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| Japan bans child pornography possession | Japan bans child pornography possession |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Japan has banned the possession of child sex-abuse images, one of the last developed countries to do so. | |
| The new law states that anyone found with such images can be jailed for up to a year, or fined up to $10,000 (£6,000). | |
| The ban does not apply to animation or to comic art known as manga. | The ban does not apply to animation or to comic art known as manga. |
| Japan was previously the only country in the 34-strong Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) without such a prohibition. | Japan was previously the only country in the 34-strong Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) without such a prohibition. |
| Analysts say there was strong resistance from manga artists, free-speech advocates and publishers. | Analysts say there was strong resistance from manga artists, free-speech advocates and publishers. |
| They said it would impinge on freedom of expression and allow authorities to make arbitrary decisions about art. | They said it would impinge on freedom of expression and allow authorities to make arbitrary decisions about art. |
| The Japan Magazine Publishers' Association, which represents over 90 publishing companies, posted a statement on its website earlier in June saying the law could "put a strain" on artists and publishing culture. | The Japan Magazine Publishers' Association, which represents over 90 publishing companies, posted a statement on its website earlier in June saying the law could "put a strain" on artists and publishing culture. |
| The BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes in Tokyo says Japan is still considered one of the world centres for the exchange and consumption of images of child sexual abuse. | The BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes in Tokyo says Japan is still considered one of the world centres for the exchange and consumption of images of child sexual abuse. |
| Crimes related to child sexual abuse have reportedly been on the rise in Japan. | |
| Police uncovered 1,644 cases last year, about 10 times higher than a decade ago. | Police uncovered 1,644 cases last year, about 10 times higher than a decade ago. |
| More than half of the cases involved sharing or selling photos or videos over the internet, police said. | More than half of the cases involved sharing or selling photos or videos over the internet, police said. |
| The new law will allow those who do possess such material a year to get rid of it. | The new law will allow those who do possess such material a year to get rid of it. |
| Japan had earlier banned the production and distribution of child pornography in 1999. | Japan had earlier banned the production and distribution of child pornography in 1999. |