Japanese film on child prostitution pulled from Thai film festival

Tuesday 23rd September, 06:46 AM JST

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ai_sumo at 03:43 PM JST - 23rd September

Title should be [Child prostitution and human trafficking in Asia],not just Thailand,I believe!?! To tell you the truth,Japanese are the main stream of customers to these child prostitutes a while ago!!! If Japanese are really worried and against child prostitution,they'd have done something to stop it(not encouraging as a customer)

Truth is,let us all wipe our own A$$ first before it stinks everywhere.

Leave Thailand to Thai people.Very simple.
keshii at 03:56 PM JST - 23rd September

I saw a special preview of this film in June, and had an opportunity to meet the Director.

This movie attacks Japan as well as Thailand's involvement. The main character, a Japanese man played by Yosuke Eguchi is actually a child predator. Also, a big part of the plot takes place when a Japanese couple in Japan purchase a young girl to steal her organs for their dying son. Other nationalities are seen involved in the industry during the film, such as a German, an American, and two Australians, just to name a few.

I agree that Japan needs to be more aware of their role in human trafficking, but I think we need to do it in steps to raise awareness. I think that opening their eyes to the existence of trafficking, period, will help along people to realizing that it's an issue where they are as well.

It was a wonderful film.
CavemanLawyer at 04:10 PM JST - 23rd September

But even you must admit that it rings a bit hollow as Japan itself has a well-known and acute problem with kiddie porn.

Does kiddie porn mean anime? Because this movie is about child prostitution. Compared to that, anime is nothing.

I heard that Japan has a problem with sex tourism, and as other people have said, one of the characters is a Japanese sex tourist. So on the contrary, you must admit that that is as impartial as it gets.

--Cirroc
moonbeams at 04:46 PM JST - 23rd September

Another thing the critics are missing out on is that the creator of this film is a zainichi Korean.

Shame on those who use this film, something that actually takes a stand against the most despicable act in the world, to bash Japan without even knowing about this film.

By the way, the right wringers in Japan are also in heaps about this film. So bashing it means agreeing with the ultra nationalists. Good job
solarbuster at 04:53 PM JST - 23rd September

In Thailand you can still be jailed for insults to the Monarchy. Who decides what is an insult is the problem. The film makers may be lucky it was pulled before they attended the film festival. Before attacking the Monarchy consider the position as being what they can hide from the Monarchy and the political situation in Thailand. The Thai people are already calling for an end to democracy as they see the present government as a gang of mobsters involved in every crooked racket going, with very little chance of getting an honest goverment in the future.

This film may well have opened the Monarchies eyes as to why people want want the politicians out of power. The film makers should invite the King to Japan to see the film as he probably has no idea of its existance. If they have a message to get across this is the way to do it.
usaexpat at 11:35 PM JST - 23rd September

Well the Thai government has pretty much refused to deal with child prostitution and for some reason allows it to continue with only the occasional roundup of foreign pedos. My guess is that somewhere in the government people are making money off this nasty business and that's why it continues. It's pretty obvious that the government doesn't care to be confronted with reality nor invite international condemnation.
WilliB at 12:50 AM JST - 24th September

I haven´t seen the film, but I strongly suspect that it just plays up Western stereotypes without much basis in fact or, pray tell, research.

So some Japanese film maker goes to Thailand to make a film about what he imagines goes on in the kingdom. Great.

Just take the starting proposition: That child prostitution is a result of Western/Japanese sex tourism. Bunk! Anybody who has lived in SE Asia for a while knows that indeed bad things go on, but mostly out of the eyes of the sex tourists. Of course it is easy to stay in the bright neon lights of the fleshpots of Pattaya or Nana Plaza and phantasize about all the horrible things that go on with stupid Western tourists who don´t the culture and the language, with the Thai police circling around just waiting to trap another cash laden falang.

If these geniuses wanted to make a true horror film, they could travel up north and cross the border to Karen territory and hear what goes on in camps run by the Burmese military. Just to give an example.

But of course, that can´t be done on a quick trip with a camera crew booke by JAL. They´d have to get off their buts and use their wit and brains.
bebert at 06:19 AM JST - 24th September

The difference with Thailand is the poverty and the notorious reputation Thailand has for prostitution which attracts sex tourists. If you've ever seen a documentary or read a book on the sex trade in South East Asia, you'd know that a lot of these children are sold into the trade by relatives trying to survive or abducted, which is rare in the 1st World.

The solution, or at least the first step, is for nations like Japan to follow the lead of the United States and ban their citizens from having sex with minors in any other nation, regardless of the purpose of their visit.
omarbabilon at 01:34 PM JST - 24th September

Why not to make a film about japanese young people in prostitution... and criticise it around the world?... would they say anything againstit?...
omarbabilon at 01:42 PM JST - 24th September

Before talk about other countrie's problem... why dont look in their own country and see all that perverts in akihabara and all about enjokosei... eh?... why not?, because they pretend to show themselvas as a perfect society.... i dont believe in the moral of japanese people to judge another society problems or reality... at first look inside your own country.
CavemanLawyer at 02:09 PM JST - 24th September

Before talk about other countrie's problem... why dont look in their own country and see all that perverts in akihabara and all about enjokosei... eh?... why not?

You are comparing teens prostituting themselves to seven year olds being bought and sometimes abducted by people who then exploit them for profit?

Go back to the drawing board and try again.

--Cirroc
Nessie at 02:21 PM JST - 24th September

The difference with Thailand is the poverty and the notorious reputation Thailand has for prostitution which attracts sex tourists. If you've ever seen a documentary or read a book on the sex trade in South East Asia, you'd know that a lot of these children are sold into the trade

Don't forget that a lot of the "sex tourism" is domestic tourism; i.e., Thai guys buying Thai children.
magpie at 02:46 PM JST - 24th September

Have not seen the film but reading comments from thos who HAVE seen the film, it appears to strike a fair balance. It is a problem in Thailand and elsewhere, China, S E Asia, Americas and Europe for that matter. Japanese seem to be portrayed also as the culprits. The reality is that child prostitution whether voluntary (such as enjokosai) or coerced/forced is a major issue. I am a parent of three (soon to be four). I have a daughter and the issue strikes me as frightening. We haven't gone back to live in Japan, as i think the country is seriously turning into a sh*thole. You read issues about enjokosai, kids killing kids, kids killing adults, adults killing kids/adults, perverts preying on innocents, granted these aren't problems restricted to Japan, but you just seem to have a greater than fair share of these problems.

If a film is prepared to portray a problem and brings attention to the existence of such a problem. So be it. Bring out the ugly so that people can then realize what the issues are.

There are comments on this thread that child prostitution is a less prevalent problem in the 1st world, but the matter of fact is it is a problem that does exist. It is nota 1st world problem or a developing world probel. Nor for that matter a SE Asian problem. If the culprits are from around the world (like Gary Glitter), them it is a global problem.
keshii at 04:03 PM JST - 24th September

omarbabilon, this film also criticized Japan; in fact, 3 of the 5 Japanese characters were clearly involved in perpetuating this evil, including THE main character himself. From that, it doesn't sound like Japan's pretending that it's a perfect society to me.
MissWorldTravel at 09:48 AM JST - 29th September

Can we stop generalizing Thai as SE Asia? Im a singaporean living in Malaysia, enough to know SE Asia is not Thai.