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NEWS: Police Arrest Please Tell Me! Galko-chan Creator Kenya Suzuki for Importing Child Porn


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Juno016



Joined: 09 Jan 2012
Posts: 2428
PostPosted: Mon Dec 20, 2021 1:11 pm Reply with quote
Frick. I bought a few volumes in Japan. They're in storage right now, but there is no way I will feel comfortable looking at their spines, so yet another manga series I'm going to have to toss the next time I pull out my collections. Ugh.

taster of pork wrote:
What's really disturbing is that there's People in the US who are already trying to "destigmatize" pedophilia. And looking at current trends in regards to "acceptance" and "pushing boundaries", It's only a matter of time before People starting turning a blind eye. One example: https://youtu.be/UNW13jjSL-E


"Destigmatize" isn't as scary a thing as it sounds and the few people who study the phenomenon of pedophilia agree (on account of a lack of existing research, but based on other similar issues involving psychology and illicit behaviors) that destigmatization would need to be the first step in stomping out pedophilic child molestation (which is a whole 40% of convicted child molestation if I remember correctly). As it stands, any pedophile with an active risk of acting on their urges is not going to seek help because of what being outted or even admitting their problem might do to their life, meaning they're not going to get the outside help they might need to resist urges they struggle to control on their own. If current estimates of the likelihood of pervailance of pedophilia in the male population (there are no estimates for the female population) are true, managing this problem is not going to be likely without the destigmatization necessary to get people help.

Also, it's probably easier to recognize that liking someone doesn't mean you're predisposed to assaulting them. The "disorder" of pedophilia comes from the lack of support and following stress that comes from having an attraction you know cannot, under any circumstance, be indulged. I can't say I'm comfortable with destigmatization on a personal level, but that's the preposition that solidified my understanding and sympathy.

GNPixie wrote:
From what I understand of the Watsuki case, its really not. The difference between the two was Watsuki had possesion and from what was reported, only had stuff from when it wasn't against the law which was only a shortly before he got caught with it and wasn't explicately purchasing it.


From what I thought I remembered hearing, some of what he bought was collected from before the ban, but a good chunk of it was bought after the ban in Japan. Can anyone find the original ANN article? Google is failing me.

Kai99 wrote:
Yes dude. Your lolicon artists used real kids to get good at drawing kids. Here a scenario, if they didn't draw a certain artwork using a reference because they've drawn a pose so many times before from real CP/soft CP, does it matter if it from imagination?


For the record, I've drawn anime-style children without using real kids as reference. I did use real references for my adults (gesture drawing, mostly), but especially with stylization, a basic class of anatomy on humans as a whole can help me draw a wide range of body types as long as I know basic skeletal structure, the muscles and how they pertrude, how fat sags with age, etc. And I can learn a lot of that by studying from other stylized art. I've definitely seen artists with styles I can't imagine didn't look at real children (and god knows U-18 gravure is still problematically abundant and accessible in Japan), but this idea that a stylized artist absolutely MUST have looked at real children, or that it's necessary to draw them, sounds dubious to me. Kinda like an assertion that because all bananas are fruits, that must mean all fruits are bananas. I'm a very obvious example of why that logic doesn't pan out, but it only takes a few seconds of looking at erotic doujinshi covers to realize that "drawing from life" isn't quite as universal or common a path to artistry as you would intuitively think. A LOT of artists, for better or worse, learn by drawing from other artists.

Personally, the idea of studying the bodies of real children in order to draw them does not sound like a path I'm willing to take just to be able to draw them stylized.
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Smeagol_17



Joined: 05 Feb 2019
Posts: 64
PostPosted: Mon Dec 20, 2021 1:14 pm Reply with quote
Kai99 wrote:

That just stylization, something that you get good at when you learn to draw from life. Even than, you are still drawing from life even with stylization, you are just exaggerating certain features. Also, one of the hardest thing to draw is characters interacting physically with one another. You learn how to do that by drawing from the source. You think ecchi artist just got good from imagination?


Given the extent of the usual 'stylization' in (especially erotic) manga, the artists could just as easily 'stylize' a Pamela Andersen reference into a loli.
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AiddonValentine



Joined: 07 Aug 2006
Posts: 2348
PostPosted: Mon Dec 20, 2021 1:14 pm Reply with quote
enurtsol wrote:
He'll get a slap in the wrist by the courts


In this case, probably not. The more serious charge is illegally importing materials which carries up to ten years in prison. He probably won't get the full sentence, but he's definitely seeing prison time
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TheKillerAngel



Joined: 02 Mar 2018
Posts: 87
PostPosted: Mon Dec 20, 2021 1:17 pm Reply with quote
917301 wrote:
And this goes to show why loli manga needs to be banned and why Japan needs to start adhering to western standards with regards to anime, manga and other creations.

But Galko is not loli manga.
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Utsuro no Hako



Joined: 18 May 2012
Posts: 1052
PostPosted: Mon Dec 20, 2021 1:18 pm Reply with quote
Banjo wrote:
Artists who draw fan service are all perverted and probably all own some weird adult stuff.


