I was reading this interesting article about the growing business of lolita-related goods in Japan on Mainichi Japan. So I thought it was a good idea to share with you people.
Japan, the “Rorikon Taikoku”has a growing business of publications containing photo collections of under 15 year olds young females in a variety of suggestive poses — clad in dresses or bathing suits. The annual market for such products, which are completely legal and sold openly, is estimated in the neighborhood of 17 billion yen.
My own personal opinion is that girls under 15 SHOULD NEVER be dressed like that and posing so suggestively. I totally fine with gravure idols that are over 18, just not underaged kids.
In the second part of the article, they actually talked about photoshots sessions as well:
On May 27, a group of 25 males converged at an unspecified Osaka location to participate in a “Satsueikai” (photo shooting session), in which the models were all females of primary school age.
The arriving participants registered and each paid 8,000 yen. The session began from 10:30 a.m. at a large and mostly deserted public park, upon which the grinning cameramen assembled around the girls with whom they were most infatuated. They then began taking turns snapping away in a determined manner, without speaking to each other or to the girls.For those wishing to arrange for a one-on-one shooting at a later time, appointments could be arranged to meet the girls, at which time, a fee of 50,000 yen plus incidental expenses would be charged. Expenses would include transportation and meals, including costs for the girl’s accompanying parent.
The girls themselves showed remarkable composure, standing as images of unruffled innocence while as many as 10 strange men armed with cameras surrounded them and began snapping away.
This is such a disturbing article. The things parents will put their children through to get them on the path to fame.
Talking about fame, I did some more research and found that there are actually even ranking of the top 100 most favorite u-15 idols.
So what do you people think about these U-15 idols? Is it acceptable by your standards or in your country?
This is sick. Seriously, girls under 15 posing for grown up males, in clothes designed for all kind of fetishes, all with the consent of their parents ? I can easily imagine how creepy those photoshoots must be…
And what also disturbs me is that some girls in the last picture really look like kids.
i would prefer girls that hit puberty.. surprisingly, girls in number 3, 6, 7 shock me when there are people who like them!! ARE THEY MAD?! the parents part..who knows..maybe they are in need of money?
These very young kids are being exploited. And those pictures need to be burned somewhere. They promote such a disturbing fetish involving minors.
I share your disgust. It’s really saddening to see youngsters being treated in this way – would they get away with such behaviour over here in the UK? Most definitely not. I don’t have a problem with photo shoots involving over 18s since they’re old enough to decide that they want to earn a living like that but this is pure exploitation! It’s one of the more disturbing aspects of Japanese society which I don’t think I’ll ever understand. Nor would I want to, for that matter.
If you are American:
http://static.flickr.com/65/217225403_9a902d015b.jpg
Quit with the condescending talk pplz,
Judging by how much child modeling goes on in the USA, it seems just as accepted over here.
18 is just an arbitrary age, and when the clock ticks past that last second, it doesn’t trigger some magic and instantaneous change that makes it so now you can make decisions for yourself.
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with being sexually attracted to a post-pubescent girl. It’s natural. Girls who have started going through puberty are biologically ready to be sexual beings. The only reason we see anything else is the modern trend of extending childhood longer and longer, of treating capable young adults like immature infants who can’t make their own decisions, who don’t have the right to say “yes”…and that creates a lot more problems, but that’s topic for another time.
Now, a girl who’s 10 is definately debateable, but the girl in that first picture is 12. She’s pretty attractive. She even has cleavage. To say, “Oh no, she’s being exploited!” is demeaning to her own rights as a person. She’s making her own choice. It may be something that YOU find distasteful, but both her and her parents and millions of people across Japan and the US find it quite natural, quite moral, and quite enjoyable.
In Iran, its illegal to leer at Lolitas
I don’t think you should even have the choice to model like that until you’re at least mature enough to understand what guys are going to be doing while looking at those pictures of you. And at 12, you’re definitely not ready to make that decision or even understand what’s going on, even if you’re exceptionally mature.
But what bothers me more than anything is the parents. Letting or forcing their daughters to do something that could, and probably WILL, lead to major regrets later on in life. In short… it’s grotesque. And to answer your question, no, it’s not acceptable by my standards, which aren’t quite as strict as my country’s (the US, yo).
In Soviet Russia, the lolitas leer at you.
Ahem. Anyway, yes, this is bad. But let’s watch our double standards. We do remember a girl named Brittany Spears who played a pretty game of cock teasing when she was 16 or whatever. It’s not fair to gang up on Japan like it’s something we’re not also doing in some way. These girls also large just sit there wearing a bikini and acting cute, and aren’t doing things like eating ice cream cones suggestively, so it’s not quite as bad as some might be thinking.
