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[ponpo]

http://www.japantoday.com/category/...alls-on-japan-to-ban-extreme-child-manga-porn

TOKYO — A U.N. special envoy Monday called on Japan to ban cartoon images featuring “extreme” sexualised images of children, after Tokyo last year fell into line with other G7 nations by criminalising possession of child pornography.

Graphic images of pedophilia in manga comic books remain legal under the new law, which came into effect this summer, while books and videos of real children in sexually provocative poses are still widely available—and legal.

Campaigners had long urged Japan to toughen its stance on child pornography, complaining it was a major source of the material globally.

“When it comes to particular, extreme child pornographic content, manga should be banned,” Maud de Boer-Buquicchio, the U.N.‘s special rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, told reporters as she wrapped up a week-long Japan tour.

But she acknowledged the challenge in “finding the right balance” between artistic freedoms and the need to protect children. “I accept that the freedom of expression argument should outweigh, should prevail when it comes to adult pornography,” she added.

Despite calls for manga imagery to be included in the new rules, there was strong resistance from manga artists, free-speech advocates and publishers, who said it would impinge on freedom of expression and allow authorities to make arbitrary decisions about art.

De Boer-Buquicchio criticised the law for being riddled with “numerous loopholes” and lashed out at so-called “child erotica”, saying kids were being exploited.

The still-legal offerings feature photos and other materials depicting half-naked children in skimpy outfits, such as tiny bikinis.

DVDs or photo books of child erotica are readily available online and at stores in Tokyo including in the city’s well-known Akihabara district.

“All these are obviously lucrative businesses. What is worrying is that there is a trend which seems to be socially accepted and tolerated,” the U.N. envoy said. Billboards featuring women with voluptuous figures and distinctly child-like faces are also widely seen in urban centers.

Japanese police say they have been cracking down with an 11% on-year increase in cases—a total of 1,828—in 2014.

Child prostitution has declined in Japan, but materials featuring the abuse of children have proliferated online, the envoy said, as she pointed to poverty, a lack of gender equality, social tolerance and few prosecutions.

While Japan is a relatively wealthy country, about 16.3% of children aged 17 or under were living in poverty—meaning a family income half that of the national median—according to 2012 data.

The UN envoy said impunity for offenders is “relatively high” in Japan. “If these issues can be addressed, I believe Japan can make substantial progress, if not completely eradicate, sexual exploitation of children,” De Boer-Buquicchio said.

Some Japanese non-profit organisations last week issued a formal call to the government to tighten up the new law.

“Materials of children under 18 that were clearly created for the purpose of fulfilling sexual excitement should be regulated as child pornography,” said Shihoko Fujiwara, head of non-profit organisation Lighthouse.

While Lighthouse called on firms to stop distributing DVDs depicting half-naked children several years ago, such images are still widely available, she added.

“We should teach children about sexual crimes at schools,” she said.

Incoming flood of "animegaf on sudoku watch" posts.

 

[Ahasverus]

Good. It's not doing any good to anyone.

 

[Silver Arrows]

Maybe we might get another culling from Bish tonight.

No need to watch the World Series then.

But yeah, it needs to be stopped. Of course, the weeaboos will kick and scream.

 

[Rembrandt]

finally. shit is weird.

 

[kswiston]

Is this the end of third party Vita support?

 

[Seductivpancakes]

Do countries still listen to the U.N?

 

[Savitar]

About damn time.

Maybe it will also get rid of Moes as a side benefit.

 

[hydrophilic attack]

Is this the end of third party Vita support?

damn

 

[Linkyn]

If the last thread is anything to go by, this could get ugly fast.

Not really a fan of it myself, but I still hold that it doesn't hurt anybody, so the usual reasons for banning child pornography don't quite apply.

 

[Avixph]

Is this the end of third party Vita support?

Hhhehehehe.

 

[- J - D -]

Can't the artists or publishers just claim the character in question is 17/18?

 

[jelly]

Less Child porn, have more Children.

 

[Skyward Sheep]

Is this the end of third party Vita support?

Absolutely savage

 

[Tenebrous]

Is this the end of third party Vita support?

Bravo.

 

[Dennis]

Is this the end of third party Vita support?

 

[ffdgh]

Sounds good.

Is this the end of third party Vita support?

Ouch

 

[Tagyhag]

It's a harmless thing, but it does fall into a creepy category.

Is this the end of third party Vita support?

Loooool

 

[FStop7]

Has anyone informed the UN about thousand year old dragons?

 

[BIONIC-ARRRMMM!!]

Child isn't the preferred nomenclature. 1000 year old demon, please.

 

[Warxard]

Is this the end of third party Vita support?

God damn.

 

[Silver Arrows]

Is this the end of third party Vita support?

Fucking roasted.

 

[NegroNinja]

Good that shit was creepy anyway.

 

[bobawesome]

Bravo.

Yeah, man, quality post. I love when people post the same variations of tired jokes. ))

 

[Bitanator]

Is this the end of third party Vita support?

 

[Yaphett Kotto]

Graphic images of pedophilia in manga comic books remain legal under the new law, which came into effect this summer, while books and videos of real children in sexually provocative poses are still widely available—and legal.

So wait, you can have imagery of legit real children in Japan?

 

[John Kowalski]

What's extreme? Sex? Rape?

