There’s totally a difference between individuality and morality! These lolita complex are more of a moral issues than an “individuality” thing. I think the Japanese government should have laws against child exploitation…

guess japan is a very complex nation with full of complexed people; there may be k-grade idols’ section in the book store soon

This is big, big business. Blaming it on individuality is clearly wrong, and shows that people are just grasping at straws to explain a phenomenon that is so close to home that it scares them.

Inamasu is a professor of social and media culture, not law, and a frequent commentator on TV. I watched this clip as I was wondering who the prof was (someone like Fujioka Nobukatsu I was thinking), as this “Japan is in trouble because of individualism” is pretty popular among the conservatives. Kobayashi Yoshinori (the “Gomanism” guy) is perhaps one of the most noted. They basically say that the increase in demands for individual rights – the rights of the individual to have their own ideas and interests – is causing this. Inamasu is wrong about this however – Japan has had a rorikon thing for decades, and in fact in recent years it has improved, with laws (under US pressure) clamping down on lolita nudes etc – time was, they were in some ways more graphic than “full adult” nudes as they didn’t need to worry about showing pubic hair.

I personally see this trend – not too dissimilar to American trends, or has everyone forgotten about Jon-Benet Ramsey? – as more akin to seeking out the truly innocent and pure in youth – they are perhaps popular for their asexuality, or perhaps pre-sexuality, rather than seeming overly used and jaded. Sure there are people out there who get off on preteens in t-backs, but that hasn’t changed. And remember that Article 177 of the Penal Code puts the age of consent for sexual activity at thirteen years (though prefectures can vary that).

Individuality in Japan must be stamped out so that 95% of the country will become pedophiles.

Sad. Sad. Sad. Where do you draw the line Japan? Are you a civilized nation? Well, if this trend continues, you will be garanteed a “No Place” in the future dominated by China and India. Most of these children will grow up be prostitutes and retards. Lets picture the future – No natural resources and a stagnant economy and land full of sex workers?

Listen Emperor and the law makers of Japan! Save your nation! It is not too late. Otherwise, prepare to be left alone or looked down by rest of the world. I will surely not buy a product from a country where child abuse is endorsed by the government. Chinese and Koreans are already making good cars and … almost everything else.

Individuality is a fairly vague word. I have to admit that what goes under the name of individuality in Japan is not something that appeals to me either. It seems to be something like spoiled exhibitionism or some form of self-expressionism.

Dying one’s hair green and acting different is not individuality. Developing the ability to think critically about various issues and learning take responsibility for one’s actions is. Personally, I don’t see enough of that in Japan.

Exploiting pre-teens is a case in point.

Japan often seems in many ways like a large welfare state, where people are cajoled and coerced to passively behave. Many have freedom to indulge themselves, so long as they don’t try to govern or seriously rock the boat.

Indulgence is one thing, self-autonomy another.

It was really interesting to see that some (a lot) of Japanese don’t think it’s good or normal.

Another thing that I thought was good was that the narrator said that only the girls’ parents can stop this kind of thing, not law.

It’s sad to think that so many (all?) of these girls are (probably) being molested by the men (and women?) that are close to them. Fathers, photographers, producers.

This segment seemed to focus on girls from 10-14 years old. What about 15-17 year olds? Is that age group considered outside of the “lolita complex”?

IMHO:
Almost all Japanese people are confused about their personal freedoms. e.g. Thinking doing whatever you want is ‘freedom’ like walk down the street naked, etc… However real freedom is basically a construct over the most fundamental society rules. These basic fundamental morals/laws are somehow missing (Blame the Boomers!). Hence, the mass confusion going on.

I don’t think he was saying that ‘individuality’ was bad, just that using ‘individuality’ to excuse this behaviour (as one of the fellows did) is not acceptable.

Also, blaming any social problem on Abe and nationalism is a bit short-sighted. I think this might have a particular problem in this society about how to appropriately express one’s sexuality. I think Japan might benefit from encouraging consenting adults to be sexually active with one another. This might help allay some of the pedophilia out there.

Let’s see, well for starters, they could show more kissing on television. Advertisers could present couples showing more physical affection in ads. Politicians could hold their wives’ hands every so often. Get some positive images of sex out there, basically.

… That father of that idol child should be hung for what he’s doing.. He’s using her because she is young and men just have that scary Lolita desire.. I had to report a friend to the feds, here in the U.S., for liking girls 9-12 and he was about to turn 18. It’s disgusting. Does that man even realize that to leave his daughter in a room with one of the creeps who buys that stuff, would try to do things to her? She’s becoming nothing more than a sexual toy, that’s all. Soon, they’re going to be selling magazines with only 3 and 4 year olds in them.. v.v … You men can be so sick.. I mostly notice that men carry this desire for Lolitas.

And. individuality? … Individuality is wearing a blue shirt when everyone else is wearing a red one. Strange and sick sexual desires are different from being an individual. Saying that “It’s just me and my individuality, you can’t stop me from liking what I like. It’s just who I am”. Well, it might be who they are, but, it doesn’t mean that they are a right person for liking it? Do any of those men have daughters? If so, what do they do to them? Ugh.. Scary…

I hope this little problem will resolve it’s self somehow..