Just sayin’.
@ Anonymous-kun: You are sick.
It looks like these girls are doing this at their own will. They are not much better those sick and perverted men who look at them. I can’t feel pity for people like that.
We don’t need your pity :p.Nothing wrong in watching cute young girls whats your problem.Having relations with one is another story…
Kids should never wear dresses and bathing suits: it’s International Dress Code day.
When lolicon syndrome moves from anime out to real life…. this issue will have to be taken noticed of, and also be taken action against.
Couldn’t care less. Personally I’m not into kids and I’m not in any position to be able to do anything about things even if I wanted. I’m not Japanese, I don’t have kids, none of my concern.
they are not even naked?! crazy to leer!! japan should have banned naked lolis
Anonymous-kun isnt sick, s/he is right… i dont think theres anything wrong with it and also s/he never suggested that u should pity these children, perhaps they are going to be models oneday and perhaps they enjoy dressing up (its like cosplay i suppose) its no different than having a childs fancy dress birthday party and filming it (unless the lolita are naked then defienatly that breaks laws)
I dont think you should pass judgement on children sustaining a future for themselves (not implying that they will be in a carear of questionable taste, im saying they will have a nice sum of earnings and possibly be offered modelling careers)
im personally not into children but that doesnt mean to say that you have to be a finding sexual pleasure in seeing these images to enjoy them.
weird fetishes – but then again, pedophiles are everywhere…
I suppose I do have a lolita complex, though as with anything, I have my limits. Personally however I don’t push my morality or tastes on anyone. If the parents are out of line with it, then the kids will most certainly take steps about it when they’re older. Would make a good plea for a reduced sentence when they kill their parents in their sleep. I find certain sexual fetishes distasteful, I don’t however find myself overwhelmed with the need to punish those who have those fetishes. As would be shown if someone tried that in the states. Morality is a matter of the society in which you live, as much as it’s a personal choice.
There are certain things I don’t care for about the states, about every country really. I’m of the mind though that if you don’t like it, if it bothers you that much, then move. It could be I’m biased after having so much “morality” shoved down my throat over the years, but somehow, I don’t think that’s it. There are consequences to everything. You have a fetish for “really” young girls, then you run the risk of some morality driven psychopath taking you out one day. If you can live with the consequences, feel free.
It’s remarkable how the morales of right and wrong can change from time and place. Around 100 years ago, people were getting married and having families at the tender age of 13, right here in the USA. Yet now, people are ready to raise the battle cry for some 15 year young ‘woman’,(who was obviously bestowed with a large bust), saying that she is being visually molested by anyone that supports the industry.
Someone else, in this comment string mentioned the music industry and how the sex kitten image is really pushed. The truth is Sex Sells. Men, as an average, are attracted to the younger more fertile woman. It’s instinctive trait acquired over many years of evolution/ adaptation. To deny that some of the young women in the picture above are not sexually attractive is to lie to yourself.
As my wonderful grandfather used to say, “if the fruit on the tree is ripe, you’de better eat it.”
Disgusting, potbellied men in their 40s aren’t the only “consumers” of these little girl pictures – don’t discriminate against the female lolita fans. Oh wait, we’re allowed to look at them because women can be also pedophiles, right?
You people who condemn and whatnot need to get off your high horse and stop measuring others with your misshapen moral ruler. Japan isn’t the only society in the world with “strange” or “simply blasphemous” customs to the eyes of the Americans. Only “evil bushmen” each their brethren; those who eat dogs, cats, and even aborted human fetuses cannot be considered “human”, ad nauseam. Without consideration for those other peoples’ cultures, one prevents oneself from understanding these alien customs. Of course, why bother understanding when you can just throw empty insults from behind your walls of ignorance?
I, for one, consider it to be stupid to condemn in this way. So you see something as “morally wrong” — does that make you a better person? Perhaps some people are so insecure of their identity that they feel it must be formed from that which they are NOT instead of actual substance. Most stable people are able to use a variation of the statement, “I am ____” without feeling the need to have “I think _____ is morally wrong/stupid/” as an addendum.
‘sides, it’s LEGAL in Japan. And the article explicitly mentions that the consumers are also Japanese. They aren’t breaking any laws… what’s there to complain about? Worry about your own country; your complaints won’t compel them to change their laws.
