A note on the new, longer descriptions:

Knowing that not everyone possesses a fluent skill set in Japanese, watching movies--although visually pleasing may at times incite mild levels of confusion due to language and cultural barriers. Titles and brief descriptions can only aid with comprehension to some extent even when supplied with a decent amount of still frames from the production.

Due to this, since the beginning of 2012 and continuing indefinitely with every new movie update along with a complete rewrite of the majority of prior updates are the additions of fully fleshed out descriptions that satisfy three criteria: 1. Summarize the movie, 2. Provide background information about said movie and also include unique, cultural Japanese tidbits when applicable, and 3. Commentary.

In other words, the new, expanded descriptions accompanying most movies are there to serve as a 'naughty' Wikipedia-like entry. Read it while viewing the movie rather than attempting to digest it all at once as a sumptuous pre-show snack. It will surely help you understand what is happening in each scene with a greater, enhanced level of appreciation and keep you in the know during instances with heavy dialogue.

The Zenra Movie Annex has always been about quality over quantity. Rather than flooding each weekly update (without fail for over ten years) with a smorgasbord of movies of varying quality with little to no back-story and a few hastily created still frames, the best, the most bizarre, and of course, the most alternative movies from Japanese AV are chosen to represent their at-times average kindred along with full, lush, and at times, gargantuanly detailed descriptions to further enhance your viewing pleasure.

Also, please take note that the descriptions that appear on this site are 100% exclusive and written entirely in-house. There is no borrowing from other sources. Each movie description is a multi-hour (and at times, multi-day) affair consisting of an initial draft plus several rewrite sessions along with fact-finding to enhance the cultural aspect from Criteria #2. If you ever have any questions or comments about the movies and their write-ups, please do not hesitate to use the Contact Form.

Continued below...

What makes weird and bizarre Japanese AV movies so special is just how strange they truly are especially when compared with their western counterparts. Watching some of the crazy happenings of unorthodox Japan AV can be quite a thrilling experience but if you are not a skilled user of Japanese, there may be times when what's being said is considerably more important than what's on the screen.

As noted above, all entries on the Zenra Movie Annex have been given lush new descriptions that give deep insight into what is really going on during those times when comprehension becomes challenging. Along with these descriptions, various Japanese cultural nuances and tidbits in concert with commentary have also fleshed out the movie viewing experience to an unrivaled level.

But more can be done.

Japanese AV subtitles

Along with extended descriptions, beginning late September 2012 and continuing indefinitely, *all* new updates will feature exclusive full English subtitles. In concert with this, all previous updates will gradually be re-released with English subtitles. If you are an active subscriber, feel free to use the contact form located on the subtitle request page to submit movie requests as they will be given priority for archival subtitling.

With the addition of English subtitles, the Zenra mission statement of promoting the best of the most bizarre and strange Japanese AV movies with an emphasis on universal understanding has been saliently fortified. Being that all the Japanese AV subtitles are exclusive, created in-house, and most important, grammatically sound native English (rather than "Engrish"), the Zenra Movie Annex is the only source of bizarre yet erotic Japanese movies shown in a language everyone can understand.

Frequently Asked Questions at Zenra
(Updated August 31st, 2014)

I use ____. How can I view the movies?
Windows, Mac, and Linux: The easiest way to view movies using these operating systems is by installing the free VLC Media Player from www.videolan.org. It uses few computer resources and plays nearly any media format without issue. It's also the third most used video player worldwide after Quicktime and Windows Media Player. Also, provided you have VLC Media Player installed and use a modern web browser on a broadband connection, it is possible to stream the movies as they download.

Android: MX Player.

iOS (iPhone and iPad): playable (Free) or CineXPlayer HD (Paid).

Streaming on mobile devices: For mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, streaming is also possible. Please install one of the apps listed above. After logging in, clicking on a download link should present you with a 'Complete action using...' prompt. Select MX Player (or playable or CineXPlayer HD) and streaming should automatically begin. If no prompt is shown, a possible workaround is to copy the address of the movie by long-pressing on the download link and select copy. Paste this into MX Player (Menu (the three dots) -> Network stream) and streaming should begin.