Nothing wrong with perversion between consenting adults.
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Hi! Jhonathan



Joined: 21 Aug 2020
Posts: 35
PostPosted: Mon Dec 20, 2021 1:28 pm Reply with quote
The problem with discussions about this kind of news, is that, it quickly becomes a moral argument. People, who were already biased against this kind of art, jump out of their chairs to scream about how they were right and use the incident as a way to validate their feelings and preconceptions, while others, who like the art, go and try to control the damage and defend their tastes. There's little to no discussion about the subject at the hand and it's implications, there's just people trying to fight and prove that they have a moral high ground. I don't mind discussing the effects and the ways we interact with sexualization in fictional media, I even think that it's a interesting topic to discuss, however, when you start to claim that this kind of thing has a real life impact bigger and more dangerous than expected or known, than you will need proof to back it up.
It's important to always be careful with how the discussion develops, because at some point it may stray too far from the original point or give birth to things that were not intended.
Like, how censoring or putting a end to loli/shota art would have any positive impact or be seen as a positive solution to this case? How would banning this, stop this kind of people from Japan from importing German magazines?


Last edited by Hi! Jhonathan on Thu Dec 23, 2021 1:19 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Chiibi



Joined: 19 Dec 2011
Posts: 4829
PostPosted: Mon Dec 20, 2021 1:39 pm Reply with quote
Kai99 wrote:
Quote:
Given how far most hentai (or even ecchi) images of grown women stray from anatomical reality, I kind of doubt the use of real references (even porn) is as common as you claim.


That just stylization, something that you get good at when you learn to draw from life. Even than, you are still drawing from life even with stylization, you are just exaggerating certain features. Also, one of the hardest thing to draw is characters interacting physically with one another. You learn how to do that by drawing from the source. You think ecchi artist just got good from imagination?

Example of a man drawing a cartoon woman while referencing a real image. In his artwork the proportions are exaggerated, like the eyes and facial proportions but he is still following a structure of the real thing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nJJ5r0kOy4


Quote:
No. That's you again making a baseless accusation against a group of artists. And again without a shred of evidence.


It not hard. You can look up how to become a better artist. Everyone will say the exact same thing. I guarantee you.


Yeah. Sure.
I am also an artist and I strongly disagree with what you're saying.

YES, drawing from real life does make you a better artist but that doesn't mean everyone who draws kids in manga sits around drawing from photos or models of naked kids. =_= There are anime figures you could look at, there are other manga artists you could look at. There are Renaissance paintings of cherubs you could look at. And don't forget real people who simply look young or like kids.

Heck, my favorite mangaka Arina Tanemura used a 19-year-old female model to base her 12-year-old character on.

You can't just go "I'm an artist and I can tell people draw from CP; Proof? Just trust me, bruh."

No.
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whiskeyii



Joined: 29 May 2013
Posts: 2269
PostPosted: Mon Dec 20, 2021 1:39 pm Reply with quote
Juno016 wrote:

For the record, I've drawn anime-style children without using real kids as reference. I did use real references for my adults (gesture drawing, mostly), but especially with stylization, a basic class of anatomy on humans as a whole can help me draw a wide range of body types as long as I know basic skeletal structure, the muscles and how they pertrude, how fat sags with age, etc.


I'm not quoting you to target you, Juno, I just wanted to quote this to mention that the one area that I *have* seen use porn as reference material has been American comics from the 80's and 90's era, particularly with "women in fighting" poses. A tumblr blog I follow dedicated to the ludicrous poses women are subjected to (particularly in comics) managed to track down at least some of the sources used, and a good chunk of the action poses come from NSFW sources. Though I should clarify, obviously those references were only ever used for adult women.

Also, I too agree that aspiring mangaka seem far more likely to copy each other and other artists than actually take art classes or use references; that one webshow by the mangaka for Monster was pretty enlightening. It seemed like only one person actually used anything close to resembling a reference (it was a little action figure.) This is probably more true for hyper-realistic styles, but I feel like I don't see manga artists specifically using photo references for much more than background illustrations. That's more of a fine art approach, and on the whole, I get the impression that mangaka are largely self-taught rather than classically trained (like, with a fine art degree or something), for lack of a better term.
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TheValkyrieAsh



Joined: 11 Jan 2016
Posts: 25
PostPosted: Mon Dec 20, 2021 1:46 pm Reply with quote
We know what this means. His manga is getting animated. (This is a Rurouni Kenshin joke)
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SenpaiDuckie
ANN Community Manager


Joined: 16 Sep 2021
Posts: 523
Location: PH
PostPosted: Mon Dec 20, 2021 1:57 pm Reply with quote
Just deleted a number of posts due to the following reasons:

1. Double Posting
2. Prejudice post on ero/ecchi artists
3. Post bearing ill will towards the mangaka*
(No matter how bad the person has done, there is no need for any additional malicious statement)
4. Verbal bullying*
5. Off-topic posts**

The discussion on artist's process on how to create ero/ecchi manga and/or drawings is a tangent. Let's go back to the topic everyone. Smile

*Added as of 12/22/2021
**Recently added as of 12/23/2021


Last edited by SenpaiDuckie on Wed Dec 22, 2021 1:30 pm; edited 3 times in total
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AmpersandsUnited



Joined: 22 Mar 2012
Posts: 633
PostPosted: Mon Dec 20, 2021 2:06 pm Reply with quote
I'm just wondering what the timeline is. Did he go missing, the police searched his home for clues, they found his stash, and when he was found he was arrested? Or was he already under investigation and him going missing was him trying to take foot bail?

