crime

Police to investigate former AKB48 singer's 'child porn' picture

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my vote for best "pornist" of 2013

5 ( +9 / -4 )

The child welfare section (of the police department) asked that the picture in question no longer be circulated

Bet they get confiscated and put up in police stations and kobans nationwide !

-5 ( +4 / -9 )

A spokesman for the publisher earlier this week told AFP the company accepted there was a problem with the shot, but declined to offer an opinion on whether the image fell foul of Japan's child pornography laws

What's he gonna say? Yeah it meets the definition of the law if we bothered to look at it, and we'd like to pay a fine thank you.

Another problem with the shot was the uncomfortable looks on both the well-endowed Tomomi and the young boy.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

It's PORN! She should be fined or jailed!

-12 ( +7 / -18 )

"The photograph, on an inside page of the weekly, was released as part of a publicity drive for a book of pictures of Kasai produced by the same firm."

Whatever the outcome, this publicity will generate huge sales of that idol book.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Well if it was a CHILD and he was cupping her breasts could it be possible the CHILD was thirsty and simply wanted to have some MILK? And to send all copies to the police is that really the right place,especially with all the PERVS they have on their force? That makes as much sense as a pedophile running a day care center.

-12 ( +7 / -19 )

If you read some of the comments on Japanese news websites you can see that Japanese in general are also outraged by this. Good.

6 ( +10 / -4 )

police investigation = have a perv.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

I saw the photo and agree it was inappropriate, but because the magazine has been removed from sale I think the J-kiddyporn-flops could do a lot more with their time like, actually stopping the distribution of child porn, of which, Japan is a world leader.

1 ( +5 / -5 )

I'm wondering what the heck the parents of this child was thinking when they took the money and allowed this to happen!

6 ( +10 / -4 )

Do you think they'll be needing to re-do the photograph with her and, say, a 49-year-old Caucasian male?

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Having said that I agree the police probably have got better things to do, and are only pursuing this because it's high profile and makes it look like they're doing something, as opposed to the thousands of kids who are abused much more seriously, sexually and physically.

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

Having said that I agree the police probably have got better things to do,

oikawa -- agreed, like investigating coaches who beat their athletes or the numerous acts of bullying that occur everyday in Japanese schools. Besides the kid in the photo does not even appear to be Japanese.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

I'm wondering what the heck the parents of this child was thinking when they took the money and allowed this to happen!

My thoughts exactly! What the hell were they thinking?

0 ( +4 / -4 )

My thoughts exactly! What the hell were they thinking? Money?

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

On Friday, the mass-circulation Mainichi Shimbun newspaper quoted one investigator as saying that police “thought this issue might turn into an international controversy”.

Yes, it just might. I have been wondering why they chose to use a child who is, to quote from above, "caucasian or eurasian." This the journal sense it was crossing the line and think that using a foreign-looking child would somehow be safer? Or did they think that this sort of model was intrinsically alluring, his age notwithstanding. Or did they think simply that gaijin are expendable? If there is an "international controversy" it will be about children's human rights and perhaps trafficing, depending of the circumstances this photograph was made.

Like the poster above, I have wondering what the parents of the boy were thinking when they allowed their son to be used this way. I would like to hear the story behind that.

As I said in a previous posting, I am against censorship. Were the male in the photograph an adult and the police were raising a fuss I would be on the journal's side. But using at child this way is absolutely wrong.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Will make a judgment after seeing the picture ...

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Pressed the wrong button again. For "This the journal sense it was crossing the line and think that using a foreign-looking child would somehow be safer? " please read* Did the journal sense it was crossing the line and think that using a foreign-looking child would somehow be safer?

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

On Friday, the mass-circulation Mainichi Shimbun newspaper quoted one investigator as saying that police “thought this issue might turn into an international controversy”.

