Takechi's fourth film, "Black Snow" (1965), which depicted a Japanese youth who is aroused by violence and murders an American G.I., was released less than a year after Japan hosted the Olympics. Public outcry led to the director being sued for obscenity. His victory in the case opened the door yet further for the growth of the market.

From 1962 until 1971, Japan enjoyed the first wave in the pinku industry, what actress Naomi Tani (best known for her roles in Nikkatsus Roman Pornos) called "The Age of Competition." Larger production companies were hesitant to sink money into these pornographic film forays, so smaller houses like Shintoho, Million, Kanto, and Okura cleaned up, even opening their own specialty theaters.

Though Pinku Eiga directors Hiroshi Mukai, Kinya Ogawa and Shinya Yamamoto led the charge, and are known to this day as "The Heroes of the First Wave," it was director Koji Wakamatsu who is lauded as being the "Pink Godfather." Wakamatsu's film credits include "Ecstasy of the Angels," "In the Realm of the Senses," and "Violated Angels." His masterpiece, "Skeleton in the Closet, received an enthusiastic reception at the Berlin International Film Festival, though his production company, Nikkatsu, gave it a low profile domestic release.

Until the early '70's, the first wave had been dominated by smaller, independent production houses. Seeing their success, larger companies like Toei plunged headfirst into the industry in 1971, bringing about the second wave. Toei was responsible for many of the best known films of the second wave (known as The Nikkatsu Roman Porno era), including the "Pinky Violence" series: Shigeki Rosen (Sensational Line), Ijoseiai Rosen (Abnormal Line), and Harenchi Rosen (Shameless Line).

Undoubtedly the greatest influence in this era was Nikkatsu (Nippon Katsud Shashin, literally "Japan Cinematograph Company"). Progenitor of the Roman Porno (Romantic Pornography), Nikkatsu poured money into erotic cinema, giving the genre a new look and feel with large budgets, professional talent, and artistic directors. The first movie in Nikkatsu's series, "Apartment Wife: Affair In The Afternoon", became a standout hit, spawning twenty sequels in less than ten years.

In 1988, pink films saw their last great theatrical release with "Bed Partner," the final installment in Nikkatsu's Roman

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