Your Say: Japan’s Lack Of Laws on Virtual Child Porn Criticized

Source: Yomuri Shimbun via ANN

While I was reading both articles (the original Japanese article and the ANN article), I had a hunch some time ago that such an article will surface.

Child Pornography have been a key discussion point since quite long time ago and laws have been been put up after nations come together and agree upon the need to act against unlawful doers who dabble in child porn.

The key question – how about virtual? It is not real , it is 2D and most importantly, it is an entertainment aspect in the industry  where only those above the legally stated ages can expose to the content to virtual child porn. Those visual novels that you might know involve some suggestive scenes with children, how do you react to it ?

As quoted from ANN,

A law is circulating through Japan’s parliament that would amend Japan’s child pornography laws, but not regulate the virtual kind. Instead, the government has decided to study the issue of virtual child pornography for three years, despite protests from the Japanese branch of the United Nations Children’s Fund.

While I find it a joke that they have to study the issue for 3 years, I do not understand why such a law has to be imposed (Perhaps, prevention is better than cure). Rather than imposing a law on virtual child pornography, they should have stricter laws and restrictions on the real child pornography and heavier punishments for those criminals who are involve in abuse of children.

Pornography came a long way since ages of Man, as old as civilization itself and in the modern world, a push factor in economics. As a breakdown in my own opinion:

When it comes to legal aspects, it is very much an arguing factor as in Japan, child pornography laws were passed pre-2000 era but sexual manga and games or even animations are basically legal once you are above the legal age. It is an industry which has grown since 70s and played as one of the dominant culture in Japan.

Outside Japan, the evolution of such a culture reached beyond normal proportions where things like hentai otaku are even involved as part of the culture. If you term yourself as the otaku, the normal public will bestow you or even look upon you as a “hentai”.

When it comes to social aspects, many blamed virtual child porn is a factor to a rise of related crimes while there are groups that insisted that such a channel does help to curb crimes but is that a solution or just a way to divert the frustration ? I see it as a diversion.

Will such a law being passed have an effect on you ? Will such a law being passed pose an impact to Japan ?

Your Say