When researching whether to buy an Orient Industry love doll, you will find plenty of information about its quality and realistic sculpting.
However, because this is an expensive product,
“I want to know the disadvantages, not just the good points, before I decide.”
Many people may feel this way.
Orient Industry love dolls do, of course, have disadvantages.
The three things you should especially know before buying are:
“Price,” “Weight,” and “Maintenance.”
These are all things worth knowing in advance.
In this article, I will look closely at each of these three disadvantages.
If you are considering buying from outside Japan, later in the article I will also introduce information I confirmed directly with Orient Industry regarding international shipping, shipping costs, customs duties, customs procedures, privacy, and repairs.
Disadvantage #1: The Price Is High
The first disadvantage of Orient Industry love dolls is price.
There are many love dolls available overseas at lower prices.
So if you are seeing Orient Industry's prices for the first time, you may wonder:
“Why are Japanese love dolls this expensive?”
If your highest priority is keeping the price as low as possible, this price difference can be significant.
So, why are they so expensive?
Orient Industry Uses Its Own Developed Silicone Material
Orient Industry love dolls use silicone material developed through many years of experience.
Silicone makes it possible to reproduce detailed sculpting and realistic skin texture, while also offering durability and safety. It generally costs more as a material than the widely used TPE.
Many relatively inexpensive love dolls, including Chinese-made products, use TPE. TPE and silicone each have different characteristics, but Orient Industry uses silicone developed through its many years of experience.
Silicone generally has different characteristics from TPE, including relatively less oil bleeding and odor.
The difference in material alone can contribute to a difference in price.
However, material alone does not fully explain the price of an Orient Industry doll.
Considerable Work Goes Into the Sculpting and Finish
It is not only the face.
The lines running from the shoulders to the breasts, waist, legs, fingers, and even the internal structure all involve careful sculpting and finishing work.
This time-consuming production process is also reflected in the product price.
Orient Industry has a sculptor who completed graduate studies at Tokyo University of the Arts, bringing an artistic perspective to the sculpting process.
Rather than reducing prices as much as possible through mass production, Orient Industry continues to prioritize materials, sculpting, finish, and overall product quality.
Even So, the Disadvantage of a High Price Does Not Disappear
This point is important.
Understanding why the product is expensive does not make the purchase price any lower.
Orient Industry love dolls may not be suitable for buyers whose highest priority is a low price.
A budget of several thousand dollars may be necessary, and for someone purchasing a love doll for the first time, this is not an easy amount to spend casually.
Instead of simply thinking,
“High quality means the high price is fine,”
you should ask yourself:
Do I personally feel that this quality is worth paying for?
That is something you should consider before buying.
If you compare price alone, cheaper alternatives are available.
However, for buyers who value Japanese manufacturing, silicone material, sculpting, finish, and after-sales support, Orient Industry can become a strong candidate.
In connection with this, Orient Industry is holding its 50th Anniversary Eve Campaign ahead of its 2027 anniversary, with selected dolls available at 20% OFF.
Disadvantage #2: Full-Size Models Are Very Heavy
The second disadvantage is weight.
This is something you should seriously consider before buying.
Some full-size Orient Industry bodies weigh more than 30 kg (66 lb).
You may think:
“30 kg is something I can lift.”
But moving a 30 kg dumbbell or box is very different from moving a 30 kg human-shaped doll.
Even at the Same 30 kg, a Human-Shaped Object Is Harder to Handle
A love doll does not have convenient handles like luggage.
It also has a head, arms, and legs, and its center of gravity changes depending on its position.
When you try to lift it, the arms or legs may move, or the weight may become concentrated on one part of your body.
For this reason, it can feel heavier and more difficult to handle than the number alone suggests.
A model weighing more than 30 kg is close to the weight of a child.
However, unlike carrying a person, the doll cannot support itself or hold onto you.
The important question is not simply “Can I lift it?” but “Can I continue handling it safely in everyday life?”
You May Need to Move the Doll More Often Than You Expect
After buying the doll, it will not necessarily remain in one place.
For example:
- Moving it to the living room to relax together
- Moving it to its storage location
- Moving it to the bed
- Changing its clothes
- Moving it to a place for maintenance
- Carrying it to the shower
- Moving it to a location for photography
- Moving it when cleaning the room, etc.
In reality, there are many situations where the doll may need to be moved.
If your home has stairs, the burden becomes even greater.
If you live alone, or if you are concerned about strain on your back or arms, it is better to decide on the storage location and moving method before buying.
Why Not Simply Make the Doll Lighter?
You may simply wonder,
“Why not make it lighter?”
However, if weight reduction alone is prioritized, the balance between body shape, texture, internal structure, and the finish intended by the manufacturer can change.
