Japan and sexuality

[Frank101m]

First of all I think this is a topic that has been disscused lots of times but I would like to know a japanese point of view or from somebody living there.
I have some questions regarding the topic.

1) Are themes regarding incest and paedophilia an accepted topic only in a specific subculture?

2) Why do you think it was so hard for the government to take actions against child pornography?

3)Are Junior idols something normal for the japanese people in general or only for a subculture?
4)Do you think lollicon manga and anime regarding hentai should be banned?


My answers to this are:

1) I think not. I would not like to stereotype anyone but I don't know any opinion from somebody well informed regarding that.

2) I don't really know anything about this.

3) Again I think not but want an authoritative opinion.

4) I think yes, and before you misunderstand me I am not against freedom of speech unless it directly harms somebody. The thing is that in my opinion this may not cause a direct harm towards children, but it may create danger for them indirectly. I do know the difference between fiction and reality, but I also know not all people think the same or can separate them. It is not nonexistent but really small the cases of child rape or abuse in Japan but I think there is no need to leave space for those things to happen.

Any opinion will be well accepted and if Japanese or resident in japan's opinion better.

 

[Mark of Zorro]

Why are you asking?

Mostly I am curious if you are interested in examining these topics in an open minded fashion or if you are here to just hammer your opinion down our throats and/or vilify Japan while ignoring what goes on in your own country.

Although your answer to question four (with its glaring incongruity) certainly makes me think the last thing you are going to do is actually rethink or admit Japan might be doing things better no matter the volume or quality of evidence.

I also want to know if your motives involve a sincere desire to see children protected as much as possible or if your actual heart's desire is just to make a pariah of a subset of humans for your own enjoyment of schadenfreude or feelings of superiority? I ask, although I scarcely think you know the true answer to that question yourself. Few do and few of those who do admit the truth of it.

 

[Frank101m]

Sorry for causing any apparent incongruity in my answers. I sincerely wanted to know your opinion and nothing more. I am from El Salvador a third world country which is lovely but actually nothing compared to Japan. I don't feel superior to someone or anybody. I am a great anime fan and Japan admirer. I love Japan and just wanted to be informed about that situation since there is a lot of scandal about this themes mainly by foreign media that judge Japan as if a subculture was the complete country's sample. I never wanted to feel superior since I admire Japan, their culture and development. I just wanted to know more about the topic from an inner view. I know Japan is not perfect but is great and let me tell you that if I wanted to feel superior I would just need to go to the western media and look for an antijapanese opinion or editorial. Sorry if I hurted you with my opinion but it was not my intention. Please don't be mad.

Anyway any opinion will be well accepted and I am just willing to know, not to feel more or less.

As for my last answer I made a mistake, what I really think is that more control is needed on that topic not a complete ban. Sorry for that. And thanks for your answer.

 

[Mark of Zorro]

Oh, I am not mad.

I am just incredulous to the idea that somebody could be "just curious" and have no other motive whatsoever to ask about the topic.

Sorry if I seem hostile. I am really just in a state of disbelief.

 

[Mark of Zorro]

1) Are themes regarding incest and paedophilia an accepted topic only in a specific subculture?

What does "accepted" mean? On the one hand, I think that people who don't buy don't want to see it. On the other hand, a parent would not disown their teen child for having it, nor do I think friendships would be broken.

I think in Japan its just not part of the national conscience. It has not been labeled as important either way, and I have to agree.

Basically the way I see your question is like asking if murder movies are accepted in America. Think on that, and you might begin to understand my sense of "What in the heck are you talking about?"

It is a thing among westerners and even some Japanese to be all concerned and down on this material. It is no less senseless except if one is using that nutty debate to further their political careers, and many politicians are. They would trample any subgroup to do that, and for thousands of years, or longer, they surely have.

2) Why do you think it was so hard for the government to take actions against child pornography?

The government has taken MASSIVE action against child porn. It is illegal to create and distribute. It even just became illegal to possess.

But maybe you mean take actions against possessors? Well, there is this thing called the constitution. People have rights. In my country, they will happily violate your rights to weed out people with child porn because its been deemed that important to find possessors. Here, they seem more interested in violating your rights to find drug users. Its a simple matter of popularity, or what is popular to hate today. In the past in my country it was gays and Black people. Now its anyone would dare even think of sex with minors and never mind that age is just a number and the definition of minor keeps changing.

3)Are Junior idols something normal for the japanese people in general or only for a subculture?

Normal for all even if most people are not interested. No one is freaking out here.

But truth be told, junior idols are just as popular in my country and many other places. Its just that the people are in denial about it. There are lots of famous young females that adult males are oggling on the TV and in movies. We just are not allowed to talk about it or admit it. But they are there. Hell, we even have little girl beauty pageants. But denial is so common most people just pretend its not happening. Here its more open. Again, its drugs they flip out about.

4)Do you think lollicon manga and anime regarding hentai should be banned?

Absolutely not! And I have never purchased any in my entire life!

Thought policing is wrong! Its damned dead WRONG!