That's why they are going to do something, Japan dont like they dirty laundry in the international news, need to keep the lies about japan kind and polite sociality.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

International controversy? I doubt it.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Is this child old enough to provide consent to participate in a sexual act?

If a little girl were told to cup a man's bare private parts I'm sure most people would recognize that she was violated.

This boy was violated.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

International controversy? I doubt it.

If it turns out that the child in question was not a Japanese national (a big assumption to make, I admit), then yes it might just turn into an international controversy.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Wow, Justasking, that's pretty extreme. Genitalia and the chest are two different things, and tho I haven't seen the pic, some kind of motherhood thing is what I first imagined they might be attempting. This doesn't seem to be an incredibly awful thing- maybe we are too uncomfortable with our bodies, on the one hand.

On the other, it is a sexualized medium, and very public, and letting this circulate gives a kind of "societal consent" to sexualization of children and real abuse. So I can't agree with Oikawa above. It is pretty important to get this stuff off the newsstands, as it is a "mood maker" for our society and therefore has a direct affect on the real abuse Oikawa says is more important. But, if you go into a bookstore, there are all kinds of magazines w/ much much worse really sexualized pics of kids. Why are they making a big deal this one time and letting those things get published every month?

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Justasking he was not cupping her pubic area but her breasts. So what would it make it if he was cupping a man's breasts? In the West it is considered porn but hey in the west they have made children afraid of adults dispute the fact the vast majority of abuse is done by family members.

0 ( +7 / -7 )

So what would it make it if he was cupping a man's breasts?

If a little girl were told to touch a man's bare body in a sexually suggestive way or for the purpose of sexual inuendo, most people I hope would consider that to be inappropriate and a violation of the girl's rights as she's not old enough to provide consent to that type of act.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

"but hey in the west they have made children afraid of adults": what a silly and irrelevant comment. See justasking's answer to you question, it's spot on.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Blowing this out of proportion is going to do more damage to the child than the actual photo shoot. Come on people, the boy touched some breasts, he wasn't made to do any sexual acts. It was inappropriate, but I think it should have ended at removal from publication and perhaps a behind the scenes investigation into the people behind the photo shoot — not the media circus it has become.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

the boy touched some breasts, he wasn't made to do any sexual acts.

Are you serious? What would you think of me if I recruited a little boy and paid his parents money for him to touch my breasts?

It doesn't matter if it's for a photoshoot or not, the act is still the same.

I really, really hope that the pic was a digital one. I cannot believe parents who would behave like that.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Are folks seriously trying to say it was no big deal because it wasn't her crotch? Riiiight. So all those guys copping a feel of boobs on the train aren't as bad as the butt and crotch grabbers? Give me a break. There is nothing motherly about a child, a white one at that, cupping a Japanese chicks boobs. Nothing.

These parents need to be questioned because I don't think their putting thier child's vest interest in mind. Their pockets? Yes. But certainly not their child's welfare.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

Exactly tmarie! Not to mention the fact that she is not a mother, and the publication is not a parenthood magazine or anything of the sort. It was meant to be published in a magazine that is primarily read by young males, as the article states. She is looking at the camera very suggestively while a young boy is cupping her breasts. It may not be child porn in some people's eyes but it is most certainly inappropriate. Ugh. They probably wanted a little boy because they thought it would look innocent and tiny kid hands would make her breasts look bigger.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Ok, it is not appropriate but people here are going way over the top. The more people express how "offended" they are the more sales come in for the product, for that is the way of the modern world.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

In any case this picture is now all over the internet. With supportive discussions on Ch2. A little to late to do anything meaningful. Might as well sell the magazine..

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I don't think the police are going after it because they actually care but just because it might be an embarrassment to Japan and is a high profile case, even though there are much worse cases of child abuse they should have already been investigating.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Of course Ch2 supports it. They're the creepy guys who are into the sort of crap. Cess pool of the sexless and spoiled.

