日文新聞平台

The arrest of a Tokyo artist on obscenity charges for distributing data that allowed recipients to make 3-D prints of her vagina has sparked protests over what supporters say is an attack on free expression.

Megumi Igarashi, 42, who calls herself Rokudenashi-ko (“a no-good girl”), had been trying to raise funds online to pay for the construction of a kayak, using a 3-D printer, modeled on the shape of her genitals.

Japan has a vibrant pornography industry that caters to a vast array of tastes, but obscenity laws forbid the depiction of actual genitalia, which usually appear censored or blurred in images and videos.

The artist — who has created other genital-inspired artworks — was arrested Saturday for “distributing data that could create an obscene shape through a 3-D printer,” a police spokesman said.

Before her arrest, Igarashi — who remained in detention on Tuesday — had collected about ¥1 million through an Internet crowdfunding site.

In exchange for donations, she supplied data to supporters that would let them create 3-D prints of her genitals.

Igarashi’s supporters said they were shocked by what they described as the police’s unusually broad use of obscenity laws in this case.

Activist Minori Kitahara said police raided Igarashi’s office and seized 20 of her artworks.

“Japan is still a society where those who try to express women’s sexuality are suppressed, while men’s sexuality is overly tolerated,” she said.

Japan’s pornography industry is predominantly targeted at men and the country only last month made the possession of child pornography illegal.

The ban excludes manga, anime and computer-generated graphics, following calls to protect freedom of expression.

Campaigners had long urged Japan to toughen its stance on child pornography, complaining it is a major source of the material for global markets.

If convicted, Igarashi could receive up to two years in prison or a fine of as much as ¥2.5 million, according to her lawyer.