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First 'CG Child 'Pornography' Arrest in Japan Detailed

The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department's Youth Development Section and Minamisenju Station arrested 52-year-old Gifu City resident Akira Takahashi on July 11 for violating Japan's child pornography law. The man had been allegedly distributing a self-published picture collection called Seishōjo Densetsu 2.

According to the Sankei Shimbun newspaper, the collection consists of images of young girls that were scanned from photograph books published in the 1980s and early 1990s. The images were modified using editing software so that hairstyles, skin tones, and some of the poses differed from the photographs published in the original books. The arrested man's picture collection was produced in 2009.

Before the Child Pornography Law of 1999, photograph books of nude young girls were widely circulated in Japan. At that time, an explicit non-censored photograph could be published only if the person in the photo did not have pubic hair. Although original books did not depict sexual activity, they may be classified as "type 3 child pornography," images in which "the minor is fully or partially undressed, and the visual representation is sexually arousing," under the 1999 law.

Under Japan's current child pornography laws, images that use real models under the age of 18, including drawings, can be classified as child pornography. Initial limited reports of the July 11 arrest came after Japan's ruling party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), along with co-sponsors New Komeito Party and the Japan Restoration Party, announced in May a proposal to amend the country's current child pornography laws.

Thanks to mt-i for the news tip.

Source: Sankei Shimnun via tsurupeta, Dan Kanemitsu