-7 ( +0 / -7 )

If this is going to be an international issue the question of whether using this boy in this way was an act of Japanese racism is bound to come up. If it this issue does come up it will most likely be raised by resident foreigners in Japan first. At this point I will withhold judgement because I do not know the circumstances. What ought to be made clear is whether or not the boy's parents knew how their child was being used.

Whatever the case, this business does no one any good: not Japan, not professional photographers, not publishers, not the female model and certainly not the little boy.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Japanese police have launched a probe

Investigation should be short. Before seeing the photo, I could tell you that was clearly illegal. The magazine is "adult industry", just the first page shows it. The law is very short : "It's forbidden to hire anyone under 18 in any adult industry". Even a decent photo of a child in this publication is not acceptable.

I'm wondering what the heck the parents of this child was thinking

"It's Art... some people don't understand, they are not open-minded... child porn, it's different, it is when you see child being raped... we are very far from that... ". Roughly that's what they say. The mothers of Brooke Shields, Jodie Foster, of kids posing for David Hamilton, for Roman Polanski, for Terry perv forgot the name, for Vogue, parents of the little girl exposing her privies for photos taken and exposed by her aaarrtist mother (that she is suing 30 yrs later, not that she waited decades, but because her claims have not been accepted before). Frankly, this boy should be in a foster family today. Ms Kasai should be indicted as a child abuser. Touching breasts qualifies as indecent assault, making someone do it is the same. Let's hope the child is older than 13. Otherwise, she's good for at least 6 months of jail :

Art. 176 Penal Code 'A person who, through violence or intimidation, commits an indecent act upon a male or female person of not less than thirteen (13) years of age shall be punished with imprisonment at forced labour for not less than six months nor more than seven years. The same shall apply to a person who commits an indecent act upon a male or female person under thirteen (13) years of age.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

It is because these kinds of things that Japan is starting to look like a very terrible place to raise a family. No matter how you put it, it is child porn and she should be made to go to jail for at least a year.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

CosJan. 19, 2013 - 06:32PM JST

Investigation should be short. Before seeing the photo, I could tell you that was clearly illegal.

So you haven't seen it even though it was linked to above? From the thumbnails they show, it's hardly pornography, no more so than the showing of young boy's butts on TV all the time.

The magazine is "adult industry", just the first page shows it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young_Magazine

Please read up on what you're talking about first. The magazine is a manga magazine that also includes a small section with a gravure idol. It is not considered an "adult" magazine, rather seinen. Young Magazine actually serialized several very famous manga that even you probably know.

JustaskingJan. 19, 2013 - 01:33PM JST

Is this child old enough to provide consent to participate in a sexual act?

Whether it is a sexual act is up for the cops and art critics to decide. But you do bring up a good question, just how old is this "boy"? (don't even know if it is a boy actually, this article and others don't state. could be a girl for all we know)

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Indict Ms. Kasai? Her fans will rip Tokyo to pieces!!

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

(don't even know if it is a boy actually, this article and others don't state. could be a girl for all we know)

And what difference would that make?

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

It's a bleached (blonde) hair Japanese boy about seven, eight the most. I have so many questions!!! How could she consent to do this? How old is she? What's the aim of having her nipples covered by those small hands? Why not larger hands? What is the message trying to be sent. Don't they consider that the little boy could have been aroused? What if that little boy get addicted to fondling large boobs without permission when he gets older? Will he get psychological help, as this is likely a shocking but pleasing experience for him? I could go on and on but will take a break.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Thank you for the information, ChibaChick. Glad Japanese people are outraged.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

In foriegn media, and even in the case of some Japanese celebrities, it would be normal for journalists to do all they could to try to contact Ms Kasai and try to prise a comment from her. In the event that no comment was available then she would be quoted as refusing comment. In this case however, the invisible lady act seems to be totally OK. Are they really planning to still release that book and let her carry on with her modelling, or whatever, career as if nothing had happened? Are people really going to let her get away with having nothing at all to say for herself?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Um...Is anyone really sure that kid is a boy? If it's a girl, doesn't the photo take on a whole new feel? (Pun intended.) I'm sure there are lots of girls who take baths with mom and they might just think of this as a playful pic substituting hands for clothes. While I'm not willing to do the research and find out, I'd just kind of think that if you're going to get a kid to hold a woman's breasts, the best thing you can do for yourself, legally speaking, is make it a girl, and let people assume it's a boy.

