Japan urged to ban manga child abuse images

[GennGreymane]

http://www.theguardian.com/world/201...d-abuse-images

Japan must ban sexually abusive images of children in manga comics, despite claims that such a move would threaten freedom of expression, the UN’s special envoy on child protection has said.

Maud de Boer-Buquicchio praised Japan for passing a law last year that banned the possession of abusive images of children, but said it contained loopholes that allowed exploitation to continue.

“When it comes to particular, extreme child pornographic content, manga should be banned,” De Boer-Buquicchio said at the end of a week-long visit to Japan.

The UN’s special rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, acknowledged that artists and publishers faced difficulty in “finding the right balance” between artistic freedoms and the need to protect children. “I accept that the freedom of expression argument should prevail when it comes to adult pornography.”


Japan bans possession of child abuse images but law excludes anime
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In June 2014, Japan banned the possession of child sexual abuse imagery after years of delay, but disappointed campaigners by not including the multibillion-yen market in manga comics, animated films and video games.

There was a grace period of a year to comply, but lawbreakers now face prison terms of up to a year and fines of up to 1m yen (£5,500).

Previously, Japan had been the only G7 country where it was legal to own videos, photographs and other imagery depicting sexual crimes against children, provided there was no intention to sell them or post them on the internet.

Japan’s inaction prompted criticism from overseas, with humantrafficking.org describing the country as “an international hub for the production and trafficking of child pornography”.

Among the actual images of children not covered by the new law are photographs of children in skimpy outfits but with their genitalia concealed. The material is easily available in DVD and photo book form in Tokyo.

“All these are obviously lucrative businesses. What is worrying is that there is a trend which seems to be socially accepted and tolerated,” De Boer-Buquicchio said.

According to Japanese police, the number of under-18s who featured in sexually abusive images rose to a record high of 383 in the first half of this year, up 58 from the year before. Action was taken against 659 people in 831 cases, the highest numbers since twice-yearly records began in 2000, according to a preliminary report issued by the national police agency last month. About 90% of the victims were female, including 60 who were of elementary school age or younger.

Manga artists and publishers have long resisted government attempts to ban certain images, labelling it an attack on freedom of expression. Dan Kanemitsu, a manga translator, accused de Boer-Buquicchio of “mixing reality with fiction”, adding that there was a difference between abusive images featuring actual children and depictions of childlike characters in manga.

“There is no such thing as manga and anime child pornography,” he said. “Child pornography entails the involvement of children, and we must confront it for that reason. [De Boer-Buquicchio] meant sexualised depictions of childish looking characters in manga and anime. Many male and female artists in Japan draw characters in an art style that looks childish to western eyes. Therefore it is a rejection of an art style popular in Japan.”

Kanemitsu said he did not believe Japan’s resistance to expanding the ban to include manga would damage its international image. “I think many people will see the logic of protecting free speech, as long as no actual people are harmed,” he said.

But Japanese campaigners said they would increase pressure on the government to tighten the law. “Materials of children under 18 that were clearly created for the purpose of fulfilling sexual excitement should be regulated as child pornography,” Shihoko Fujiwara, head of the nonprofit organisation Lighthouse, told Agence France-Presse.

She pointed out that DVDs showing half-naked children were still widely available, adding: “We should teach children about sexual crimes at schools.

[Zandalarian Paladin]

Not sure if this will genuinely help. I'd rather have them deal with their sexuality with fiction rather than real kids...

[Revi]

“When it comes to particular, extreme child pornographic content, manga should be banned,”

Totally agree.

[Taeldorian]

Doesn't really affect me even though I'm an anime fan. Don't read manga as much other than for shows that discontinued as an anime. I just watch action or tragedy like the stuff in my signature. Never looked at the child abuse stuff unless it's put into a show to build a characters background but I have yet to see that.

Wouldn't make a difference to me or my friends (average anime watchers) if child abuse manga/anime gets banned since we don't watch it anyway and tend to stay away from that area. If I were to pick a side though, I would agree with them banning the child porn/abuse stuff. As I said, don't think it would really affect the average anime watcher/manga reader like my friends and I, and I don't think it would really affect the obsessive anime watcher/manga reader either unless they want to see child porn or kids getting abused. You have to actually look for that stuff.