Where are the movies?
On each movie page there are download links near the bottom (SUBTITLED DOWNLOAD - 1 2 3 etc.). Try right-clicking on one of the numbered links (each number contains a scene) and select 'Save File As' (or Save Location As, Save Target As, etc.). Select somewhere on your computer to save the file and ensure the download totally completes at 100%. Locate the file on your computer and double-click to open. Ensure that VLC is the program that opens the movie. If Quicktime or Windows Media Player opens instead, right click the file and select a prompt that says something similar to 'Open With' and select VLC. Alternately, first open VLC and then select 'Media' from the top drop-down box and select 'Open File' and then locate the fully downloaded movie on your computer.

Is it possible to preview future movies?
Subscribers and non-subscribers alike can download sample clips from upcoming new releases via the Coming Soon page.

Can I test out video playback before I subscribe?
Yes, it is possible to download movies from Zenra in order to see if your device—be it a computer, smartphone, tablet, etc.--can play them without any issue. Please visit the Coming Soon page and click on any of the screenshots to download free sample previews of upcoming releases. The short clips are encoded and stored in the exact same fashion as full-length movies. Thus, if they play without issue, you should be able to also play any full-length movie in the private area. However, if you do experience playback issues, please either read and apply the first portion of the FAQ dealing with how to remedy video playback issues and/or contact support for technical assistance. You do not need to be a subscriber to receive assistance from support.

Subtitled Japanese AV Movies?
Zenra is the only site on the internet featuring full-length Japanese AV movies with full and accurate English subtitles. Every scene and every snippet of audible dialog—even on-screen captions often used during game-themed productions—is given English captioning. For a complete list of all the subtitled movies on Zenra, please visit the Subtitles Status page which is updated approximately twice a week.

Why are most movies censored?
Due to Japanese obscenity laws passed many, many years ago, this type of mosaic--or blur--is legally necessary as the films are all made in Japan. However, since March of 2014, uncensored movies are being added on a regular basis.

I'm an active subscriber and I'm unable to log in.
Please confirm that you are correctly entering your username and password along with clicking on the four images of female faces before clicking the login button. If you are sure you are entering the correct username and password along with clicking on the four images of female faces (the Human Test), please try reloading the login page and ensure that the nine images of human faces changes before attempting to login again. For a simple, visual login help guide, please click here.

On top of that, there is a chance that Strongbox, the security software protecting the members area, temporarily blocked your account for too many logins attempts within a short time period. If you believe this is the case, please wait several hours before trying to login again OR contact support to have your account manually unblocked.

Why do I have to log in so many times?
Generally, an active subscriber only needs to login once every few hours. However, if you find yourself having to login multiple times per session, please confirm that you are not accessing the site using a private browser tab (also known as 'incognito mode'). Strongbox, the security software protecting the private area, must be able to accurately identify each valid user and accessing Zenra using a private tab (or any type of anonymizing software including computer firewalls with 'stealth' mode-type security settings enabled) may require multiple login attempts throughout one's visit since Strongbox cannot figure out who you are. Please also be aware that too many login attempts with invalid credentials in a short time period may lead to a temporary lock on your subscription lasting several hours (if you find yourself locked out, please contact support for faster turn around in most situations).

Will I have issues logging in if I use a VPN/Tor/Proxy?
The security system protecting the members area of Zenra is very sensitive to the geolocations and IP addresses of users. If your IP changes often, but remains in one country, you will probably not have issues logging in. However, if you use any type of internet service that results in the region you are connecting from to change very often, your username may be temporary blocked. Although using privacy-enhancing internet services such as VPNs, Tor (which is not recommended at all for large downloads), and proxy servers is nowadays warranted, so is the need to ensure that usernames are not shared. Unfortunately, if your geolocation changes too often, the security software in place may think there is foul play at hand since it cannot differentiate between someone simply using a privacy-enhancing internet connection and a shared (be it accidental or with intent) username. If you believe you are locked out because of this, please contact support.