That's just my "what if".

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Thanks to Google, I have now seen the picture in question. I really do not understand what the photographer was trying to achieve, but it is not depicting a sexual act and is not porn. It is definitely not child porn, but is in rather poor taste.

I think some of the responses above are a bit hysterical, such as, "it is child porn and she should be made to go to jail for at least a year." I really cannot understand how anyone would say that if they have seen the pictures. After all, snaps of me at the beach with my daughter would probably also be caught under this bizarre definition of child porn.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Please read up on what you're talking about first.

Unlike you, I did. It's not so much what you read but it's often written "sexy", it's what you can see in photos :

http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/kc_up/image/MAG/1911/cover/1911.jp

But by including "sexy photos", they put themselves in that "red light" category. Like there those cabarets with shows of erotic dancers, they are not considered as coffee shops like Starbucks, and they are not allowed to hire 16 yr old waiters, even if the underage staff is not participating in the adult activities. That's one of the few legal ways to protect children from indecent exploitation. If they want to apply the law, they have to be as severe with publications as with "shops". We are not talking about a borderline case like the 17 yr old bikini model (which is common place). It's really a small kid.

This is imposing western "values" on Japan....Well I suggest you leave.

The people that protested against that photo are Japanese, and you're the one that left.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Why would it matter if it was a girl?! When has it ever been normal for some kid to cup a naked woman's boobs? Sorry but I don't think most moms raise their kids to do that.

If anything this was a copy of Janet Jackson's pictures from years ago - which were sexual and risky at the time.

And what is with parents here dying their kids' hair blonde? That in itself tells me that the parents are not fit for parenting properly. One doesn't dye a small child's hair regardless of the payout.

This whole thing speaks highly of how Japan sees kids, women and foreigners/biracials. Nothing but entertainment all around like money's in a zoo.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

After all, snaps of me at the beach with my daughter would probably also be caught under this bizarre definition of child porn.

Why, did you sell the pics for mass distribution?

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

TessaJan. 19, 2013 - 10:58PM JST

And what difference would that make?

Could be a 20-something year old petite "girl" with heavy makeup for all we know. I've seen my share of people with growth disorders that leave them looking like 12 year olds even if they are well into their 20s. If that was the case here, there would be absolutely nothing wrong. If the child is indeed as young as it seems though, then it would be an issue, and I'm sure the parents would be facing a serious talking to at the minimum.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

YuriOtani:

Justasking he was not cupping her pubic area but her breasts. So what would it make it if he was cupping a man's breasts?

Not that it makes it that much more acceptable if the adult were a man, but have you noticed that it's ok for men to go out without their tops on (eg in hot sunny weather) and yet people would be staring if a woman does that.

Yeah, silly and irrelevant comment.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Bad taste? Yes. Porn? No. Child abuse? Possibly. But, I think there's too much hype. Has anyone asked the boy about it?

2 ( +3 / -1 )

KabukiloverJan. 19, 2013 - 12:06PM JST

I have been wondering why they chose to use a child who is, to quote from above, "caucasian or eurasian."

They didn't, because that kid doesn't look anything but asian, most likely Japanese. The hair was dyed an unnatural yellow hue, but eyes are asian in look.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

I'd hardly call it child porn.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Stop going on about child porn. It's irrelevant. Anything can be porn if that's what arouses you. The point is a chjld should not be put in a situation like this with an adult, or anyone. Simple. End of.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

High fives kid

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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