Otherwise, I'll say I agree this isn't really damning proof of anything when it comes to loli. Galko-chan's character designs are all very thick, curvy, and buxom. Not much wiggle room here to misconstrue. If anything, I would have said the mangaka would be into bigger women going off the girls he likes to draw.
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all-tsun-and-no-dere
ANN Reviewer


Joined: 06 Jul 2015
Posts: 657
PostPosted: Mon Dec 20, 2021 2:30 pm Reply with quote
This breaks my heart.

I absolutely adored Please Tell Me Galko. It was refreshingly frank about bodily functions and addressed lots of misconceptions about periods and breasts in a way that wasn't fetishistic or stigmatizing. It had a huge variety of body types and never shamed any of them, and really pointed toward seeing individuals as whole people and not just stereotypes. It was, in a weird way, one of the most accurate series about adolescent girlhood that I've ever seen, to the extent that I suspected Kenya Suzuki was a woman.

And now.... this.

This stinks.
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CelticMutt



Joined: 24 Sep 2021
Posts: 69
PostPosted: Mon Dec 20, 2021 2:32 pm Reply with quote
whiskeyii wrote:

I'm not quoting you to target you, Juno, I just wanted to quote this to mention that the one area that I *have* seen use porn as reference material has been American comics from the 80's and 90's era, particularly with "women in fighting" poses. A tumblr blog I follow dedicated to the ludicrous poses women are subjected to (particularly in comics) managed to track down at least some of the sources used, and a good chunk of the action poses come from NSFW sources. Though I should clarify, obviously those references were only ever used for adult women.


Greg Land. Started sometime in the 90s I think, started getting major notice at CrossGen before it went bankrupt, then hit the big time on major high profile series at Marvel, like the X-Men and some big event series. Dude literally built his entire art style and career on tracing - NOT referencing but outright tracing - porn, and the occasional celebrity photo. I remember one of the earliest callouts was Rich Johnston calling him out on tracing photos of Brittney Spears for his CrossGen series.
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Top Gun



Joined: 28 Sep 2007
Posts: 4805
PostPosted: Mon Dec 20, 2021 3:43 pm Reply with quote
Hi! Jhonathan wrote:
The problem with discussions about this kind of news, is hat it quickly becomes a moral argument. People, who were already biased against this kind of art, jump out of their chairs to scream that they were right and use the incident as a way to validate their feelings and preconceptions, while other, who like the art, go and try to control the damage and defend their tastes. There's little to no discussion about the subject at the hand and it's implications, there's just people trying to fight and prove that they have a moral high ground. I don't mind discussing the interactions and effects of sexualization in fictional media, I even think that it's a interesting topic to discuss, however, when you start to claim that this kind of thing has a real life impact bigger and more dangerous than expected or known, than you will need proof to back it up. It's important to this discuss this kind of news and issue, however, it is important always to be careful with how the discussion develops, because at some point it may stray too far from the original point or give birth to things that were not intended.
Like, how censoring or putting a end to loli/shota art would have any positive impact or be seen as a positive solution to this case? How would banning this, stop this kind of people from Japan from importing German magazines?

I suggest you read the article again. Nothing in this case involved drawn images. Suzuki was importing actual child pornography of real children being abused.
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Ming Yi



Joined: 20 Dec 2005
Posts: 216
PostPosted: Mon Dec 20, 2021 3:48 pm Reply with quote
Kai99 wrote:
Yes dude. Your lolicon artists used real kids to get good at drawing kids. Here a scenario, if they didn't draw a certain artwork using a reference because they've drawn a pose so many times before from real CP/soft CP, does it matter if it from imagination?


I have no horse in this race but just because an artist draws children or child-like figures doesn't automatically mean they based their drawings on real kids or used them as a reference. Some artists learn by practicing gesture drawings of poses, not by using references of any real-life model. Things like Posemaniacs and 3D models exist; there's even software that generates poses based on mannequins and dolls.

Also, Kenya Suzuki and Nobuhiro Watsuki did not produce any loli content and were not known to have consumed or drawn loli content before their CSEM allegations broke out. This is a false equivalence. It's one thing to express distaste for loli content, but it's another to make claims that have no connections. When it comes to "I'm not surprised X manga artist got caught with CSEM, he probably liked loli" (especially when it comes to Suzuki and Watsuki, who as mentioned before were not known to have produced or consumed loli content) it just doesn't make any sense.


Last edited by Ming Yi on Mon Dec 20, 2021 5:03 pm; edited 2 times in total
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