Can I use download management software?
Although third party download management clients are not officially proscribed, you may encounter issues using them since Zenra is designed for human use. Technical support from this end is not provided and an improperly configured client may result in incorrect bandwidth counting and invalid login attempts ultimately resulting in a temporary lock on your subscription lasting several hours (if you find yourself locked out, please contact support for faster turn around in most situations).

Can I download as much as I want?
To prevent site 'leeching', all subscribers are limited to downloading no more than 15GB an hour not to exceed 25GB a day. Please note that the way the download script functions is by limiting *heavy* download use in short time periods. A user should have no issues downloading a few full movies an hour for several hours a day if it's spaced throughout the day. The hourly/daily download limit is not only hard to reach, but is very friendly to the subscriber compared to hard-coded limits such as the ones that many ISPs worldwide are starting to employ. If you surpass the hourly limit, you will not be locked out for a whole hour, but just for for a few minutes as your available data usage starts 'refilling' immediately. However, continually reaching the cap may result in longer lock-out periods.

Why is there no trial subscription option?
Many adult sites offer trial subscriptions by credit card, but not Zenra. Almost all of these trial subscriptions are configured in a way to automatically convert a trial subscription into a full-time one—often at a higher monthly price than what a subscriber would pay if he/she initially opted for a 30-day subscription. A subscriber must manually cancel their subscription to avoid being charged the full price before their trial period runs out. Since adult sites are frequently impulse purchases, this sets up a recipe for angry and overcharged customers which is a lose-lose situation for everyone.

Do you take custom subtitling requests?
Yes, custom subtitled requests for movies not found on the site are accepted. Please be aware that this is a supplementary service with its own set of fees. Both non-subscribers and subscribers can make custom requests. Turn-around time is usually one to two weeks after payment is received. Please contact support for more information.

How can I become an AV actor/actress?
If you do not possess either a Japanese spouse visa, Japanese permanent residency, or are a Japanese citizen, your chances of being in an adult video production are nil. However, if you do possess one of these statuses and live in the Tokyo area (or can make your way to the Tokyo area on your own dime), we at Zenra may be able to help you take part in a shoot. If you are interested, contact us and we can provide some guidance as to your options.

Do you buy movies?
ZENRA.net is always looking to buy new movies. Be it professional or amateur quality, so long as your offerings are mainly in Japanese and all participants are over 18 years old, feel free to use the contact form to discuss licensing terms. Movies do not need to star only cast members of Japanese descent. Interracial movies are also welcome so long as the main dialog spoken is Japanese. Since ZENRA.net creates subtitles in-house, subtitling beforehand is not required.
ご用件がある方、Contact Form を使い下さい。

Do you have an affiliate program?
Yes, please use the contact form for more information.

Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
(Updated July 17th, 2014)

No private information of any kind is stored at Zenra.net. The only information stored is one's username and password in an encrypted form. Billing information is stored on the encrypted servers owned and operated by trusted internet payment gateways. Your contact information will never be used in any type of unsolicited email and/or snail mail campaign nor will it be given to any unaffiliated third party. Outside of support requests and subscription confirmation emails, you will never receive any type of unsolicited communication from Zenra.net.

Adult Material and Age Agreement
Zenra.net features visual material created by and for adults. You agree that at the time of purchase that you are of legal adult age (18 or 21 in certain jurisdictions) and it is legal in your place of residence to view such material. You agree not to distribute and/or show in any way said material to anyone under the legal adult age (18 or 21 in certain jurisdictions).

Zenra.net offers recurring subscriptions and one-time subscriptions. A monthly subscription is $29.95USD which is automatically rebilled until canceled. Three month subscriptions—both recurring until canceled and non-recurring are offered at the rate of $85USD and $99USD respectively. Subscription prices are shown in USD and may slightly differ with local exchange rates. Short-term 'trial' memberships are offered via phone through GxBill. Short-term memberships do not automatically renew. Costs for short-term memberships are the cost of an international phone call for x amount of minutes (length of minutes determines length of membership).

