Rei Mizuna

Mizuna's stage name came from a salad of mizuna greens served during a meal with her agency. The president liked the dish and suggested the name; she agreed partly because she liked the look of the character "づ." She debuted in 2008 at 24, initially as an exclusive actress for Alice JAPAN, marketed as "pure and innocent." Even then, her debut hinted at a bolder side, with scenes involving anal play and deep-throat fellatio. In March 2009, she moved to MAXING, and by July she went freelance, shifting to a hardcore style that included irrumatio and fetish play, a move she saw as necessary to survive competition and to embrace diverse fantasies.

From the early 2010s, Mizuna became a major figure in the hardcore scene, appearing in over 150 solo films and gaining popularity across Asia, especially in China and Taiwan. Between 2013 and 2016, she was among the first Japanese actresses to headline adult exhibitions in Guangzhou, Macau, and Taiwan. She also appeared on the variety show God Tongue and starred in Zombie Bride. In 2014, she revealed she had been three years younger than her actual age; after that, she focused on more mature roles. In March 2016, she announced retirement, wrapped filming in May, and held a farewell event at Shinjuku LOFT in September.

Her appeal lay in the gap between her sweet appearance and her reputation as a "pure-looking deviant." She was known for a stoic, professional demeanor and a strong service spirit, sometimes suffering stress-induced alopecia from demanding scenes. Her shift to hardcore content reflected a personal philosophy of being "tolerant of all desires." Despite her public career, she kept a private life and wanted to marry. She had her first sexual experience with a 20-year-old boyfriend during her freshman year of high school, which sparked an interest in masturbation. With about 20 partners and eight relationships, she prefers older men and the missionary position.

Mizuna's filmography includes roughly 151 works. Today she posts on X as @mizunarei and makes occasional anime event appearances, still pursuing her love for anime, cosplay, and cycling.