It seems apparent why most of you will feel disgusted with the featured article but wouldn’t it be hypocritical to be so against it when parents of our times actually both consciously and unconsciously force their children to be more like adults? Seeing as most of the dresses or clothes designed for children are more reminiscent of adults’ designs, and the media that most children are exposed to are geared towards inviting children to be more adult-like with the amount of implied violence and power struggle.
Besides, what difference is there between those men who honestly showed their own desires to those who closet themselves into their own realm of perversion? If your argument is found their anonymity, then I can say that it’s a moot point. Both are still perverted, only that the former is more honest. Moreover, if this was wrong in the first place, then why has it persisted throughout the ages? Perhaps it’s a social anomaly, who knows?
In any case, has it ever occurred to anyone that these “lolitas” are actually treated like child pop stars and models? Think about them as adult models and those men as paparazzi who leer at every juicy snap. Perhaps that would ease your cognitive dissonance.
what the F*CK!… they are all underage… they should not be posing for some overaged maniacs… tsk tsk…. its like destroying their purity…. little girls should be treated in not that way…
I AM PURELY AGAINST IT!!
for me its against the human law of being a child… its like being molested with that kind of freaky costumes and poses… just to satisfy some needs of some dudes… YUCK!!… this sucks!!
For a 19 year old college student (female to be exact). I find this very normal I daresay. Maybe its just that some poses might not be acceptable but its just modeling.
I find them very cute. ^^ If it was a normal moment like girls dress liked that going for a normal time with the family…its normal.
its just a photoshoot…not a video sex thing.
If you take it in a negative way like ‘ satisfy some dudes sick needs’ then thats a very shallow thinking of one to say so. Like hello, mums would find their daughters pretty/cute/mature looking.
You gotta think it this way..its not all the time men likes this stuff..women too. For some…but not in a sexual way.
@guki
1st i have to say… OMFG… u actually said that ??!!!
I know that u r saying that as a woman and with woman’s mind.
But, the truth was, the people who’s taking pictures of them were all men. ALL of them okay..
and as a man, and man’s mind, i know that they’re absolutely thinking with sexual ways.
U may find that pictures cute or whatever, but have u ever think that maybe after they, the men, taking pictures of them, they will print it and use that pictures for, i’m sorry, masturbate ??
never though of that, right!!??….
well, that’s what they”ll do okay…
women doesn’t concern ‘coz they doesn’t know men’s thinking ways, but as a man, i know best men’s thinking ways, okay!?….
I have to agree wtih Anonymous-kun. Each country has their own culture, so it is natural for someone from another country to experience culture shock after experiencing something like this. We, human beings, have the right to do things that we want to do (unless it is prohibited by some official document or something of the sort). If the girls willingly went to the suspicious photo booth, then it would be their own responsibility as to what happened. If this act is a more in Japan’s culture, then let them be!!! They aren’t doing anything bad… or so we think.
Pedobear once said, “It’s not under-age, It’s just Fun sized”
Was he right?hmmmm…….
I agree so much. It should be illegal for girls younger than 15 to wear bikinis, and companies selling bikinis to girls that young should be shut down. Also, girls younger than 18 should not be allowed to pose in a way that turns on perverts, whether they are wearing bikinis or not. That’s just so wrong!
… ahhh so now you want to make revealing clothes illegal? what next? make eating ice cream under the age of 15 illegal? I think I speak for people everywhere when I say 11+ girls aren’t as innocent and stupid as you make them out to be. In todays world I’d be amazed if 20% of 11 year old girls didn’t know what sex was. I probably knew when I was 9, and I could recognize all the associated behaviours and markers. And for your information, being into pubescent girls 12 and up does not make you a pedophile, pedophiles are people who are solely sexually attracted to like 5 year old pre-puebescants. so if you like older women as well you aren’t a pedophile. Its a very common misconception, go look it it up. Now, going and snapping pics of girls may not be my sort of thing, but at least I’m not judging them for the way they are, and they’re not judging you. So what gives all of you out there the right to call them sick? But I suppose trying to break the age old human custom of judge and persecute those that are different from you is a hopeless task. I hope you all are happy in your bigotry. So I’ll end this with: They’re not naked, they’re not being molested, they’re not being hurt in any way shape or form, so STFU, and GTFO.
How we deal with our social lives is simply manifested by our culture. We all know that culture differs from place to place and we cannot simply decide that this culture is right and this culture is wrong. If you say that 18 and above is legal, then so be it. That’s your culture. But in Japan, they say that below 18 is okay. That’s their culture. If you don’t like how they do it. Don’t go to Japan.