[ItachiZaku]

If they did Sexual shit, they'd also have to do violence. Many manga have "children" as the main characters doing massive amounts of violence to each other. Like, Naruto and Bleach are school age kids, naruto younger, but still massive violence.

[Marinai]

I wonder if this would include things Kodomo no Jikan; no actual loli 'action', but sure as hell suggestive..
Get your damn hands off of 'drawings' though..

[klogaroth]

Is there any evidence of a link between these images in manga and real life behaviour?

Or is this just a "well people in other countries think it's weird so stop" thing?

[Vizardlorde]

Good bye lolis shotas lolicons and shotacons.

[Gum]

Banning something that has no effect on anyone is one hell of a dangerious path to take. Juse because you dont like something, doesnt mean it should get banned boys.

[StayTuned]

Here is something that makes pedos not touch real children, and doesn't propagate real CP

Let's take that away


Literally the logic of De Boer-Buquicchio

[Asrialol]

Good bye lolis shotas lolicons and shotacons.

Hm, should I google this?

[StayTuned]

But... is there an actual study showing it does stop majority of pedos from touching real children?

Sorry I'm too afraid to search for that, but generally I'd assume that yes, it's like a substitution.

[Sesshomaru]

That article reminds me of the manga "Nononono" as the villain of the series attempts to rape the main character and blackmail because he found out about the protagonist's identity.
I was actually shocked when I read that chapter which actually showed NSFW content. Heck, if someone near me saw me reading that chapter, they would most likely see me as a scum and simple trash.

But all I wanted was to read a sports manga. That's the really sad part. For once, I wanted to try out one with gender bender, and it took it to extreme heights as it began to reach climax.

[JohnBrown1917]

>Japan tries to ban a Dutch holiday
>Then it tries to ban people saying mean things to each-other on the internet.
>Now drawings are next.


Truly, the UN is just a huge joke now.

[Revi]

Banning something that has no effect on anyone is one hell of a dangerious path to take. Juse because you dont like something, doesnt mean it should get banned boys.

In isolation it doesn't have an effect on anyone else. Normalizing the acts to the people who watch it or making it more socially acceptable certainly could have... We don't know whether it's good or bad in terms of child abuse rates, but saying it has no effect on anything is likely false.

[JohnBrown1917]

“When it comes to particular, extreme child pornographic content, manga should be banned,”

Totally agree.

Manga is totes too extreme brah, waaay over dah top.

[Deleted]

“When it comes to particular, extreme child pornographic content, manga should be banned,”

Totally agree.

From one side, I agree..on the other side, I think they should focus more on real child pornography. But I suppose it doesn't hurt to put certain restrictions when it comes to even drawing children being abused.

I wouldn't ban it flat out as I fear what people who watch it might do when they can't get their stuff from pictures.

[JohnBrown1917]

In isolation it doesn't have an effect on anyone else. Normalizing the acts to the people who watch it or making it more socially acceptable certainly could have... We don't know whether it's good or bad in terms of child abuse rates, but saying it has no effect on anything is likely false.

Japan has had loli and shota magazines for decades, yet its still not normal in Japanese society.

[Jtbrig7390]

Drawing's can't be child pornography and anyone who says different is a idiot.

Also censoring someone art work is wrong on many levels. Just because you don't like something does not give you the right to ban or remove it. Also if this gives pedo's a outlet so be it. Rather they get off to a drawing then to some RL kid.

Before anyone go's "Well adults can't look that way it has to be a child so its banned" there is adults that look like 9 year olds and has the same features as one.

Its wrong to censor someones art thats the bottom line.

[JohnBrown1917]

From one side, I agree..on the other side, I think they should focus more on real child pornography. But I suppose it doesn't hurt to put certain restrictions when it comes to even drawing children being abused.

I wouldn't ban it flat out as I fear what people who watch it might do when they can't get their stuff from pictures.

It hurts freedom of expression.