Glossary
Stage Name
A professional pseudonym used by performers to separate public persona from private civil identity.
What it means
Stage names are stigma technology and branding at once. They enable careers while trying — imperfectly — to limit name disclosure harms.
History / origin
Entertainment industries across Japan use professional names; AV inherited and intensified the practice because risks are higher.
How the term is used in Japan
Fans often treat stage names as the real name of a persona. Doxxers treat the gap as a puzzle to solve.
Common misunderstandings
- A stage name is not proof of deception toward audiences.
- Learning a legal name is not a fan achievement.
- Anti-disclosure ethics apply even when curiosity feels righteous.