Sexy and loving it

Thailand's film industry has brought three Japanese adult video stars - Sora Aoi, Maria Ozawa and Asuka Inui - to the big screen over the past few years and next month it's the turn of Yui Tatsumi, who'll star in M Pictures' romantic comedy "Love Summer: Rak Talon on the Beach".

"Aoi told me that she had an unforgettable experience shooting 'Pid Term Yai Huajai Wawoon' ['Hormones'] here in 2008 and she loved her stay in Thailand. So when I was offered the chance, I didn't hesitate," says the 27-yea-rold Gifu native.

In the movie directed by Trilak Makmeongpad, Yui basically plays herself - an AV idol who comes to Thailand and falls in with a group of Thai youngsters: George (Thanwa Suriyajak), Jack (Thana Iemniyom) and Khai Muk (Pimchanok "Bai Fern" Lerwisetpaibul).

Audiences will see Yui in a bikini but she doesn't strip off.

"Learning Thai was really difficult. I had an interpreter, of course, but it took a while to understand how to match my emotional expressions to the dialogue. Trilak and Bai Fern really helped me a lot.

"Like Aoi, I was surprised at the beauty of the filming location, especially the stunning panorama from the top of the hill at Laem Phromthep in Phuket," she says.

This is the third time Yui has been to Thailand in seven years. On earlier trips, she visited temples, rode an elephant and sampled street food.

"Thai temples and chedis are much brighter and more colourful than those in Japan. The food's great. I love the spicy tastes," she says.

"And I really enjoyed going to night markets. You don't find those in Japan except during temple festivals."

Yui started being noticed back in 2000 when she worked as a "race queen", adding glamour to motor sports. She moved into adult video with 2008's "Not Naked, A Real Race Queen", followed by "Circuit Queen" and "Real Race Queen Photo Society", which all played on her role on the racetrack. Before long, she was one of the Top 100 actresses in DVD sales.

"Working as an AV performer helps you find many more jobs because you become more widely known," she explains. "There are many Japanese girls interested in the career of AV performer but the casting is strict and there's a lot of competition.

"My sexiest points are my hips," she adds.

She says she gets on "great" with other AV idols.

"I'm not jealous of other AV performers' talent and I'm happy to work together with them. There's no point being hostile towards new or veteran performers. I'm an optimist and I'm admired by my fan club. That's why I have been in this career for a while.

"As an AV performer, I get to play several roles like nurse, elementary school teacher and student. But my most favourite role is being an ordinary woman who finds love," she says.

She also starred in "Kunoichi Kazumi" ("Lady Ninja Kasumi").

"I loved playing this imaginary character: it was a lot of fun," she says of her action role, and has more in store. "I'm about to play a role of a 'power ranger' for a DVD release."

Yui recently appeared on TV with other AV idols to discuss sexual health. She advised viewers "to relax and enjoy sex and to take good care of their health".

Ultimately, she aims for a career as a businesswoman.

"I would like to work longer in the entertainment circle and gain much more experience and develop my skills. My dream is to own a minimart."

Finally, just in case you're wondering, she doesn't have a boyfriend - not yet anyway.

"I'm looking for him here," she says with a giggle. "He must be macho and have muscles."

Bikini babe

n "Love Summer: Rak Talon on the Beach" opens in cinemas on October 6.

n Check out the website: www.LoveSummer.in.th