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Japan considers raising sexual consent age

Japan considers raising sexual consent age

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vivify
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https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-64703519

Japan aims to raise age of consent from 13 to 16 in sex crime overhaul

Currently, Japan has the lowest age of consent in developed countries, and the lowest in the G7 group.

In Germany and Italy the age is 14, in Greece and France it is 15 and in the UK and many US states it is 16.

vivify
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What I wonder is if this will include sexual depictions of minors under 16. Currently it's quite common to depict minors (most girls) as sexual objects, especially in comics books and animation.

I remember a while back people were in an uproar over "Cuties", a show about very young girls being depicted in sexual ways. It seems that as long as there's no hardcore nudity or sex, this can slide. Think of movies like "Blue Lagoon".

If we've decided that children can't consent if they're under 18, shouldn't any sexual depiction like in "Cuties" or anime and manga also be illegal?

moonbus
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@vivify said
What I wonder is if this will include sexual depictions of minors under 16. Currently it's quite common to depict minors (most girls) as sexual objects, especially in comics books and animation.

I remember a while back people were in an uproar over "Cuties", a show about very young girls being depicted in sexual ways. It seems that as long as there's no hardcore nudity ...[text shortened]... hey're under 18, shouldn't any sexual depiction like in "Cuties" or anime and manga also be illegal?
I believe Brook Shields had a body double for the nude swimming shots in Blue Lagoon. If I recall correctly, she couldn’t get into a cinema to see the film when it was released, not w/o an adult escort.

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@moonbus said
I believe Brook Shields had a body double for the nude swimming shots in Blue Lagoon. If I recall correctly, she couldn’t get into a cinema to see the film when it was released, not w/o an adult escort.
This shows why films like "Cuties" or even "Blue Lagoon" shouldn't have been made in the first place. It's a logical inconsistency.

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@vivify

Interesting question because japan is the king of anime and it's very sexual and they like them young it seems.

16 is still very young in my opinion and it's 16 here in Canada. It was 14 not too long ago (2004 I think)

As far as depictions and animation?

Aside from the obvious drawings of children in those situations you really can't put an age on a drawing of a character. Also, you can't force people to act their age.

Plenty of tiny 80 pound sex workers will play any role you want. So a law against acting?
If you did that then next it will be a law against "looking younger"

Ridiculous and too complicated to implement fairly for all cases.

So raise the age limit but cartoons and depictions are practically untouchable. (The obvious ones not included)

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This famous painting looks like a child to me.

A brothel back then would certainly have minors so do we destroy the painting?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympia_(Manet)

vivify
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@endlame said
@vivify

Interesting question because japan is the king of anime and it's very sexual and they like them young it seems.

16 is still very young in my opinion and it's 16 here in Canada. It was 14 not too long ago (2004 I think)

As far as depictions and animation?

Aside from the obvious drawings of children in those situations you really can't put an age on a drawin ...[text shortened]... e age limit but cartoons and depictions are practically untouchable. (The obvious ones not included)
The characters in anime don't just look young, they are explicitly described as being young.

Look at "High School of the Dead". No question it's about high school kids shown in very explicit sexual situations. The fact that the age of consent in Japan is 13 lets them get away with it.

If a an animated character looks underaged but the show states they're in their 20's, I guess there's nothing you can really do about that.

moonbus
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@vivify said
The characters in anime don't just look young, they are explicitlydescribed as being young.

Look at "High School of the Dead". No question it's about high school kids shown in very explicit sexual situations. The fact that the age of consent in Japan is 13 lets them get away with it.

If a an animated character looks underaged but the show states they're in their 20's, I guess there's nothing you can really do about that.
There are Attic red and black figure vases showing seduction scenes between grown men and boys. I don’t see how one can prohibit Blue Lagoon and Japanese animés without prohibiting the ancient Greek vases too.

I do think most 13-yr olds are not mature enough to understand the consequences of giving consent to sexual relations.

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@vivify

Well, some good news.

Apparently it is illegal in Canada. Even cartoons.

https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-46/section-163.1.html


https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-05-07/canada-outlines-which-anime-can-cross-border

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The problem is why would a viewer be charged?

I can see a producer being charged but the viewer has no idea what "supposed age" the cartoon character is until they watch it.

Also, with real porn, an Asian can be 30 and look under 18. So you might end up watching one with a real minor...

Sounds like a trap to me.

Why would a viewer be charged?

shavixmir
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@endlame said
@vivify

Interesting question because japan is the king of anime and it's very sexual and they like them young it seems.

16 is still very young in my opinion and it's 16 here in Canada. It was 14 not too long ago (2004 I think)

As far as depictions and animation?

Aside from the obvious drawings of children in those situations you really can't put an age on a drawin ...[text shortened]... e age limit but cartoons and depictions are practically untouchable. (The obvious ones not included)
Most of these young “age of consent” laws are made purposefully, so that kids can experiment and play together.
There’s nothing inherently wrong with two fourteen year olds exploring each others’ bodies.

Most of these countries have paedophile laws in place making it illegal for people over 18 to have sex with people under 16.
And, sometimes the addition of people over 21 and under 18 being illegal as well.

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