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Naturalist pair bare it all in search of perfect beach

By Ryann Connell
November 12, 2004

Aoi Natsuumi and her husband, Yu, have taken a natural approach to writing, baring their souls and more to be at the forefront of Japan's nascent nudist network, according to Asahi Geino.

"It's really hard to explain the pleasure you feel sun-bathing nude. I suppose it's something like the relaxing feeling that seeps into your skin as you soak in an outdoor hot spring combined with the visual pleasure of gazing at a brilliant landscape. Once you experience the sense that you have monopolized that feeling, you'll never be able to give it up," Natsuumi, a pseudonym that translates as "summer seas," tells Asahi Geino.

Natsuumi and her husband have enjoyed the naturalist lifestyle together for more than 20 years and they share their experiences in the recently released book, "Natsu ha Kinu! (Summer Means Wear Nothing!)." Their fast-selling book is the story of their search for beaches away from prying eyes, together with a series of Natsuumi baring her all in the Great Outdoors.

Natsuumi got into nudism on the recommendation of her husband.

"When we first started going out together, I was a sickly type who was way too thin. He saw what was going on and told me that I'd be healthier if I stopped wearing the underwear that was keeping my body in binds," Natsuumi says. "I only half-believed him, but decided to give it a go anyway. Within a week, all the problems I'd had for ages, like my chronic bowel pain, just disappeared into thin air."

Having tasted nudism, Natsuumi started going around her home in the buff full time for about three months before finally mustering up the courage to let it all hang out in the open.

"At first, when I wasn't wearing any clothes, I was filled with worries, like what would I do if there was an earthquake and somebody saw me, but I soon got used to it and it wasn't long before clothes became a pain," she tells Asahi Geino. "That feeling became increasingly stronger and I started going outdoors more. At first, I went out into the boondocks where I knew nobody would be around, but I gradually got closer and closer to the sea."

Unlike in the West, where many countries have nudist beaches, full frontals are still not widely accepted in Confucian Japan and romping around in birthday suits doesn't always mean it's time for a party.

"We're usually fine if the locals find us, but the big problem is when people from the cities who've come for fishing or young guys mosey along. If we panic, they think they've seen something naughty. So, experience has taught us that the best way to react is just not care," Natsuumi says. "Some couples have seen us and then decided to strip off themselves. I suppose Naturalists are naturally powerful when it comes to being at one with nature. Still, you don't want too many more than six people running around nude. If it gets more than that, you scare other people away."

For several years now, the couple has been running a successful, member's only website which is serving to gradually expand Japan's nudist circles.

"Nude bathing can do wonders for beauty and health. I'd especially like women to taste that liberating feeling," Natsuumi tells Asahi Geino. "We actually hear over the Net about some housewives who send their hubbies off to work and then prance around their homes naked all day. I think perhaps we're slowly getting the message across to more and more people."

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