Japan's pornographic industry, known locally as AV (adult video), is widely known to be somewhat different to the West, not least due to its mainstream acceptance in daily Japanese culture. AV stars can enjoy a high-level of celebrity not only in Japan, but across Asia, with women like Maria Ozawa, Ai Iijima and Sola Aoi variously promoting games, anime and starring in reputable films, TV dramas and theater. The industry is thought to churn out more than 3,000 features a year -- compared to around 400 regular Japanese films -- and have a value of ¥100 billion ($1.2billion).
via cnngo.com
While Japan in general has what many would consider some odd customs and social norms, this one seems quite enlightened, if you ask me. Porn is just like any other form of entertainment. Granted, it's not one I'd let my kids see, but there's other forms of entertainment that aren't considered porn that I wouldn't let my kids see, either.
Meanwhile, in the US, we've had relatively few successful "crossovers" from the porn industry into the more traditional entertainment industry. In fact, most traditional industries want nothing to do with porn. Proctor and Gamble fired Ivory Soap girl Marilyn Chambers after they found out she had stared in a porn movie. That movie? Behind the Green Door. A movie that, at least according to Wikipedia, "received positive reviews in mainstream media."