A few years ago, Japan took to reviewing its laws in regard to child pornography. As concerned members of the international community who have been made aware of Japan’s lax restrictions in that field of law enforcement, we were initially pleased to hear that progress is being made where it is unquestionably necessary. However, upon discovering that the criminalization of fictional material is presently under consideration for new legislature, we began to fear for Japan’s public image as a nation once standing among peers in liberty and justice, now poised to deprive its people of their most fundamental of human liberties, of which we may be historically reminded of in The Potsdam Declaration:
“Freedom of speech, of religion, and of thought, as well as respect for the fundamental human rights…” (Section 10)
The idea that production, distribution (to adults) or possession of a work entirely comprised of fiction (written, spoken, drawn, etc.), could be a prosecutable offense is a clear violation of human rights as well as freedom of both speech and thought. We of the international community cannot help but be reminded of other countries who have violated their citizens’ freedom of speech [1], when a country such as Japan is threatening to join their ranks.
