Ask anyone who’s ever seen an adult movie in Japan. Or, at least, anyone who has ever spent some time on the internet. More than likely, they’ll know this swimming pool.
This article was originally published on February 11, 2014. It contains content some readers might find objectionable.
In Japanese, the pool is called “that pool” (あのプール or ano puuru) or “the usual pool” (例のプール or rei no puuru).
It’s been featured in numerous Japanese adult movies, and it’s become part of the country’s internet subculture.
https://twitter.com/embed/status/847409039839449089
No wonder the pool was recreated by a Japanese Minecraft player.
https://twitter.com/embed/status/759052864140480512
(Actually, created by many Minecraft players.)
例のプールをマイクラで作った。 pic.twitter.com/FoAyfayfR4
— 黒兎.com (@kurousagi__com) October 1, 2014
マイクラで例のプール作ってた。 pic.twitter.com/dkdZR1ixpR
— Na0.K41h (@NAO_DIC) March 10, 2013
People have brought it to life other ways.
https://twitter.com/embed/status/565440656739672064
In 2013, it even popped up in Weekly Jump, a manga for kids, as a gag.
週ジャンに例のプールと聞いてソーマかと思ったら違う漫画だった。 pic.twitter.com/BPKDuBT3VL
— きすちぃ👓🎧⚡ (@Quisty) April 7, 2013
The real pool is located in a Shinjuku high rise and embodies the country’s past economic excesses.
https://twitter.com/embed/status/842699059257208833
A Japanese television show featured the pool once, explaing that thespian and Darkrai voice actor Koji Ishizaka once lived in the apartment, but has long since moved out. The years that followed made the resident’s swimming hole infamous.
https://twitter.com/embed/status/389023106473263104
職場付近散歩してたら、例のプール見つけたんだけど… pic.twitter.com/7crKSiFZOx
— 高ざわ (@r_tkazawa) March 10, 2017
In 2004, Akiba Blog points out, that pool made an appearance in an adult film called Complete Conquest: Swimming Race Bathing Suits.
例のプールって12時間部屋貸してもらうのに20万以上かかるのか･･･3時間でも10万近いぞ･･･ pic.twitter.com/OPnquDpkJs
— 1980円🤖🍆 (@1980en) February 18, 2017
The pool is now owned by P-Studio, which rents out the apartment for shoots.
http://t.co/Sm9HukZGzY なんのことか分からない私は、とうとう男でもなくなったか……
— 変脳コイル猫 (@ROCKY_Eto) December 27, 2013
The pool has appeared in so many adult films that a tome on it was first published in late 2013.
オープンしました。本日は19:00までの営業です。『例のプール』の本、入荷しました！ pic.twitter.com/O0fnzMVtyl
— マニタ書房 (@maneaterbooks) March 9, 2017
It features interviews with porn stars, factoids, bikini pics, and a list of movies featuring the pool.
男なら、みんな知ってる「例のプール」。ぴゅあコレ中野店にやってきました。 pic.twitter.com/TLOACxGJI4
— ぴゅあコレ中野店 (@pure_colle_) April 13, 2016
Here the pool is an advertisement for adult toys.
#今日の建子さん #例のプール でヒャッハーである。 #3Dカスタム少女 pic.twitter.com/60RvUkT8KH
— からしニコフ(仮) (@Kalashnikov2036) March 4, 2017
やっと例のプールセットを手に入れたゾ
ずっとmodだと思って探してたら公式のロダにあった・・・作者さんしゅんごい・・・#ハニーセレクト pic.twitter.com/4yFXuviali— きららちゃん☾｡*.✧⋆ฺ (@OS_tr_) December 12, 2016
It shows up in adult games.
例のプールやんけ！ #PS4share pic.twitter.com/CkenVykEsz
— みずきち💯 : Alistair Mistlud (@ArCasty_bare) April 12, 2017
And in nearly adult games.
https://twitter.com/embed/status/729542685938221058
As a gag, a faux background was created for cosplayers to take jokey photos.
https://twitter.com/embed/status/793052586777546752
オープニングちゃんと見てたらあのプールが映ってたwww pic.twitter.com/vYLpgiyLqp
— Yuzuk1🦊 (@XxtameikixX) June 3, 2016
例のプール、下セカ以来だな２次元でみるのｗｗ pic.twitter.com/PiGhqxF3cg
— ヨシトマウント・デスプレイ (@naka_4410) February 21, 2017
プールが映ってなくても例のプールだと認識できる日本人 pic.twitter.com/DBYWF4FUCh
— へきろーver.3.0 (@hekirousan) March 9, 2017
The pool has knowingly appeared in anime, too. However, the swimming pool also shows up in places you’d never expect.
例のプールは仮面ライダーフォーゼで知ったでござるッ！ pic.twitter.com/VvhjM9OBjZ
— NEXTNEVER1 (@NEXTNEVER1) January 19, 2017
https://twitter.com/embed/status/761226904837894145
Kamen Rider Fourze (above), which is aimed at children, featured the pool in an innocuous scene—something that was quickly noticed online in Japan.
Other dramas, including one starring famous actress Satomi Ishihara, featured the pool—which likewise caused amusement online.
相棒の再放送視聴中
例のプール pic.twitter.com/J4sUNf2pQJ— ⛩ユキ⛓️🎃🍎 (@snow_belltree) December 19, 2016
Above, mainstream detective show Aibou featured the pool in an episode, creating a slew of puns online with the show’s name: “aibou” written as 相棒 means “partner” or “buddy;” however, “aibou” written as 愛棒 means “love stick.”
Love stick, huh? A good title for a possible porn parody of the show—no doubt with scenes shot on location at the country’s most infamous swimming pool.
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