Koh 
Masaki, a popular model and actor in Japanese gay porn films, has died today at age 29.
Masaki’s death was announced by his partner, Tien Tien.
Although the official cause of death hasn’t been announced, Masaki had gone through several surgeries during recent months to treat a ruptured cecal due to peritonitis.
Masaki began his career as a porn actor in 2009 and appeared in more than 100 films.
Earlier this year, Masaki and Tien appeared in an episode of the LGBT-themed documentary series We Are Out, in which they discussed their relationship. Watch it below.
miniskull
Koh Masaki undoubtedly is THE gay porn star of Japan. His videos are always the best. I still remembered the first time I laid my eyes on Koh: he was the most handsome, masculine and passionate man I have ever seen in any Japanese gay porn. He transcended through the screen and gave his audience such authentic sexual energy. He awaked my sexual preference and self-esteem, and that’s why he’s so very special for me. He’s maybe gone, but I will never forget him.
Bike_Hulk
OHHHHHHH Koh Masaki RIP, you were an inspiration to millions of gay Japanese. He was a consummate performer with a ready smile, an everhard and impressive – um, qualification- and I’m very, very sad that he’s left us. I was looking forward to tracking his career, and expected him one day to be an “eminence grise” in the world of gay rights for Japan.
random homosexual internet user
Holy sh!t. I watched yet another one of his COAT videos only a couple hours ago, and then just now happened by chance to notice the link to this article while looking at a story here about Tokyo’s pride parade.
His performance (as a top, not as an “actor”) usually ranged from considerate and attentive to merely apathetic and mechanical. Occasionally, his demeanor with his scene partners was cold, or even unpleasant when the guy he was topping was obviously not enjoying it and in pain.
He didn’t wear a mask, which was a definite plus. Many other guys who appear in Japanese porn (the great majority of Japanese gay porn films floating around on the web are produced by COAT) and “guest” performers, wear something on their faces to disguise themselves — usually swim goggles, which I’ve always found distracting, unattractive, and which diminishes the appeal of the scene. Since he wasn’t versatile on screen, I rarely focused much attention on him in scenes, but at least he wasn’t actually an unpleasant-looking presence, which is more than I could say about a lot of others, if only because of the facial disguises.
I wonder if he bottomed for his boyfriend. Because he never once bottomed in any of the dozens of videos I saw him in. I also wonder if peritonitis ever has any connection to being anally penetrated?
Dakotahgeo
I am saddened by this news and my heart and sympathies go out to Tien Tien and his family and friends. Such a young man, and so beautiful, inside and out! RIP, Koh!
Kenover
How very sad and tragic. From the obscure reference to the cecum it sounds like he died from complications resulting from a burst appendix. Certainly sex had nothing to do with it. What a terrible loss. RIP.
Niall
R.I.P. But who????
Aaron in Honolulu
After watching the video, I grew so attached to them. This is so sad.
oilburner
Why has no—1 mentioned his penis size
ucgy19
Omg am shocked …. this can, t be true I saw his vice doc and just feel in love with him omg shocked so sad RIP xx
dvlaries
Frankly, I was surprised when the news of Jake Genesis was ‘only’ his religious dawning and renouncement of his porn career. I never heard of Koh Masaki, and I’m still wondering about the despair behind the self checkouts of Wilfried Knight and Arpad Miklos. Erik Rhodes wasn’t even a full year ago. The deaths are just coming too fast now, and all of them, Masaki included, all too young.
Taikeisme
@Niall:
He is very pop in Japan, Taiwan, Korea, China, Thai etc…
comus
ruptured cecal?
comus
@dvlaries: maybe it’s time to reconsider the value of porn
catty_kit
@oilburner: because people are actually sensitive and have emotions…
SteviePics
Yes, he was a was a king within the sex industry and where many would regard that as being worthy of little respect, the fact is he did so much to help normalise the world of homosexual sex. His movies were not gratuitous or exploitative video vehicles but examples of enervating and powerful man sex; and all the more remarkable for coming from the land of Japan.
He not only enabled Japanese gays to be free in their skins. He also helped open the world of Japanese society and give a nod to the fact that, for all their conservatism, Japanese men have the very same passion and urges that can be found anywhere. That’s a gift that cannot be dismissed or trivialised and the bottom line has to be that in his all too short life Koh left us having made a difference.
His years were short but well used and future generations of Japanese Gays will enjoy lives more secure and tolerant on his account.
Bike_Hulk
@SteviePics: WELL SAID SteviePics. Very well said.
blackpool
being in Japan i get to watch koh masaki’s videos. i can only say that I like him but he did not come so strong in what he does in the video but thats not the point! i wanted to see whats the person behind these sexual coverage. i can only pray for him and his soul to be rested in peace.
bagel
This is the saddest news I’ve read since Jun Lin’s :'( RIP
Mitchell
so tragic. 🙁 I think the cause of death was a burst appendix 🙁
sailingsam
What a beautiful and kind soul…so unfortunate..he was worried about the surgery because the resulting scar would affect his porn career…he opted for chinese herbal medicine…
hotshot70
sad that such a handsome guy is gone. I always thought that Asian men were very sexy. My condolences to his family and friends.
dab822
he is fine now. feel for those he left behind. and..in a nod to a few comments above, even work in porn serves to normalize same saex relations in all ways. if it breaks boundaries in a specific culture, even better as well. everything else sure is “normal” in culture if it is hetero.
Bike_Hulk
Sex work is a noble profession. I’m sorry to read the negative comments. He worked a job like everyone not born with the silver spoon… and he did so with poise and brought liberation to vast numbers of Asian men the world over.
i43neile
He delayed treating his appendix 🙁
ruptured appendix is no joke.
Kangol
Very sad. RIP
alfan
i am so sad too cause i love all of his video….
alfan fatoni
alvangay.blogspot.com
homoindonesia.blogspot.com
WayDifferent
Gross.
Jason Socks
In case anyone curious what Peritonitis is, check it out here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peritonitis
basically, it is like infection on your abdominal organs.
Reid Condit
I see there was a translator, but where was the translation? The only thing I understood was “go-go boys.” . . . Nice to see Shinjuku again. I visited there 43 years ago and hooked-up on a tatami matt. It was wild then, but looked calmer in these shots.
Raquel Santiago
The Cecal for those wondering is considered the beginning of the large intestine and can kill very quickly. Sad indeed.
galagya
@random homosexual internet user: “ruptured cecal due to peritonitis”
the cecum(“cecal” from the quote above, taken from the very article we’re replying to) is at the beginning of the colon. so, no, it’s not something that has anything to due with anal sex. they are unrelated.