From: barker@aegis.or.jp (Mike Barker)
Newsgroups: fj.life.in-japan
Subject: Re: rape and porn (2 questions) - a summary and opinions
Date: 16 Dec 92 03:55:32 GMT
Reply-To: barker@aegis.or.jp (Mike Barker)
Distribution: fj
Organization: Aegis Society, Kyoto Japan

First, I would like to thank those on this list who have already
commented.  Those who have either sent me private email or posted to
the list are:

    hash@ctrl.saitama-u.ac.jp (Toshihiko Hashimoto)
    dji@atson.asahi-np.co.jp (David J. Iannucci)
    kenji@rcac.astem.or.jp (Kenji Rikitake)
    melby@dove.yk.fujitsu.co.jp (John B. Melby)
    ishikawa@personal-media.co.jp (Chiaki Ishikawa)
    inagaki@aclab1.resrch.anritsu.co.jp (Shintaro Inagaki)

If others wish to send me email, I would be very happy to hear from
you and will (when appropriate) summarize to the list.  I think this
is an area that both gaijin living in Japan and perhaps nihonjin may
be interested in discussing.

Allow me to introduce myself a little more than I did in my first
posting.  I met my Japanese wife in Vienna, Austria, and we were
married in Kobe 11 years ago.  We lived in the U.S. for five years,
then moved to Japan 6 years ago.  I have been working for a Japanese
company for the last 3 years (the only gaijin). 

A friend in America asked me these questions, and I first discussed
them with family and friends.  The answers I got left me somewhat
confused, so I decided to ask this list and see what happened. 
Again, thank you for your help with this.

>1.  Does japanese pornography focus on bondage and violence?

Most of the answers both from nihonjin and gaijin matched my informal
evaluation - Japanese pornography seems to contain a larger amount of
bondage and violence than American.  I would also comment that young
men's manga and general publications seem to have more such material
than I would consider ordinary for similar U.S.  publications. 

One person cautioned that this is not necessarily accepted in society,
but it is not banned.  Of course, there is a question as to whether so
much material would be available if there was no interest in it
(someone must be buying it), but this is a good point. 

I think this question is relatively simple to answer, because it is
easy to go to the local bookstore and examine what's there.  There are
actually two points I will suggest to the person in America who asked
me about this:
    1.  There is much more sexual material generally here in Japan. 
    2.  There seems to be more bondage and violence shown in this material,
although there is variety.

I personally feel that there is a strain of what seems to me to be
sadistic or cruel actions that runs through much of the Japanese
media.  From the "humor" of Beat Takeshi (and others) to actions in
manga, this interest can be explained many ways. ("a form of 
sublimated release for frustrations inherent in a heirarchical
society" is one I have heard).

>2.  Why is the reported rate of rapes in Japan among the lowest
>in the world?
>3.  Do you believe there are very few rapes in Japan?  Why?

Most of the answers here seemed to focus on lack of reporting, which
matches what friends and family had indicated to me.  One comment
which I think is important is that home violence ("marital rape") is
unlikely to be reported in Japan.  One married woman suggested that
most of her friends had experienced this type of rape.  I have also
been told that most Japanese would say only a stranger can rape
someone, friends or acquaintances only have sex. 

One comment offered was that Japanese criminal law does not cover
sexual assaults to males as a crime of rape. 
    
This seems to be the most difficult question.  On one hand, there are
indications that what Americans would consider rape may be fairly
common.  For example, gossip, rumor, and joking boasts in groups of
men suggest that this is accepted, even expected, behaviour.  The
rather frequent number of signs warning of chikan (criminal sexual
harasser) also suggest that incidents may be frequent.  But, there are
several issues here. 

First, perhaps, is the question of what should be considered rape. 
Several friends have indicated that only violent sex by a stranger (on
a street) would be considered rape by many nihonjin.  One person told
me that if it isn't outside, or the person is a friend or
acquaintance, then it isn't rape here. 

Second, I think, is the very difficult question of socially accepted
responses to such a situation.  From talking to friends, the belief is
that someone who was raped would be too ashamed to admit it.  Even if
they admitted it, family and friends would try to cover it up.  If the
woman was unmarried, especially, admitting it would mean they could
never get married.  Thus, the expected response if there are rapes is
that the person will hide it and go on.  One friend guessed that less
than 10% of rape victims would report it.

On the other hand, the strong pressures to fit socially acceptable
roles in Japan may block rape.  There are easily available, socially
accepted ways to enjoy sex, including soaplands, the young ladies
whose telephone cards adorn the telephones in Shibuya and other
places, strip joints, and other avenues.  Such outlets may absorb the
energies that result in rape in more prudish societies like the U.S. 

On yet another hand, the psychological background that leads to rape
may simply not be present.  For example, according to some reports,
rapists in America often are acting out of a desire for power, with
the resistance of the victim as a desirable part of their fantasy. 
Men in Japan (to some extent) already live in such a fantasy, with
unresisting women not worth forcing.

That's three hands already, and I'm not a very good juggler.  Even
though the question of whether there are many rapes or not in Japan
seems simple, I'm afraid that like homeless people, alcoholism,
homosexualism, and other problems, rape in Japan is a topic that is
very difficult to judge.  Although there are indications that there
may be a problem, it is not easily open to discussion and
understanding. 

I think I will tell the person in America who asked that while there
are probably more incidents which Americans would consider as rape
than are reported, it is very difficult to measure.  The problems
include the social pressures against reporting and difficulties in
deciding what is rape.