I share the same views as Friend. I’m personally against this u-15 thing, but I would not shun their culture or society. If their society deems it as fine, then whatever. It’s strange how people will shun something just because it’s different from their own culture. You have your beliefs, and I have mine.
doesn’t bother me, if they are earning money, then let them, my daughter (10 years old) models every type of clothes, swimming suits (full and 2 piece), panties, pants, shirts, and fully clothed. She enjoys doing it, but I keep close eye on her, so that nothing will/hope happen.
She makes money, and it goes into a college fund.
You don’t have to be on a high horse to find this practice distasteful. Some of you though are making assumptions about this from the wrong point of view. This is not illegal in Japan because their society approves of it per-say, but more that their legal system is of code-law and there fore because this activity doesn’t qualify under their strict sexual pedophilia definitions, it’s not illegal. Did you know it is illegal in Japan to depict people having sex. However due to code-law definitions you simply put mosaics over the explicit parts and it no longer depicts sexual intercourse. Japan is the worlds leading porn producer.
There are numerous and unfortunate cases in Japan where parents (usually young mothers) will prostitute their daughters in one way or another (often real sexual intercourse) for money. These one on one sessions are very unlikely properly chaperoned or it is designed with the intent to allow the customer a chance to molest the young girl. Even in Japan people don’t pay 50000 yen (~$500) for a few pictures. Relying on the parents judgment here does not mean that the child’s interests are looked after. Honestly this money probably went for a designer purse for the mom or the girl. That is not an opinion of mine it’s a reality here in Japan.
I have been living here for some years going to school and young girls are exploited. From middle school girl’s panty vending machines to 14 year olds appearing in pornographic literature alongside nude adult models. This conversation goes beyond prude notions of anti nudity/sex and speaks to the prevailing image of young girls and being worth no more than their clothing and appeal. It’s about an unhealthy fixation on materialism and using prostitution (this includes photography) as a means to attain those things.
I am never ethnocentric and I love this country, but just like all countries, there are problems. This is one of them. And though in America we certainly exploit young girls, to say that because it happens in America we can’t say it’s wrong in Japan leads to the old adage that two wrongs don’t make a right.
I totally agree with Friend as well. If you don’t like it don’t go there. This can be compared to the comments of “retards” on Youtube who post comments on videos like “this is stupid” or “that’s sick!” And as anyone (who has any sense) will say “If you don’t like it then don’t ****ing watch it!”
@Jimmy
Ah, so you’re a man, thinking with a man’s mind, and therefore every other man thinks like you. Yeah, that makes perfect sense.
I agree 100% with Anonymous-kun and Friend. This is an entirely different culture we’re talking about–a culture where people don’t see sex as some sort of evil thing that must be hidden. This is a culture where sex is an openly accepted part of life.
This is not our culture. Our culture demands that we isolate children from the ideas of sex. Therefore it is not our place to criticize and demean theirs, just as they have no right to criticize and demean ours. If you don’t like it, don’t pay attention to it–that goes to people on both sides of the fence.
I also agree with Anonymous-kun about society’s demand for childhood to last until 18 years of age, but as has been said, that’s a debate for another day.
Ok, yes here in the states its considered wrong to even so much as want to kiss an underage girl let alonbe look at them in a bathing suit. But the Japanese culture is very different from ours in a great many ways. First here you try to talk to a girl your own age and become friends and she has this I’m tha bitch and why are you talking attitude. In Japan you do the same and you are treated with a greeting and a conversation. Here, police will chase you if you speed and if cought you will go to prison for endangering other motorist lives. Over there, you speed past 178 Km/hr and they won’t touch you, won’t even bother moving to chase you. Here, politicians are covered with scandals ranging from a thousand dollar whore to thier son or daughter smoking pot(which I think should be legalized anyway). Over in japan the only scandal you hear about a politician being involved in is having some dealings with the yakuza crime families. Here, we are more militaristically superior while Japan is technologically superior. In case noone bothered to notice. Different country different customs, different lifestyles. All of you who condemn the child models are just pissed because your daughter isnt gonna be famous or because you think your so high and mighty and all powerfull. GUESS WHAT YOUR NOT, ONLY GOD IS THAT POWERFULL YOU GOD DAMN PISSANTS!!! No shut your fucking mouths already and live your own lives not try to control someone elses in another country. I live my own life, my mother and father do not live my life for me. I am going to a tech school and gonna have to wear a suit and tie which I personally hate but I will never take out my piercings for any one or any business that I get hired for. For me its take me as I am or shut up and leave me alone. Thats what you should do too in my oppinion. Life is about more than whos wrong and whos right. Its about survival and procreation. God will call us when he is ready for us and until then our jobs here are to survive and procreate. To live on and have families. Just because one country has a different point of view or perspective doesn’t give you the right to condemn them for thier beliefs. Its the same as individual rights.
