Downfall of stick-flick star Taka Kato due to diminished dexterity of ‘Gold’ digits

Last week, veteran adult video (AV) actor Taka Kato announced that later this year he will retire after more than two decades of being known as the man with particularly erotic extremities.

With more than 10,000 AV releases (and 8,000 actresses) to his credit, the 54-year-old actor said that he was entering the next phase of his life, and that he will finally “put on his pants” on December 31.

Over his 26-year career, the popular Kato became known for his “Goldfinger,” which he utilizes to induce shiofuki, or female ejaculation. In many photos, the actor is seen raising the middle and fore fingers of his right hand.

Evening tabloid Nikkan Gendai (Aug. 15) cites a writer in the industry who speculates that Kato may be losing the functionality of his rigid digits.

“I don’t know whether he is having tendon sheath problems,” says AV writer Kazuo Kajiyama. “But starting two or three years ago he began to receive complaints on the set about pain from actresses who specialize in shiofuki when he probed them down there. So it would appear that he has slowly lost his ability to be the ‘finger’ man.”

Nikkan Gendai compares Kato to a pitcher whose arm can no longer deliver a baseball at a desired velocity. Given that, the tabloid says, ending his career at this point makes sense from a financial standpoint.

“Top actors will make between 30,000 and 40,000 yen per shoot,” says an employee at an AV producer. “Kato is exceptional in that he can get about 70,000 yen. When taking into consideration that he’s starred in 10,000 films, that amounts to 700 million yen. He’s also been involved in selling adult goods, promoting adult-entertainment clubs and engaged in the talent business.”

He has also penned a number of books, including “Taka Kato’s Love Secrets,” which was released for the Amazon.com Kindle reader in February.

In 1987, Kato moved from his home in Akita Prefecture to Tokyo, where he began working as a cameraman’s assistant. At the urging of a colleague, he became a porn actor.

As to the timing of his retirement, Kato indicated that he wanted to go out on top, so to speak. “I didn’t want to fizzle out,” he said. “Chocoball Mukai retired quietly three years ago. I didn’t want to do that.”

For the industry, Kato’s decision to zip his zipper could prove to be a big blow. “Because there is a shortage of actors in the world of AV, this may be tough to deal with,” says the aforementioned industry insider.

Source: “AVdanyu Kato Taka intai riyu ha goorudo fingaa no otoroe ka,” Nikkan Gendai (Aug. 16, page 6)