Kyoichi Tsuzuki  is an award winning photo journalist in Japan. His subjects have ranged from addiction to high fashion within the middle class, to Japanese roadside attractions, to recreated international cities of other countries.

But recently Tsuzuki made a few waves by calling for the preservation of another one of his favorite subjects–love motels.

Love motels are common throughout Asia and range from the inconspicuous and cheap to plush, ornate palaces that can cost thousands of dollars per tryst. Tsuzuki believes there’s been a decline in love motels “filled with a sense of fun,” arguing that preserving other posh exclusive establishments, such as Tokyo’s Imperial Hotel, “will give future peoples the hotels that are a symbol of an unrealistic lifestyle.”

No doubt helping Tsuzuki’s campaign is the recent publication of “Japanese Love Hotels: A Cultural History,” written by Sarah Chaplin (London/New York: Routledge, 2007, 242 pages).

In the book Chaplin outlines the multi-billion dollar industry that annually quadruples the profit of Toyota. Asian Sex Gazette checks in with a review here.

Here is another excellent article  on Tsuzuki’s recent project, the “Satellite of Love” exhibition, currently making its way around the world.