Child Porn Still Thrives in Japan, According to Rights Advocates

Japan has only recently imposed strict laws against child pornography with the criminalizing of the possession of such materials in 2014. Human rights activists are saying, however, that government efforts in protecting children from sexual exploitation have not been working as child porn continues to thrive in the country.

According to a report by Tokyo-based group Human Rights Now, DVDs marked as child porn remain to be “openly and widely distributed, displayed and sold at stores, and released on the internet.”

The findings, which the group released Monday, revealed that the authorities would not usually investigate pornographers who may look like they are hiring children, according to the Agence France-Presse (via the Japan Times). The police have reportedly claimed that they are unable to verify the ages of the girls featured on the videos.

Calling on the government to use a zero tolerance policy in its campaign to stop the proliferation of materials that sexualize minors, the report expressed that it is the duty of the police to help eradicate child pornography.

The group conducted field research at stores in Tokyo’s Akihabara electronics district, where they found several DVDs with dubious content which includes videos depicting half-naked children in sexually provocative poses, wearing skimpy outfits.

Japan’s anti-child porn laws state that anyone who “possesses child pornography for the purpose of satisfying his/her sexual interest” may be sentenced to up to one year imprisonment or pay a fine of up to ¥1 million (around $150,000). Child pornography creators can get up to three years imprisonment or pay at least ¥3 million ($450,000) in fines.

The recently passed laws, however, do not cover drawings or digitally created imagery, allowing images of child porn and pedophilia in manga to remain legal.

United Nations special envoy Maud de Boer-Buquicchio has expressed strong criticisms on such legislations due to the “numerous loopholes” that the industry has taken advantage of.

In her report released this year, the envoy reported that Japan needs to stop all commercial activity that causes and leads to the sexual exploitation of children in the country. She also lashed out at the dating services perpetuated by “JK” businesses, also known as joshi kosei, which feature teenage schoolgirls as “junior idols”.

The U.N. report expressed that while the country has made steps in stopping child prostitution and pornography, there is still a lot the government needs to do. “The sexual exploitation of children online and offline is, however, still a major issue of concern in Japan,” it added.

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