Further to that, if its crimes against kids you worry about, banning such material will only make more of them. Japan is basically open about this stuff (although its basically not talked about except among fans). In places where its banned or frowned upon, there are more crimes against children.

Its just like the prohibition of alcohol. All it did was increase crime and even alcoholism and maybe even alcohol consumption. Those who reach for bans as a solution to everything are fools who have no understanding of law or psychology and no foresight whatsoever.

In fact, for all their insistence to the contrary, I don't think they give a damn about kids either. Their joy is to vilify and walk all over a subgroup. Protecting kids is just an excuse for their desire to crush somebody. They are not sincere about protecting kids at all or they would be praising the Japanese example profusely.

 

[Mark of Zorro]

but I think there is no need to leave space for those things to happen.

Then you may as well advocate locking hildren in a guarded area with security cameras in every corner. There has probably never been a place or time with less sex occurring among those under 18, and I think its straight up insane.

But part of why its happening (or not happening as the case may be) is because of this manga. Those insisting sex with minors is taking off because of some pictures drawn on paper range from brainwashed, to nutty, to having some really dark ulterior motives for their statements.

Sorry to be so blunt, but I am very sick of coddling the stupidity I hear all the time surrounding these issues. All I see is the the former persecution of "queers" has morphed into the persecution of what people are imagining are "pedophiles". But their definition of pedophile is as mixed up and butt backward as the former definition of queer, or rather, lack of coherent definition.

Its the same old moral panic poop in a can, just a different label and a few different ingredients. But the core is the same old slime and no actual good to anyone. I know of no society that didn't eat this garbage in one form or another. If monsters cannot be found, they WILL be invented!

 

[Mark of Zorro]

I suppose I should add that if anybody feels the need to refute anything I said, go ahead. Just leave me personally out of it. Quote me if you wish, but save your personal remarks for someone who gives a (explicative).

 

[Frank101m]

Thanks for your answer. I am just a young guy making up his opinion about many things in the world and Japan, that's the reason for my questions.

Thanks for taking the time and answering like that.

 

[lanthas]

I'm surprised about your views on the last point. I always thought that kind of material had the exact opposite effect: turning people away from reality. See: men (both Japanese and foreign) declaring that they prefer drawn women to real ones because it's easier/safer/cleaner; walking around in public hugging their body pillows with life-size prints of scantily clad anime girls; or sometimes going as far as literally worshipping their favorite fictional character.

Given those examples I'd say excessive viewing of hentai makes people risk turning into an eternal 童貞 hooked on fantasy women rather than a rapist. And as a consequence, why should you care about it?

 

[Frank101m]

I'm surprised about your views on the last point. I always thought that kind of material had the exact opposite effect: turning people away from reality. See: men (both Japanese and foreign) declaring that they prefer drawn women to real ones because it's easier/safer/cleaner; walking around in public hugging their body pillows with life-size prints of scantily clad anime girls; or sometimes going as far as literally worshipping their favorite fictional character.

Given those examples I'd say excessive viewing of hentai makes people risk turning into an eternal 童貞 hooked on fantasy women rather than a rapist. And as a consequence, why should you care about it?

Yup, that's definitely a point. As I said I am making up my opinion on those topics and this is really changing the way I see those topics. Thanks for your opinion and the ttime you took for replying.

 

[Secret4Now]

or if you are here to just hammer your opinion down our throats and/or vilify Japan while ignoring what goes on in your own country.

Zoro-san, the question was asked in honesty and sincerity. Nothing was said about Japanese villainy. Frank just asked a question.

 

[Mark of Zorro]

Zoro-san, the question was asked in honesty and sincerity. Nothing was said about Japanese villainy. Frank just asked a question.

Unless you are a mind reader, you don't get to speak for Frank.

I have seen plenty of innocently worded questions that had anything but innocent intentions behind them. I merely preempted the possibility. But I accused Frank of nothing.

 

[Kamasama]

Frank, Have you ever been to Japan? You must see and experience life here. Make friends here. Hard to do thousands of miles away.

 

[Kazekawa]

I concur with Kamasama. It is far too easy to judge something from a distance. Unless you have actually been to the country and lived here on a daily basis it is very hard to form an appropriate opinion. You said you were just a guy trying to form opinions, but your choice in the topic you have chosen to expand your opinions on is certainly an odd first choice.

For 1, it's incredibly rare and is not part of daily life. As in, you won't find it casually. I've been here for 10 years and never just bumped into it casually.
For 2, it isn't hard. Various laws and rules exist here.

For 3, junior idols exist here yes. They also exist in the US, or in England or many other countries. Tons of children perform, sing, dance and so on across the world. This is not a Japan only thing. Many children want to grow up to become idols, just as many kids want to grow up to become an actor or a singer. They start young and groom into their positions.

For 4, I don't think anything outside legit child porn should be banned. Anime is anime. You will never be able to stop people from drawing something, or creating something or toying with an idea.

 

[Hope&Faith]

why do you care so much? are you looking for an underaged japanese girl/boy...
sorry but your concern makes me suspicious a bit...