Swimsuit Photoshoot 'Sexualization' Controversy Leads to Cancellation
"Taking Away Jobs Even from Gravure Idols"
A controversy arose after the Saitama Prefecture in Japan planned a 'swimsuit women photo shoot' at a swimming pool it operates, but local assembly members opposed it due to reasons such as sexual objectification.
A swimsuit photoshoot held last summer at Saitama Prefectural Water Park in Japan. About 100 men are photographing a middle school model wearing a swimsuit. [Photo by Twitter]
According to local media including TBS on the 14th, on the 8th, the Saitama Prefecture Park Greenery Association, a commissioned organization managing the prefecture's parks, requested the suspension of six 'swimsuit women photo shoots' scheduled to be held at two parks within the prefecture from the 10th to the 25th. They explained that two companies that applied for the photo shoots this month were found to have violated regulations. Subsequently, they canceled all scheduled venue rentals, citing possible violations by other companies as well.
Members of the Saitama Prefectural Assembly belonging to the Japanese Communist Party's Gender Equality Committee pointed out, "After reviewing past photos, it is clear that the event was intended for sexual objectification, with women in swimsuits posing in obscene postures," and added, "There were also instances where minors participated."
Opposition also arose after photos from previous swimsuit photo shoots held at this location were posted on Twitter and other platforms. These included images of over 100 men pointing cameras at a middle school girl in a swimsuit and photos where male participants took close-up shots with a middle school model separated only by an acrylic panel.
Reflecting these opinions, the Saitama Prefecture Park Greenery Association concluded that the photo shoots "violated rules such as 'prohibition of obscene postures,'" and officially announced, "From now on, swimsuit photo shoots will not be permitted at prefecture-operated facilities."
"Feminists and leftists infringe on freedom of expression"... Men outraged
Men who were looking forward to the event are outraged, claiming that 'feminists' and 'leftists' infringed on freedom of expression and took away jobs from 'gravure idols.' Some gravure idols also appealed on social networking service (SNS) Twitter, saying, "Please don't take away what we love to do."
In Japan, photo shoots featuring young women in bikini swimsuits are called 'gravure' and are recognized as a publishing genre. Gravure photo shoots are considered a gateway to the Japanese entertainment industry, and in the past, even elementary school students could participate without legal issues. Currently, producing gravure photo shoots of minors with excessively revealing content is punishable.
However, recently in Japan, awareness and criticism regarding 'sexual objectification' and 'child sexual exploitation' have increased, leading to concerns about gravure shoots involving minors and those held in public places.
Motohiro Ono, Governor of Saitama Prefecture, held a press conference on the 12th amid the escalating controversy, stating, "It is excessive to cancel all venue rentals for companies that have not been confirmed to violate regulations," and said he would instruct the association to revoke the rental bans for four companies. Governor Ono also asserted, "Swimsuit photo shoots themselves fall under freedom of expression," but added, "Shooting involving minors or obscene postures that go against public welfare must be restrained."
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