We demand the immediate release of Japanese artist Rokudenadeshiko! #FreeMegumi
On July 14, 2014, the Japanese artist Rokudenashiko was arrested on suspicion of breaking Japanese obscenity laws. She has over five years careers as a sculptor and manga painter on a mission to demystify female genitalia.
Investigators claim Rokudenadeshiko broke obscenity laws when she emailed a 3D data scan of her vulva to 30 supporters of a crowd-funded artistic project, a kayak inspired on her own genitalia.
The artist, whose real name is Megumi Igarashi, is being held in custody in Tokyo. Media reports say Igarashi denies the allegations. She pointed out that she had not sent the data in return for money and did not recognise the scanned data as obscene.
On her website, Rokudenashiko says that the goal of her work is to fight "discrimination and ignorant treatment of the vagina" within Japanese culture.
Activist Minori Kitahara also said of the incident, "Japan is still a society where those who try to express women's sexuality are suppressed, while men's sexuality is overly tolerated.” Example includes festivals where male genitalia are celebrated in public.
Japanese police should spend their time arresting real sex crime offenders who actually hurt people. Not arresting artists!
I strongly protest Rokudenashiko’s arrest, and call for the immediate release of her. Please sign and share this petition widely!
Links
Rokudenashiko’s crowdfunding project
http://camp-fire.jp/projects/view/662
Media coverage of the incident and our petition
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/15/vagina-artist-arrest-japan_n_5588664.html?utm_hp_ref=arts
https://news.vice.com/article/why-is-japan-so-upset-about-a-3-d-printed-vagina
http://www.buzzfeed.com/mbvd/japanese-artist-arrested-for-her-vagina-kayak
- Japanese Police and Prosecutors