Sailor Moon Trivia: The Sailor Moon Sex Myth (Debunked)

Perhaps among the most pervasive rumours of Sailor Moon discussion is this scene that takes place in the Black Moon arc in which Mamoru and Usagi kiss (image one) followed by a cut to a scene where Minako is with the cats.

Some have taken this to mean that Mamoru and Usagi have had sex and Usagi is no longer a virgin from this point on. 

This scene is actually rather ambiguous, but this later scene (image two) is evidence against that anything more than kissing occurred.

In the Dream arc of the manga on what is supposed to be Chibiusa’s last night in 20th Century Tokyo, Usagi and Chibiusa spend the night at Mamoru’s. Usagi, quite giddy says this in passing:

“It’s okay! We have a pure relationship! I’m really sorry, Mama! It is Chibiusa’s last night after all.”

だいじょーぶ っ   あたしたち きよいこーさいよっ (Daijoubu atashitachi kiyoi kousai yo)
ホントよ ごめんね ママっ ♥  (Honto yo gomen ne mama)
♥  ホラ ちびうさのさいごのよるだし (Hora chibiusa no saigo no yoru da shi)

This well and truly debunks that Usagi has not only not had sex, but seems to be in a place where she is not ready for it. This is completely in line with Usagi’s age, social position and personality. The off-handedness of the line as well as the fact that spending the night and her boyfriend’s with a small child is something to apologise to her Mother to further confirms that Usagi’s feels she’s doing something slightly unseemly. 

This may not seem so obvious from an English language perspective since the phrase “pure relationship” sounds vague, but this is not the case in Japanese where it is quite clear what is being referred to. A non-sexual relationship. Unless Usagi and Mamoru have had other sexual partners before this, which is rather unlikely, they are virgins until at least the Dream arc and considering Mamoru spends much of the remainder of the story either ill or dead, there are few if any opportunities where sexual activity would have been possible. Therefore, we can say with fair certainty that in the main storyline of Sailor Moon, (that is to say, up until Sailor Galaxia’s defeat), Usagi is a virgin.

Often in Japanese, seemingly vague expressions will be used in places where the content may seem “vulgar” or “rude” such as in this case. Despite how it seems vague, it is perfectly clear what the intended meaning is to other speakers of Japanese. We just do not say it to be polite. This is one of the reasons we call Japanese a “vague” language.

A “kiyoi kousai” actually even would imply there is no sexual conduct whatsoever so it is likely that kissing is as far as Mamoru and Usagi have ever gone. This would suggest that the Black Moon scene and others regarded as “sexual” in Sailor Moon are far more likely intended to be “romantic”.

There are several reasons why this myth has been so widely. It is simply possible the idea of a “sexy manga story” makes the story more appealing to others or else bolsters the “original manga is the best, most adult version of Sailor Moon” argument. Another reason is perhaps a point of cultural difference where a scene that may seem “sexual” to a particular group is misconstrued to be “romantic” to the intended Japanese 90s young teen audience. Or perhaps an oversexualisation of the Sailor Moon series as a whole. I also believe that that Usagi’s words in the Dream arc have been mistranslated by at least one translator but I am unable to currently find which version.