Photo from Bionic Bong.
This is a definition as provided by Wikipedia, “In Japan, a junior idol (ジュニアアイドル junia aidoru), alternatively chidol (チャイドル chaidoru) or low teen idol (ローティーンアイドル rōtīn aidoru), is primarily defined as a child or early teenager pursuing a career as a photographic model (this includes both gravure and AV).” While many of you know how much I love Japan, which includes the adult side of things, like it’s crazy sex culture complete with adult shops at every corner, I still have trouble accepting fully one aspect of it.
U-17 (under 17) Gravure videos or photobooks often shows pre-adolescent teenagers under the age of 15, in compromising positions doing suggestive acts like licking a lollipop or riding a rocking horse. These girls come as young as 2 years old! While there are no depiction of nudity or actual sex acts are being performed, these materials are sold openly in adult stores which clearly states the intention of making such videos. Most of these kids usually proceed to become adult film actresses once they hit the legal age.
I personally don’t buy excuses otakus give, claiming that they are appreciating the beauty and innocence of the child. What bothers me most is that the idol’s parents allow them to participate, talk about being a bad parent. Danny Choo spotted an struggling idol selling her DVDs on the street for a fraction of the market price, which shows some of these idols are doing it because they need the money, and possibly being exploited because of their circumstances.
While Japan has acted to introduce tighter child pornography laws as a result of pressure from the West, it has yet to act sufficiently to prevent materials like Lolicon (manga of sexual acts involving underaged girls) and Shotacon (same as lolicon, except involving underaged boys, aimed at a female audience). Most of these are doujinshi (fan-made comics) and thus, are controlled very loosely. Japan is one of the few countries that allows the possession of child pornography, as long as it isn’t displayed for sale.
