Japan’s lower house passes bill to ban possession of child porn images

TOKYO (Kyodo) — The House of Representatives approved Thursday a bill designed to ban the possession by individuals of photos and videos of child porn.

The bill, which would amend the law for punishing acts related to child prostitution and child pornography, is likely to clear the Diet by the end of its current session through June 22 after the House of Councillors’ deliberation.

Individuals would be punished with a prison term of up to one year or a fine of up to 1 million yen if they possess child porn images to satisfy their sexual curiosity, according to the bill.

Such individuals will become subject to the penalties one year after the legislation comes into force in order to give those who already have such images time to dispose of them.

The Liberal Democratic Party, its junior ruling coalition partner, the New Komeito party, and some opposition parties including the Democratic Party of Japan agreed on the bill last month after modifying a draft to make it clear that animation and “manga” comics are not subject to the regulation.

June 05, 2014(Mainichi Japan)