A realistic human-shaped doll requires silicone thickness and an internal structure.
In other words, weight is not only a drawback. It is also related to the construction of the product itself.
Even so, for the person who owns it, the fact that it is heavy does not change.
If Weight Concerns You, Start With Model Selection
Orient Industry offers different series with different sizes and weights.
You do not necessarily need to choose the largest full-size model.
It is important to choose a model you can handle comfortably based on your own physical strength, living environment, and storage space.
You can also reduce the burden by fixing the storage location, reducing the number of times the doll needs to be moved, and planning a safe moving method in advance.
Disadvantage #3: Maintenance Is Required
The third disadvantage is maintenance.
A love doll is not a product that will remain in exactly the same condition forever if you do nothing after buying it.
To keep it in good condition for a long time, routine checks and care are necessary.
What Kind of Care Is Required?
Basic maintenance includes:
- Checking the condition of the skin surface
- Cleaning dirt when necessary
- Drying the doll thoroughly if moisture remains
- Taking care of wigs and clothing
- Storing the doll so that prolonged pressure is not concentrated on one part of the body
- Checking for damage or unusual changes
These are some of the things owners need to manage.
Depending on the clothing, you should also be careful about color transfer.
For people who find these tasks troublesome, maintenance is a clear disadvantage.
Maintenance Does Not Mean Major Work Every Time
However, hearing that “maintenance is required” does not mean you need to spend hours working on the doll every day.
Routine care mainly involves short checks such as:
“Checking the skin”
“Adjusting the wig”
“Checking the clothing”
“Checking the doll's posture and storage condition”
These are usually short routine checks.
It does not mean washing the entire doll every time.
The important thing is to notice problems before they become more serious.
You Do Not Need to Add Grease to the Internal Skeleton Yourself
Some buyers may also be concerned about maintenance of the internal structure.
I asked Orient Industry directly about this point.
Under normal use, there is no need for the owner to add grease or other lubricants to the internal skeleton.
This was the official response from Orient Industry.
In other words, routine maintenance is necessary, but the product is not designed on the assumption that users will disassemble the internal skeleton themselves or periodically add lubricant.
Care Is Also Part of Ownership
If you want to completely avoid maintenance, a love doll itself may not be suitable for you.
On the other hand, some owners may see arranging clothing, changing wigs, and checking the doll's condition as part of the enjoyment of ownership.
Rather than simply asking whether maintenance exists, it is important to consider before buying whether you are comfortable accepting that responsibility.
Caring for the doll can become part of living with and owning it.
The 3 Disadvantages at a Glance
| Disadvantage | What to Consider Before Buying |
|---|---|
| Price | Do you value the materials, sculpting, quality, and support more than simply choosing the lowest price? |
| Weight | Can you safely move and store the doll in your own living environment? |
| Maintenance | Can you continue routine care and condition checks? |
If any of these three points would be a major burden for you, it may be worth reconsidering before buying.
On the other hand, if you understand these three points and can accept them, the next step is to consider which series and size best suit you.
If You're Buying from Overseas, You May Also Be Concerned About Shipping and Customs
So far, I have explained the disadvantages of Orient Industry love dolls themselves.
However, if you are considering buying from outside Japan, you may also be wondering:
“Will it really arrive safely from Japan?”
“What happens with shipping costs?”
“What about customs duties and import taxes?”
“What if customs stops the shipment?”
“Will my family know what is inside the package?”
“Can the doll be repaired if something breaks overseas?”
These are also understandable concerns.
I asked Orient Industry directly, and the company told me that overseas customers relatively often ask about shipping methods and shipping costs from Japan, delivery times, maintenance, and repair support.
So from here, I will introduce the information that is particularly important for overseas buyers, based on answers I confirmed directly with Orient Industry.
Can Orient Industry Ship from Japan to Other Countries?
Orient Industry ships to many major regions, including the United States, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Central and South America, and Africa.
International shipments are sent by air freight, primarily using UPS.
The estimated production period is 30–45 days.
After production, the estimated shipping time to the United States, Europe, and Asia is approximately 1.5–2 weeks.
Actual delivery time may vary depending on the country, region, weather, customs clearance, and other circumstances.
Packaging Is Reinforced for International Shipping
For international shipping, the domestic shipping box is placed inside an additional, stronger outer box to help prevent damage to the doll during transportation.
As a result, the package becomes slightly larger than the domestic shipping package, and the total weight increases by approximately 5–10 kg.
The outer box is basically plain, with only necessary handling markings such as FRAGILE.
What If You Don't Want Others to Know What's Inside?
Privacy is also taken into consideration.
The packaging is designed so that the contents cannot easily be identified from the product name, photographs, or brand name.
Orient Industry also confirmed that the shipping label does not use wording such as “adult product.”