All subscribers are limited to downloading no more than 15GB an hour not to exceed 25GB a day. If you surpass the hourly limit, you will not be locked out for a whole hour, but just for a few minutes as your available data usage starts 'refilling' immediately. However, continually reaching the cap may result in longer lock-out periods. For more information about downloading limits, please visit the FAQ.

A subscription is for one individual. You agree not to share your login information nor distribute downloaded and streamed media on any type of online or offline distribution channels. Sharing your login credentials or distributing media will result in a cancellation of your account without a refund and your billing information will be added to a permanent blacklist.

Zenra is designed to be accessed by human visitors. Download management clients are not officially proscribed, but you may encounter issues using them. Technical support from this end is not provided and an improperly configured client may result in incorrect bandwidth counting and invalid login attempts ultimately resulting in a temporary lock on your subscription lasting several hours (if you find yourself locked out, please contact support for faster turn around in most situations). Refund requests due to accounts being temporarily locked out for usage of improperly configured download managers will not be provided.

Refunds for subscription orders (either 30 day or 90 day subscriptions both recurring and non-recurring) may be given on a case by case basis provided no more than thirty calendar days have passed since initial purchase. If you wish to request a refund, please contact support. All subscriptions made through short-term phone transactions via GxBill and Bitcoin transactions asssited by Bitpay are final and no refunds can be given. Subscribers who chargeback transactions without first contacting support will have their IP addresses permanently blocked.

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Automated Text Analysis

Content Analysis

General Purpose Computer-Assisted Clustering and Conceptualization
Grimmer, Justin, and Gary King. 2011. General Purpose Computer-Assisted Clustering and Conceptualization. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. WebsiteAbstract
We develop a computer-assisted method for the discovery of insightful conceptualizations, in the form of clusterings (i.e., partitions) of input objects. Each of the numerous fully automated methods of cluster analysis proposed in statistics, computer science, and biology optimize a different objective function. Almost all are well defined, but how to determine before the fact which one, if any, will partition a given set of objects in an "insightful" or "useful" way for a given user is unknown and difficult, if not logically impossible. We develop a metric space of partitions from all existing cluster analysis methods applied to a given data set (along with millions of other solutions we add based on combinations of existing clusterings), and enable a user to explore and interact with it, and quickly reveal or prompt useful or insightful conceptualizations. In addition, although uncommon in unsupervised learning problems, we offer and implement evaluation designs that make our computer-assisted approach vulnerable to being proven suboptimal in specific data types. We demonstrate that our approach facilitates more efficient and insightful discovery of useful information than either expert human coders or many existing fully automated methods.
Methods to evaluate automated information extraction systems when coding rare events, the success of one such system, along with considerable data. King, Gary, and Will Lowe. 2003. An Automated Information Extraction Tool For International Conflict Data with Performance as Good as Human Coders: A Rare Events Evaluation Design. International Organization 57: 617-642.Abstract
How Censorship in China Allows Government Criticism but Silences Collective Expression
King, Gary, Jennifer Pan, and Margaret E Roberts. 2013. How Censorship in China Allows Government Criticism but Silences Collective Expression. American Political Science Review 107, no. 2 (May): 1-18.Abstract
We offer the first large scale, multiple source analysis of the outcome of what may be the most extensive effort to selectively censor human expression ever implemented. To do this, we have devised a system to locate, download, and analyze the content of millions of social media posts originating from nearly 1,400 different social media services all over China before the Chinese government is able to find, evaluate, and censor (i.e., remove from the Internet) the large subset they deem objectionable. Using modern computer-assisted text analytic methods that we adapt to and validate in the Chinese language, we compare the substantive content of posts censored to those not censored over time in each of 85 topic areas. Contrary to previous understandings, posts with negative, even vitriolic, criticism of the state, its leaders, and its policies are not more likely to be censored. Instead, we show that the censorship program is aimed at curtailing collective action by silencing comments that represent, reinforce, or spur social mobilization, regardless of content. Censorship is oriented toward attempting to forestall collective activities that are occurring now or may occur in the future --- and, as such, seem to clearly expose government intent.
Hopkins, Daniel, Gary King, and Ying Lu. System for Estimating a Distribution of Message Content Categories in Source Data. U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. US Patent 8180717, filed 2012.Abstract
A method of computerized content analysis that gives “approximately unbiased and statistically consistent estimates” of a distribution of elements of structured, unstructured, and partially structured source data among a set of categories. In one embodiment, this is done by analyzing a distribution of small set of individually-classified elements in a plurality of categories and then using the information determined from the analysis to extrapolate a distribution in a larger population set. This extrapolation is performed without constraining the distribution of the unlabeled elements to be equal to the distribution of labeled elements, nor constraining a content distribution of content of elements in the labeled set (e.g., a distribution of words used by elements in the labeled set) to be equal to a content distribution of elements in the unlabeled set. Not being constrained in these ways allows the estimation techniques described herein to provide distinct advantages over conventional aggregation techniques.

