- 14 Mar 2002
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This is something that has puzzled me for a long time and that no one could answer to my satisfaction: why are handcuffs in Japanese TV or in newspapers and magazines always blurred or pixelated? Some Japanese online fora mention "human rights" and "the shame of being shown handcuffed".
Photo courtesy of tokyoreporter.com.
The answer is quite simple: there is a law.
Source
So the strange thing is that showing a suspect's face and mentioning their name with the suffix -yōgisha (容疑者) in connection with an arrest is legitimate while depicting handcuffs isn't. Not to mention the fact that pixelated hands are quite conspicuous and strongly hint at handcuffs. Obviously, there are similar laws in South Korea and France.
More info on the Miura case (which has made plenty of headlines in the US and Japan between 1998 and 2008):
Photo courtesy of tokyoreporter.com.
The answer is quite simple: there is a law.
According to Japanese law, depicting a suspect in handcuffs implies guilt, and may prejudice the trial. In Japan, this law was passed after Kazuyoshi Miura successfully brought a case to the court arguing that the newspaper pictures with him in handcuffs implied guilt and altered his public appearance.
Source
So the strange thing is that showing a suspect's face and mentioning their name with the suffix -yōgisha (容疑者) in connection with an arrest is legitimate while depicting handcuffs isn't. Not to mention the fact that pixelated hands are quite conspicuous and strongly hint at handcuffs. Obviously, there are similar laws in South Korea and France.
Handcuffs - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
More info on the Miura case (which has made plenty of headlines in the US and Japan between 1998 and 2008):
Kazuyoshi Miura (businessman) - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
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web.archive.org