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Cosplay Photographer Arrested For Alleged Child Pornography in Japan
posted on by Lynzee Loveridge
The Hyogo prefectural police's Youth Development Division and Nishinomiya station arrested a cosplay photographer last Monday on suspicions of violating the Child Prostitution and Child Pornography Act by producing illegal materials. The defendant, 50-year-old Tatsuji Mizoguchi, is an anime advertising production company executive from Kizugawa, Kyoto.
On May 18, the suspect allegedly used a digital camera to take three "indecent" photographs of a 17-year-old girl from a local high school at a hotel in Ikeda, Osaka. He is also suspected of taking 520 other "obscene" photographs and 11 videos. According to the investigators, Mizoguchi is denying the charges, "I thought she was over 18. I don't want to talk about it." Mizoguchi reportedly added that he was running a cosplay photoshoot and reserved a studio.
According to authorities, the high school girl was a fan of cosplay and met Mizoguchi on an Internet forum for cosplay enthusiasts. In early June, the girl and her parents contacted the police.
Source: Kobe Shimbun NEXT, Nikkan Sports
