AKB48 mimicking child porn?

Who is on the stage of the opening ceremony of Tokyo Olympic in 2020 is discussed.

The media report that AKB48, a popular idol group composed of young girls, is a candidate to sing on the stage. However, some critics are opposing to this idea because it is embarrassing to make such little girls sing and dance wearing a mini skirt.

South China Morning Post: Outrage at Olympic all-girl pop group plan

AKB48 is now a national famous group. It was developed in 2005 produced by Yasushi Akimoto. Nowadays, several relevant group such as SKE48, NMB48, and HTK48 are active in each local area. Members of AKB48 attend Kohaku Utagassen, a national famous TV music program by NHK every year. It is so popular that most of the Japanese know the name. Therefore, it is no doubt that AKB48 represents Japan pop culture.

The problem is its sexual image. Some of the image videos of AKB48 is deemed as too sexual. Members sing putting on lingerie in a movie clip. Some of them are teenagers. Some people condemn that the promotion style of AKB48 is quite similar to child pornography.

It is certain that some Japanese idol stars have attracted attention with their sexual image traditionally. Most of them are teenagers. In some cases, their parents are involved in the management of their activity. From the view of people in foreign countries, Japanese are too tolerant about dealing with young female personalities as a subject of sex.

Of course, child porn is strictly also prohibited  in Japan. Recently, not only merchandising but also the possession of such materials became to be deemed as a criminal behavior. Around the enactment of the law, there was an argument whether the nude portraits of a famous actress published several years ago when she was under 18 would be included in the new regulation.

The situation is the same among manga, animation, and computer games. There are many comic books describing sex scenes with girls. Any adults can buy them. In some computer games, which are available to anyone over 17-year-old, girls are peeped, or even stripped by the hero. Although the genitals and nipples are not described in these games, it looks vulgar. In addition, we can see the lingeries of the girls in many animation movies. They are not regulated as a sexual goods.

Japanese subculture has been developed quite uniquely. It led a great amount of works of publication. It is honorable itself. However, some of them are never accepted in other countries. In an international event such as Olympic, we should be aware of the manners in other countries. It is not easy matter.


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