The decision to host the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo has been met with much excitement from the majority of Japan. The news spread quickly between citizens of the island nation, and Japan’s Stock Exchange flourished in the wake of the announcement. However, the underbelly of Japan’s urban life might not be so happy with the news. In the days leading up to international events such as these, law makers and enforcement officials have a tendency to crack down on some of the morally ambiguous crimes that they would normally turn a blind eye towards. For example, around the time of the 2002 FIFA World Cup hosted in Japan and Korea, metropolitan areas saw some high-level crackdown on brothels and other sex-selling establishments.
If we anticipate the same sort of rally to clean up the streets in the years leading up to 2020, then modern red-light districts, like Yoshiwara and Kabukicho in Shinjuku, had better buckle down for some legal disruption. These regions, often referred to as “soap streets” are presumably on the brink of a massive clean-up. And yet, it appears that the famous electronics district and otaku haven, Akihabara, may be the first to suffer a heavy blow in spite the decidedly 2-D nature of its choice adult entertainment.
In preparation for the 2020 Olympics, Tokyo law officials plan to enforce a number of new regulations to really clean up the streets and create a good impression on the international community. Though, by the looks of things, what they really mean to do is clean up the image of the streets by outlawing what up until now have been arguably legal business practices to lower the risk of offending their esteemed visitors, particularly those from America and England.
The problem is mostly to do with appearances. Japanese politicians have long debated the correlations between the otaku subculture—including anime, manga, games, and their related merchandise—and child pornography. It’s difficult to fight the conservative claim that the two are interrelated when adult stores around Akihabara often come plastered with drawings of (presumably) underage girls stripped bare. Many will showcase these images along with erotic body pillows and panty-flashing figurines in their storefronts to attract potential customers.
So, in spite of the fact that no real-life humans are in any way harmed by the production of the sexualized 2-D goods sold in Akihabara, the fact that they are openly on display has put these legally operating adult stores under immediate scrutiny from the National Diet and law enforcement. Rather than focus on the existing crime, focus is being given to the national image. In this same way, we can probably expect tighter regulations on more-or-less harmless establishments like maid cafes hiring underage workers and JK refure, massage parlors staffed by high school girls. People have a habit of fetishising these roles, so there is a concern that foreigners will get the wrong idea about the kinds of services offered at these establishments.
The sexualization of underage characters in 2-D media honestly is a problem with disturbing prevalence in the anime culture, but is it really the first problem to address before the 2020 games? Reports say that police have already begun cracking down on adult stores in Akihabara. Many store owners wonder if removing their most offensive posters from their displays will be enough to satisfy officials, though it’s sure to affect business. What can we expect from the face of Akihabara in seven years time? Will it be recognizable at all?
Source: Nikkan Spa via Hachima Kikou (Japanese)
Image: RocketNews24