 

[stump sock]

the only potential downside I see to this is that while the japanese authorities are super slow to act, when they do, they overreact. I fully expect any number of "legitimate" works to get thrown out at the same time, especially older books.

What's extreme? Sex? Rape?

and this is kind of what I mean. I don't suspect there will be a lot of hemming and hawing over the particulars.

 

[Liha]

Is this the end of third party Vita support?

Damn, you're an absolute genius LMAO.

 

[Massive Duck. C.M.]

Sad that an ostensibly first world nation is just reaching this point

 

[Jebusman]

I mean yeah, when you consider the Gravure idol kind of stuff with pre-teen/early teen children, I can understand and agree, it's more than a little creepy.

Stepping into the manga realm though..... now I'm on the fence here. A grown adult drawing a child having sex in no way directly, or indirectly, harms actual children.

 

[Aeriscloud]

Is this the end of third party Vita support?

Holy shit lol.

 

[doop_]

Is this the end of third party Vita support?

Dammmnnn.

 

[Mostmanlyman]

What's extreme? Sex? Rape?

Hopefully they ban all types.

 

[bjork]

the only potential downside I see to this is that while the japanese authorities are super slow to act, when they do, they overreact. I fully expect any number of "legitimate" works to get thrown out at the same time, especially older books.

and this is kind of what I mean. I don't suspect there will be a lot of hemming and hawing over the particulars.

Yep. It would apply to stuff like Berserk, when it should be focusing on weird ass shit like Hot House.

 

[Brakke]

Can't the artists or publishers just claim the character in question is 17/18?

Did every judge and prosecutor in Japan get born yesterday or something?

 

[sunshine and gasoline]

Yes, please. Some of the hentai out there...D:

 

[ponpo]

So wait, you can have imagery of legit real children in Japan?

Sexualized images of children aren't postered all over Akihabara but if one wants to go buy a junior idol dvd of some preteen in a bathing suit posing it's still possible.

 

[BrokenIcarus]

Is this the end of third party Vita support?

Genius, laughed out loud really hard and my girlfriend asked "what're you laughing about?"
Difficult question.

 

[Toxi]

Is this the end of third party Vita support?

holy shit i can't breathe

 

[stufte]

What's extreme? Sex? Rape?

I mean, yah. Where is the line you draw in the sand when it comes to depictions of pedophilia? How much is too much sexualization of children?

/s

 

[stump sock]

So wait, you can have imagery of legit real children in Japan?

clothed, "suggestive" images. stuff like swimsuit books and whatnot weren't included in the recent legislation as they're not explicitly nude or engaging in sexual activity.

things like "this is creepy" and "the only people buying this are pedos" aren't enough for them to take action. letter of the law, not the spirit.

 

[Reset]

Did every judge and prosecutor in Japan get born yesterday or something?

They're actually 1000 year old dragons, they just look like 8 year olds.

 

[zelas]

Do countries still listen to the U.N?

Good on them for doing their part but yeah, I don't think this is going to create much movement.

 

[LUFTRAUSER]

Is this the end of third party Vita support?

Hahahaha!

 

[Vermillion]

Is this the end of third party Vita support?

HOT DAMN

 

[……forgetit]

So wait, you can have imagery of legit real children in Japan?

This came up in a thread before, I think it was non-nude but sexually provocative photos of children that are legal while possession of child pornograghy was outlawed this year.

Either way, Japan is majorly fucked up when it comes to sexualizing kids.

 

[rjinaz]

It should be banned IMO. There really is no good reason for it to exist other than "freedom of expression" which is a poor excuse. That said, it shouldn't be punishable in the same way that actual child porn is. It should be more like a fine or maybe a mandatory class of some sort for first offense.

 

[DCharlie]

there is one store in Akihabara in particular (that used to be a games store) that is so off the charts dodgy i don't even know where to start.

Stocking dvd/br of 8 year olds sucking bananas is one thing - having meet and greets from the people in the dvd/br is a whoooooooooooooooole different level.

 

[- J - D -]

Did every judge and prosecutor in Japan get born yesterday or something?

lol

But there are many of those kinds of supposedly legal characters who look very young in manga and that kind of artwork. There's like a word for it, even.

 

[G.ZZZ]

This would have no legal basis whatsoever. First, thought crime isn't something envisioned in modern legal systems. Pedophilia isn't accepted because childs can't consent and consequentially they can't have sex or anything (with exceptions of both minors and whatever). There is no consent dilemma in cartoons. Banning it would be more alike at banning omosexuality, where adults do things in full consent and it's still banned because it goes against "morality". The gateway argument make no sense either; it made no sense for drugs, it made no sense for games that promote killings, and it make no sense here.

Second, you have no ways to define a child in stylized drawings. What define a child? Being short? I just give it long ears and call it an halfling. Pubes? Plenty of adults shave. Small tits? Plenty of women have no tits. Even if such a ban went in effect, the only thing that would change is that everything would be considered done by adults cosplaying. Sorta like "this work is fiction" and whatever.

There's way more ground to ban actual children models. That has proven disastrously effects on a lot of children's psiche, and i don't think a parent giving consent is a strong enough rebuttal, since we ban most dangerous things from childrens no matter the opinion of the parent. There's a reason that kind of thing is not done anywhere else in the world but japan afaik.