Netflix’s S&X asks a question Japan rarely says out loud: why is a country so saturated with sexual content so afraid to talk about sex?
Reports indicate that despite all the pervasive sexual content depicted in pop culture and media, Japan is still one of the most sexless countries in the world and has one of the lowest birth rates globally. Public discussions and personal interactions about sex are heavily shaped by strong social taboos. But here’s the interesting paradox: while conversations about sexual health, consent, and intimacy are frowned upon, adult media and highly sexualized content are extremely visible in the country.
An intriguing part of Japanese sociology is the concept of “tatemae” and “honne,” where tatemae is the behavior, opinions, and politeness displayed in public to maintain social harmony, and honne is a person’s true feelings, desires, and judgments. A research paper by Takashi Naito and Uwi Gielen states that Japanese interactional norms prioritize empathy and non-confrontation. Withholding critical personal judgment in public is considered a social duty to preserve group cohesion, whereas expressing brutal personal critiques is seen as self-centeredness. Because Japanese social structures place a heavy emphasis on maintaining a controlled, harmonious tatemae in public, bringing honne subjects such as sex into public discourse causes a lot of friction, discomfort, and even loss of dignity.
Netflix’s recently concluded Japanese drama, S&X, starring former Sexy Zone member Kento Nakajima, addresses the lack of sex education and the Japanese society’s aversion to sexuality. Recently, Netflix-produced Japanese dramas have faced criticism for their liberal stances on significant issues like feminism and sexuality, which some perceive as pandering to ‘woke’ culture. While I agree that some of these series may go too far, I believe S&X is worth recommending, particularly for its approach to the topic of sex.
Kento Nakajima portrays Ichito Shitomori, one of the few sex therapists in Tokyo who runs his own psychiatry clinic with two staff members and serves as a guest lecturer at a university. The story highlights the realities of Japanese society, where even well-educated individuals often misunderstand the role of a sex therapist. Several of his patients come to him with issues outside his area of expertise, such as an elderly woman who sought advice on neutering a stray cat. Some people have even compared Dr. Shitomori to the leader of a cult, claiming he pretends to be spiritual while exploiting his female followers. Additionally, he has faced false accusations of being a maniac after being spotted carrying sexual items for his university lectures.
What’s interesting about the drama is the complexity of Dr. Shitomori’s character and his experiences. I don’t want to spoil anything, but the show presents a paradox about his profession and why he initially pursued sex therapy. While it grabs your attention right away, if you’re someone like me who is accustomed to unconventional and surprising films, I think it could have been even more mysterious. Despite the director’s decision to take a more straightforward approach, Kento Nakajima delivered an exceptional performance that effectively portrayed the complexity of his character. Additionally, there are many heartwarming moments throughout the series, particularly in Dr. Shitomori’s relationships with his two employees and with some of his clients.
Casting top Japanese actors like Kento Nakajima and Yuko Araki not only brings a lot more flair to the series, but at least more people get to see the drama, given that, in my opinion, they tackle an important topic that’s not only significant to Japanese culture, but also to the rest of Asia and the world. Due to its raunchy trailer, one might first think that the series might be too steamy or sexual, given that its lead actors have extreme sex appeal. Kento, the most popular member of the now-defunct Johnny’s boy group Sexy Zone, is known for his amusing “sexy dance” or “sexy look” innuendoes. And this time, after parting from this boy group (which is now known as Timelesz), he has taken on some more mature roles, especially while entering his early 30s. The beautiful actress Yuko Araki has always been a fantasy figure with extreme sex appeal. The trailer might be too raunchy, enticing several viewers, including myself, with its sexual overtones. However, it is much more than the sexual tension and that seemingly explicit atmosphere; S&X is such an impactful series, discussing several concerning sexual issues surrounding Japan and the world.
But what’s wonderful about this series is that its message extends beyond Japan’s borders and resonates globally. Issues such as intimacy struggles, performance anxiety, sexual shame, and even serious matters like sexual assault are not confined to one country. Millions of people around the world quietly endure these challenges in silence because society has transformed healthy conversations about intimacy and sexuality into taboos.
It’s high time for everyone to be open about their sexual problems and desires. While individuals may hesitate to confide in friends or partners, seeking help from a sex therapist can be incredibly beneficial. As Dr. Shitomori stated, “everyone on the planet has concerns about sex.” His primary aim is to foster a better society by addressing unresolved sexual issues, which can often be linked to factors like stress, depression, anxiety, frustration, or neglect. The series examined various sex-related problems, including sex addiction (even outside of marriage), virtual sex addiction, voyeurism, vaginismus, erectile dysfunction, and other trauma connected to sex.
With only seven episodes, S&X left me wanting more. I think it would have been better if they had explored more sexual issues and challenges. I had hoped the series would feature kinks or fetishes, especially after episodes two and three, which addressed having crushes on anime characters and being addicted to virtual sex. In the final episode, they touched on the Pygmalion complex, though not explicitly in a sexual context; there were still themes of control and fantasy. However, the series drifted away from being overtly sexual, which is what I had anticipated. Since I expected the show to delve into some of society’s most taboo subjects, I realize it remained a mainstream series, particularly as it starred A-list actors in Japan. I understand why they may have chosen not to make it overly provocative, so as not to be too repulsive.
S&X might not be the best Japanese drama out there, but I recommend people watch it not only because of the impact of its message, but also because it is very interesting and refreshing (for a mainstream drama), and it is quite fast-paced unlike other Netflix-produced Japanese series. While there are a few slower moments, overall, the series is straightforward, intact, and engaging, so you won’t find yourself getting bored. I think this is slowly becoming a standard for a lot of miniseries nowadays, with people’s attention spans getting shorter. Another thing I love about S&X is its soundtrack, provided by Mari Fukushige, who interlaced post-rock and math rock with indie pop.
Watch S&X here: LINK
NeP-C Ledesma is a millennial writer and entrepreneur full of curiosity about our abstract world. She devours Psychology, food, Philosophy, and prefer cats as her all-time company. Pop Culture is her kryptonite.