Computer-Assisted Keyword and Document Set Discovery from Unstructured Text

King, Gary, and Justin Grimmer. Method and Apparatus for Selecting Clusterings to Classify A Predetermined Data Set. U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. US Patent 8,438,162, filed 2013.Abstract
A method for selecting clusterings to classify a predetermined data set of numerical data comprises five steps. First, a plurality of known clustering methods are applied, one at a time, to the data set to generate clusterings for each method. Second, a metric space of clusterings is generated using a metric that measures the similarity between two clusterings. Third, the metric space is projected to a lower dimensional representation useful for visualization. Fourth, a “local cluster ensemble” method generates a clustering for each point in the lower dimensional space. Fifth, an animated visualization method uses the output of the local cluster ensemble method to display the lower dimensional space and to allow a user to move around and explore the space of clustering.

Reverse-engineering censorship in China: Randomized experimentation and participant observation

King, Gary, Jennifer Pan, and Margaret E Roberts. 2014.

Reverse-engineering censorship in China: Randomized experimentation and participant observation

. Science 345, no. 6199: 1-10. Publisher's VersionAbstract
Existing research on the extensive Chinese censorship organization uses observational methods with well-known limitations. We conducted the first large-scale experimental study of censorship by creating accounts on numerous social media sites, randomly submitting different texts, and observing from a worldwide network of computers which texts were censored and which were not. We also supplemented interviews with confidential sources by creating our own social media site, contracting with Chinese firms to install the same censoring technologies as existing sites, and—with their software, documentation, and even customer support—reverse-engineering how it all works. Our results offer rigorous support for the recent hypothesis that criticisms of the state, its leaders, and their policies are published, whereas posts about real-world events with collective action potential are censored.

A Method of Automated Nonparametric Content Analysis for Social Science

A method that gives unbiased estimates of the proportion of text documents in investigator-chosen categories, given only a small subset of hand-coded documents. Also includes the first correction for the far less-than-perfect levels of inter-coder reliability that typically characterize hand coding. Applications to sentiment detection about politicians in blog posts. Hopkins, Daniel, and Gary King. 2010.

A Method of Automated Nonparametric Content Analysis for Social Science

. American Journal of Political Science 54, no. 1: 229–247.Abstract
The increasing availability of digitized text presents enormous opportunities for social scientists. Yet hand coding many blogs, speeches, government records, newspapers, or other sources of unstructured text is infeasible. Although computer scientists have methods for automated content analysis, most are optimized to classify individual documents, whereas social scientists instead want generalizations about the population of documents, such as the proportion in a given category. Unfortunately, even a method with a high percent of individual documents correctly classified can be hugely biased when estimating category proportions. By directly optimizing for this social science goal, we develop a method that gives approximately unbiased estimates of category proportions even when the optimal classifier performs poorly. We illustrate with diverse data sets, including the daily expressed opinions of thousands of people about the U.S. presidency. We also make available software that implements our methods and large corpora of text for further analysis. This article led to the formation of Crimson Hexagon

. In Society for Political Methodology. Athens, GA.Abstract