(Related to the Recent Movement Towards Tightening Restrictions on the Portrayal of Sexual Violence Against Women and the Sexualization of Minor Females in the Fictional Media of Japanese Anime, Manga, and Computer Games)
Summary of Events: Japan’s lucrative pornography industry is relatively liberated by many standards. Although the law prohibits the visual depiction of genitalia [1], there exists a wealth of material to satisfy an impressive variety of niche interests. Only in 1999 was the commercial production and distribution of child pornography outlawed [2], and while this marks a step forward for the protection and welfare of children, there are some who would fight to see the ban include purely fictional representations of underage sexuality, such as that portrayed in erotic anime, manga, and computer games – the production of which does not by necessity involve any real children, much less a victim [3]. Not only would such a move be a huge strike against the freedom of expression, but it could potentially introduce more – not less – danger for children [4].
