Controversy Over Japanese Local Government Installing Kimono Real Dolls at Airport to Attract Tourists

Installed Real Doll Instead of Mannequin Sparks Fierce Criticism
Board of Audit and Inspection: "Expensive and Normatively Inappropriate"

A local government in Japan sparked controversy after displaying a sex doll modeled on a woman's body, called a 'real doll,' at an airport under the pretext of attracting tourists.

On the 12th, the Hong Kong South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that the Japanese Board of Audit criticized Tokushima Prefecture's government, stating that "purchasing an expensive real doll for tourism promotion was an inappropriate decision."

In 2017, the Tokushima Prefecture tourism policy department purchased a real doll to be used at a tourism exhibition held at Tokushima Airport to capture the attention of tourists. The real doll used in the exhibition wore a kimono dyed in the traditional way and held a fan.

A kimono real doll displayed in the lobby of Tokushima Prefecture Awa Odori Airport, Japan, in July 2017.
[Photo by SCMP capture]

At this event promoting traditional dyeing arts, a pair of cheap mannequins was initially used instead of a real doll. The rental cost for the mannequins was only $180 (240,000 KRW), but the price of the real doll reached 424,440 yen (3.78 million KRW).

The audit revealed that a male business officer in his 40s decided to use the real doll after reading media reports that exhibitions using real dolls were becoming mainstream while reviewing effective promotional methods for men.

In response, the prefecture claimed that "the real doll entertains the public and is effective in attracting tourists." However, the Board of Audit dismissed this, issuing a report stating, "The doll is very expensive and highly inappropriate from the perspective of social norms," and demanded that those involved consider claiming compensation.

Tokushima Governor Masazumi Gotoda stated in a press release, "Although this incident occurred before my tenure as governor, I take the audit results seriously as the person responsible for personnel matters," and added, "We will handle this matter strictly."