omg!!!
i am 12 now and i think that this is weird!!!
i live in holland, the netherlands,
and if a pedophile is in the country,
espesiely in the neighbourhood no one let’s there kid go out alone,
but in Japan (my fave country) it’s legal!!!
that’s just disgusting!!!!
jeez!
are there seriously people who think girls above 11 don’t have any idea what doing it is!
Iearnd it when i was seven!
I’m 11 now and i think that if girls above 12 are dumb enough to say they want to do that they should.
but those are idiots REALY,
i don’t know any girl who would do that, but if they dicide for themselfs they want to throw away there future career
by doing things like that, cause you definetily won’t be taken serious later if you do that they should.
i am like many other smart girls not immature like the rest of the world!!!!
thinking about youre life is something everyone with an IQ higher than -80 would do, but they don’t
so it’s not like they can mean anything to this sociaty.
That is, only if they choose for themselfs and not there parents, friends who ever
(wooow 2 dutch gils at the same time at the same day!!!! coincedence!!!)
Anyone who has been to or lived/lives in Japan will come round to the reality that this sort of thing is not sick or wrong; it’s just another aspect of entertainment that most westerners don’t really understand. Quite a few young models went on to fame as they reached adulthood–Masami Nagasawa, Mao Inoue, Kaho (who is still under 20) all come to mind. There really is nothing wrong with it in my mind; if it’s a springboard to other, later celebrity status, then so be it! The girls seem to enjoy it and can make quite a nice living from it, so I think westerners tend to ride a high horse when judging the Japanese. I say, you have every right to express an opinion, but try to understand one thing: to the Japanese, and even women–not just men–the young Japanese girl is a beauty to behold! Men are drawn to their charm; women recall fondly their youth when they see these girls! There are even plenty of women involved in this industry–from stylists to directors to managers and even to photographers! Grow up, westerners! And stay out of Japan’s business for a change.
Ok Tom, here’s the thing…
Everything you said about the young Japanese girls and how they are viewed by both men and women in Japan is fine (and even commendable) for them as well as the Japanese culture. But as you very well know, the issue here has nothing to do with those individuals, and everything to do with the perverted lot who were undoubtedly at the photo session. I do not pretend to speak for all “Westerners”, but I will say this: It is wrong! Plain and simple! It doesn’t matter what culture/country/society condones it. It’s still wrong to exploit anyone under ‘legal’ age, whatever that age is deemed to be by the society that governs it. The fact that these girls are ‘under aged’ speaks to their potential level of development (social, emotional, intellectual, etc.) and that they ‘may’ be incapable of recognizing or understanding that not everyone believes what the ‘ideal’ adult does. They don’t (and in some cases are unable to) understand that everyone who ‘admires’ them may not have their best interests at heart. That is where we, as responsible adults need to step in to ensure their physical (and emotional) well-being. Understand that this is not a cultural thing, but rather something that should be done in order to safeguard our children; the children of the world belong to the entire world, especially given the modern world’s use of the internet and television. Societies (and their borders) begin to blur when modern technology is involved. A 38 yr. old who is infatuated with an 8 yr. old, so much so that he needs to follow her around with a camera and ‘pay’ to capture images of her in suggestive clothing (and who happens to have a computer with an internet connection), is now able to ‘exploit’ that ‘child’ so that other ill-reputes can leer at them all over the world. Great for them, but terrible for the ‘World Society’ that I (and my children) now find ourselves.
My issue with this is what sort of parents put their children into these situations. Race and culture dosent come into it.
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Awww… They are so Cute!!!! I can remember my sister when she was young back then in her school uniform…. awww.. so kawaii!!!
I think if theyn are really underage, that only lead to one way, no way. so i dont think they could become some exploit in adult way, every one have reason, if their parent let that happend, i can say no more. but in my country, they will be arrested the child and the parent, with the sponsor and every one involved. but you can buy the law. that always happend. so i think that is not a problem any more. At least for some ppl.
Molesting/rapes in USA is apparently higher than those in Japan even thought stuffs like these are illegal in America. What does that tell you?
I officially invoke Rule #34. Get over it people. Welcome to the interweb.