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JAPANESE POLICE HAVE arrested a Tokyo artist on obscenity charges for distributing data that allowed recipients to make 3D prints of her vagina, sparking protests over what supporters said was an attack on free expression.
Megumi Igarashi, 42, who calls herself Rokude Nashiko which roughly translates as “bastard kid”, had been trying to raise funds online to pay for the construction of a kayak, using a 3D printer, modelled on the shape of her genitals.
Japan has a notoriously vibrant pornography industry that caters to a vast array of tastes. But obscenity laws still forbid the depiction of actual genitalia, which usually appear censored or pixellated in images and videos.
The artist — who has created other genital-inspired artworks — was arrested on Saturday for “distributing data that could create an obscene shape through a 3D printer,” a police spokesman said on Tuesday.
Before her arrest, Igarashi — who remains in detention — had collected about one million yen (€7,240) through an internet crowd funding site.
In exchange for donations, she supplied data to supporters that would let them create 3D prints of her genitals.
Igarashi’s supporters said they were shocked by what they described as the police’s unusually broad use of Japan’s obscenity laws in this case.
Activist Minori Kitahara said police raided Igarashi’s office and seized 20 of her artworks.
“Japan is still a society where those who try to express women’s sexuality are suppressed, while men’s sexuality is overly tolerated,” she said.
Japan’s pornography industry is predominantly targeted at men, and the country only last month made the possession of child pornography illegal.
The ban excludes “manga” comics — those aimed at adults as well as children, “anime” video and computer-generated graphics, following calls to protect freedom of expression.
Campaigners had long urged Japan to toughen its stance on child pornography, complaining it was a major source of the material for global markets.
If convicted, Igarashi could receive up to two years in jail or a fine of as much as 2.5 million yen, according to her lawyer.
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Japs snaps flaps for 3D faps
11/10.
Claps
She spotted a gap in the market.
A large black bush please no ice.
N green thumb taps..
So they can slaughter and torture the living sh** out of dolphins and whales but arrest someone drawing a fanny , crazy
So this has nothing whatsoever to do with art? She sold the data required to make a 3d print of her vagina to raise money to buy a kayak.
Anyone want want a mála version of my penis? Need money to buy a PS4 but I swear it’s all about the art.
She was.raising the money to have a kayak made in the shape of her vagina as an art project I presume. Can your genitalia be modelled around a PS4? Interesting! ;)
Only the joystick!
Classic
“Japan’s pornography industry is primarily aimed at men…”
I never knew that.
Anything passes for “artist” these days
Said every old fogey, ever.
Will three be a pussy riot?
The vagina artist Minori Kitahara was giving the Police the 2 fingers..
Hang on – so possession of child porn has been made legal in the last month in Japan??? But some woman who has questionable (but consensual) artistic skills is arrested?? Wtf?
Child porn has been made legal in Japan…..What..??. If this is true the UN should sanction Japan surely…
Might start up my own studio here in Dublin!
You’ll need a wide angle lens for some of them
She must have some…errr…. anyway, that’s one huge camera.
The Freedom of Expression defence. Good one that.
“Japan has notoriously tough obscenity laws”. As someone that regularly browses 4chan, I can tell you this is a complete misconception.
Oi mrs get back in yer box !!!!
That’s why she wanted the kayak!
Getting all in a flap over nothing.
A piss artist
This is the country where the laws permit vending machines on city streets to dispense soiled ladies underwear I exchange for money.
Japan is as perverse in its laws as its people are in their tastes.
If it makes money I might do it myself.
I’ll take three
I have untold copybooks of penis art that I have been accumulated throughout my school years. I wonder if I could make a small fortune….
We should tell Gashi or whatever her name is to do some artistic research into Sheelagh na Gig!
Never change Japan, never change.
What an hypocresy, japanese manga is full of explicit sex for male consumers!! Obscenity is what’s happening in Majorca and Barcelona: http://www.elpais-digital.es/n8/16_07_2014_1.html
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