Is this considered a “boom?” Really? Thought this was as old as dirt. The entertainment industry has to examine women’s path to fame. Photobooks seem to be a part of it, however, is it really necessary?

I don’t think America is superior in this. How old was Britney Spears when she did her first video? I don’t doubt that if photobooks were the thing here in the states she would have done one. We just substitute the lad magazine spread, don’t we?

How Japanese is that? Attributing pedophilia to individuality… That’s hilarious.

This is nothing more then pedophilia. It’s so scary that the people of Japan are not outraged at this! I would not be surprised if we end up hearing about a up swing in crimes against young girls there..

And even if it is paedophilia, is it pedophilia caused by changes of the society? Or did it already exist, and did the paedophiles come out of the closet?

Why don’t you all wake up and accept the fact that Japan is simply a less sexually repressed nation than most of the world? Why should anyone assume these girls are not comfortable in their current positions of fame-dom? This is neither a question of the girls being mistreated, nor of the morality in their being exploited to over-stimulated Japanese businessmen seeking a new rush. It’s simply an excuse for all of you to chastize other people for their sexual urges and fascinations of which you can’t relate. In a case such as this, morality holds no weight in the issue. If this were a circumstance of rape or something of physical harm on another human being, then your reasons of outrage would be justified. But to demean another person for their desires is a whole different beast entirely.

It’s impossible to control the impulses that guide us through life, whether they be sexual or otherwise — of course we always have the final say in whether we carry out our impulses, but no one can control the very impulse itself. If we crave something, then we’ll crave it no matter what, regardless of the circumstance. Even rationalization can’t completely rid one of a desire. To deny it is simply to deceive oneself — if you’re gay, you’re gay; you can’t convince yourself to be something else, even if you repress expressing any desire. If you like big breasts or if you have a foot fetish, well, those urges are also uncontrollable. Can everyone necessarily relate with these urges? Of course not. But we each have our own, and we can’t deny them. As unfortunate as it may seem to a lot of you, pedophilia is no different.

Each person is strictly unique in what he has a fondness for — the entire world can’t be controlled to think the same way, and likewise, we can’t necessarily relate with other people’s fascinations. If you feel uncomfortable, well, then that’s unfortunate for you. It doesn’t nercessarily change what is — older men getting off to images of young girls, and maybe the young girls get off knowing these older men are idolizing them. Let’s not be naive here; just because they’re underage does not mean they’re sexually uninhibited. It does not mean these girls act any differently than any young girl acts at this stage in her life. But I’m sure it’s disturbing to you all the same, knowing these girls can flaunt their bodies in such a provocative manner with no shame.

But Americans love to act two-faced about such situations. We can control our salivating until a girl is of legal age. Never mind that pedophilia/child-abducters have become a disturbingly increasing trend as of late in what is supposedly our morally-conscientious society — we have to jump down Japan’s throat for their not shying away from publicly exhibiting any such desires they may have (even if they’re genial). But we’ve never needed any uninhibited 6th graders flaunting their under-developed physiques on video to have a constant fear of the pedophilic rapist lurking on every street-corner. And for most part, our fears are justified. But of you all, you would have anyone believe the concern was entirely Japan’s.

Of course, I know of no such growing trend in their nation that would suggest child-rapings have steadily been increasing over the years, and I doubt any such trend is occurring. If it had, I doubt the junior idols would continue on the way they have. It seems Japan has decided to remain civilized throughout it all — they realize there is nothing ugly about their desires as long as they do not act upon them in a destructive way, satisfying them only through DVDs and photobooks. It’s too bad the same can’t be said of Americans.

When I first arrived in Japan in 1995, the bookstores already carried photo books of young models. The only difference now is that the images are much more risque. I personally think as long as the girls are not being sexually abused, what is the problem? If there is some kind of uprising against this, then it will take care of itself.

These girls seem to enjoy their work, and a few go on to better careers when they mature. Masami Nagasawa, who advertises frequenty on TV for Epson and NTT, did at least one photo book when she was about 14, and look at her mainstream success now. Also, famed ‘airhead’ Yuko Ogura began modelling in her teens–now she does TV commercials and variety show spots all the time. I believe if they want to do this, and feel attractive even at such young ages, so be it. They can certainly refuse if they so please.

Child protitution in japan is illegal.

i think this thread is being overthought. Its just japanese culture, if you werent interested in japanese culture you wouldnt even be here, if lolitas, anime, japanese school girls didnt exist then japan would become more like your country, and less of its own.

just like america abuses its people with fast food, europe is known for advertising anorexia, black people are known for rapping and “pimpin` Hoes”, chinese are known for eating dogs and killing newborn children, new guinea is home to canabals, afganistan supresses women and women opinions, Australia is full of racists, snobs and mothers having kids just because of the child bonus granted by the govornment.

Unless your country is perfect with no social problems, stop your ridiculous opinions about others and stop acting like you know anthing about japan.

researching on the internet or living in japanfor a few years doesnt mean you know anything.

Calling out individuality falsely as being the cause of this problem shows a cultural nostalgia for a non-individualized society (at least from that lawyer’s perspective). You can blame capitalism for this one. The reason we don’t have this problem in the West is A) religious influence (but I’m an atheist) and B) LAWS prohibiting the exploitation of minors. The laws CREATE morals and values over time.