This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/16/japanese-artist-igarashi-vagina-selfie-arrest-legal-fight

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Japanese vagina selfie artist vows legal battle against obscenity charges Japanese vagina selfie artist vows legal battle against obscenity charges
(about 1 hour later)
A Japanese artist who made figures of Lady Gaga and a kayak modelled on her vagina said, on Wednesday from jail, she was "outraged" by her arrest and vowed a court fight against obscenity charges. A Japanese artist who made figures of Lady Gaga and a kayak modelled on her vagina said she was outraged by her arrest and vowed a court fight against obscenity charges.
Megumi Igarashi, 42, says she was challenging a culture of "discrimination" against discussion of the vagina in Japanese society. Speaking from jail on Wednesday, Megumi Igarashi, 42, said she was challenging a culture of "discrimination" against discussion of the vagina in Japanese society.
Igarashi, who worked under the alias Rokudenashiko, which means "good-for-nothing girl" in Japanese, built a yellow kayak with a top shaped like her vagina after raising about $10,000 (£5,800) through crowdfunding. Igarashi, who worked under the alias Rokudenashiko, which means "good-for-nothing girl", built a yellow kayak with a top shaped like her vagina after raising about $10,000 (£5,800) through crowdfunding.
Igarashi sent 3D printer data of her scanned vagina – the digital basis for her kayak project – as a thanks to a number of donors.Igarashi sent 3D printer data of her scanned vagina – the digital basis for her kayak project – as a thanks to a number of donors.
She was arrested for distributing indecent material on Saturday and faces up to two years in prison and a fine of up to $25,000 (£15,000). On Saturday, she was arrested for distributing indecent material and faces up to two years in prison and a fine of up to $25,000 (£15,000).
Igarashi said about 10 police officers had arrived at her house on Saturday and initially, she thought they were only interested in confiscating work she has said is meant as a pop-art exploration of the "manko", vulgar Japanese slang for vagina. Igarashi said about 10 police officers arrived at her house and that initially she thought they were only interested in confiscating work she has said is meant as a pop-art exploration of the manko, vulgar Japanese slang for vagina.
"I couldn't stop myself from laughing a little as I explained to the grim-looking officers, 'This is the Lady Gaga 'manko' figure'," Igarashi told Reuters from across a plastic security divide in a central Tokyo jail. "I couldn't stop myself from laughing a little as I explained to the grim-looking officers, 'This is the Lady Gaga 'manko' figure," Igarashi told Reuters from across a plastic security divide in a central Tokyo jail.
"I did not expect to get arrested at all. Even as they were confiscating my works, I thought to myself, 'This will be a good story'. Then they handcuffed and arrested me. Now, I just feel outraged." "I did not expect to get arrested at all. Even as they were confiscating my works, I thought to myself, 'This will be a good story.' Then they handcuffed and arrested me. Now, I just feel outraged."
More than 17,000 people have signed an online petition for Igarashi's immediate release on Change.org, an online platform for grassroots petitions associated with liberal causes.More than 17,000 people have signed an online petition for Igarashi's immediate release on Change.org, an online platform for grassroots petitions associated with liberal causes.
Igarashi wore black trousers and a sweatshirt provided by police. She said she was allowed to shower twice a week and was eating toast, jam and juice because she did not have money to pay for extra dishes like curry. Igarashi wore black trousers and a sweatshirt provided by police. She said she was allowed to shower twice a week and was eating toast, jam and juice because she did not have money to pay for extra dishes such as curry. She can be detained until the end of the month before charges are filed.
She can be detained until the end of July before charges are filed. Igarashi has sparked a debate about women's rights and the freedom of artistic expression, said Kazuyuki Minami, her lead defence lawyer.
Igarashi has sparked a debate on both women's rights and the freedom of artistic expression, said Kazuyuki Minami, her lead defence lawyer. The legal definition of what counts as obscenity is vague in Japan, and the key point of debate will be deciding whether the vagina itself can be considered obscene, said Minami. "It will be a difficult battle," Minami said.
The legal definition of what counts as obscenity is vague in Japan, and the key point of debate will be deciding whether the vagina itself can be considered obscene, said Minami. Although Japan has an extensive pornography industry, it remains regulated by a section of the criminal code from 1907. Video pornography in Japan has often used digital mosaics to obscure genitalia in sex scenes as a way to avoid obscenity charges.
"It will be a difficult battle," Minami said.
Although Japan has an extensive pornography industry, it remains regulated by a section of the criminal code that dates back to 1907. Video pornography in Japan has often used digital mosaics to obscure genitalia in sex scenes as a way to avoid obscenity charges.
A 1951 supreme court case broadly defined obscenity as something that stimulates desire and violates an ordinary person's sense of sexual shame and morality.A 1951 supreme court case broadly defined obscenity as something that stimulates desire and violates an ordinary person's sense of sexual shame and morality.
Igarashi's arrest comes at a time when prime minister, Shinzo Abe, has pushed to increase the participation of women in the work force and executive positions to bolster the economy. Igarashi's arrest comes at a time when the prime minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, has pushed to increase the participation of women in the workforce and executive positions to bolster the economy.
Igarashi says she began making artwork to address what she saw as a double standard applied to both female and male genitalia in Japan. Igarashi said she began making artwork to address what she saw as a double standard applied to female and male genitalia in Japan.
The vagina "has been such a taboo in Japanese society", she wrote on her website. "It's been overly hidden although it's just a part of a woman's body." The vagina "has been such a taboo in Japanese society", she wrote on her website. "It's been overly hidden, although it's just a part of a woman's body."
During a jail visit by friends, Igarashi asked for a copy of a manga comic book of essays she wrote on how she became a "decorative vagina" artist to give to her cell mate.During a jail visit by friends, Igarashi asked for a copy of a manga comic book of essays she wrote on how she became a "decorative vagina" artist to give to her cell mate.
She said she was already planning to write about her experience behind bars.She said she was already planning to write about her experience behind bars.