However, accurate information must be declared in order for the shipment to clear customs.
In other words, privacy is considered so that the contents are not obvious from the outside, but Orient Industry does not make false declarations to customs.
Does the Buyer Pay Customs Duties and Import Taxes?
This is especially important for overseas buyers.
I asked Orient Industry again, including the difference between information I had previously received and wording shown on the official website.
Orient Industry confirmed that under its current policy, customs duties and import taxes arising from international shipping are basically handled at Orient Industry's expense.
I also received the following answers:
- Orient Industry handles customs procedures and the necessary documentation.
- Customers generally do not need to complete customs-duty procedures themselves.
- Shipments are generally arranged so that customs duties and import taxes are not charged to the customer.
- If a customer unexpectedly receives such a charge, the customer should contact Orient Industry and the company will handle the matter.
These are the answers I received directly from Orient Industry.
However, import restrictions and customs circumstances differ from country to country.
Laws, regulations, and political circumstances may also change, so before buying, I recommend confirming directly with Orient Industry whether shipment to your country is currently possible.
Official Contact Page (English)
What About International Shipping Costs?
A full-size doll is large and heavy.
“Won't shipping from Japan to another country be extremely expensive?”
Many overseas buyers may worry about this.
Regarding shipping costs, Orient Industry has confirmed that it provides “shipping arrangements that take overseas customers into consideration.”
For specific conditions, including the model being purchased and the shipping destination, please confirm directly with Orient Industry.
What If the Shipment Is Confiscated by Customs?
Orient Industry told me that there have been no cases to date in which a shipment was confiscated by customs.
The company also told me that, in the unlikely event that customs confiscates the shipment, it will provide:
a full refund or arrange another shipment.
However, this does not mean that importation is guaranteed in every country.
Regulations concerning love dolls vary depending on local laws and circumstances, so checking before buying remains important.
What Happens If the Doll Breaks While You Are Overseas?
If you live outside Japan,
“If something breaks, do I have to take the doll all the way to Japan myself?”
may also be a concern.
Orient Industry accepts repair inquiries from overseas customers.
First, you send photographs of the doll by email so that Orient Industry can make an initial assessment based on the material and the condition of the damage.
If the repair appears possible, an approximate estimate is provided.
If you agree with the estimate, you then ship the doll to Orient Industry's factory in Japan.
After the actual doll arrives, the company examines its condition and provides a formal estimate.
Repair work begins after payment has been confirmed, and the doll is shipped back to the customer after the repair is completed.
Depending on the repair, the estimated repair period is approximately 2–4 weeks after the formal estimate has been accepted and payment has been confirmed.
There Is a Disadvantage Specific to Overseas Owners
Unlike the shipping arrangements when purchasing a doll, repairs involve a clear additional burden.
The cost of shipping the doll to Japan for repair and the cost of shipping it back overseas after repair are both the customer's responsibility.
A full-size doll is a large and heavy item.
For overseas owners, international round-trip shipping costs for repair are therefore an important disadvantage to understand before buying.
Depending on the condition of the damage, repair may not be possible.
Even when repair is possible, Orient Industry notes that visible signs of the repair cannot always be completely eliminated.
Orient Industry also accepts repair inquiries for dolls made by other manufacturers.
You Can Contact Orient Industry in English
Orient Industry can also respond to inquiries in English.
If you have questions about shipping, import conditions, ordering, or repairs, you can contact the company directly in English.
After Knowing the Disadvantages, Would You Still Want an Orient Industry Doll?
Orient Industry love dolls are:
Not cheap.
Full-size models are heavy.
Maintenance is required.
And if you live overseas and the doll needs repair, you will also need to pay the round-trip shipping costs between your country and Japan.
If you buy without understanding these points, you may later feel:
“It was more difficult than I expected.”
That is why it is meaningful to check your concerns and the disadvantages before buying.
On the other hand, if you understand these points and still think,
“I still want an Orient Industry doll.”
then you may be ready to move on to choosing the series and model that best suit you.
Want to Know More About Buying from Overseas?
Because this article focuses on disadvantages, I have limited the information about overseas purchasing to the most important points.
For more comprehensive information about purchasing from overseas, shipping, support, and Orient Industry in general, see:
The Complete Guide to Orient Industry Love Dolls
Now That You Know the Disadvantages, Take Another Look at Orient Industry Love Dolls
Price, weight, and maintenance.
And the things you should know if you own one outside Japan.
If you have read this far and Orient Industry still interests you, take another look at the current series and models.
Each series differs in height, weight, body size, and overall appearance.
Compare them while considering not only your budget, but also your physical strength, living environment, and storage space.
Learn more about buying an Orient Industry love doll from overseas
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