Underage sex dolls are openly sold on many Japanese websites to attract players in niche hobbies. In one online community photo, the sex doll is holding a box of crayons, just like a girl, and appears to be doodling on the bare walls of a studio. At first she is standing, but just click on the rotating image to see her sitting, legs apart. Pictures of multiple ambiguous poses.
Many online communities featuring these suspected underage sex dolls have appeared in Japan. Community moderators often post photos of the dolls, and followers discuss how to dress the dolls, as well as follow up posts on how to properly clean them after use. Some users will leave comments suggesting that "Uncle's family has candy", "Elementary school students are so cute", "The ruffles on the skirt are so cute and exciting"... Even in a video in the moderator YouTube, someone discussed to contact the doll manufacturer, so that the doll focus parts according to the age of physical characteristics in line with his expectations to imitate.
The Legal Industry In Japan
There are many countries around the world that ban underage sex dolls, but they are completely legal in Japan. Adults can purchase a variety of sex dolls that are as easily customized as teddy bears. Japanese minors protection organizations are concerned that this type of doll player will have a negative impact on society. "There is a strong value among Japanese men that it is acceptable to accept minors as objects of ambiguity." Ms. Kazuna Kanajiri, head of the Association Against Erotic Violence (a non-profit organization), told reporters.
There was even a government leader (a 56-year-old politician) who once claimed it was OK to have an affair with a 14-year-old minor," she said. Almost no one in Japan realizes that having sex with minors is a crime, so there are many players who prefer this particular type of sex doll, which could lead to an increase in sexual violence against minors," she said.
In Japan, the age of sexual consent is 13 (in the U.S. it is between 16 and 18), one of the lowest ages in the world. Not only are underage sex dolls legal, but similar cartoon caricatures are also prevalent year-round. Because of the protection of freedom of expression, manga, anime and dolls with underage ambiguous themes are legal in Japan. But there have been no studies on the social impact of sex dolls, such as whether they lead to more sexually violent crimes against minors. Some researchers also believe that it may allow players to provide an outlet for the interest generated by minors, thus reducing the number of offenses committed in accordance with their desires.
Sex Dolls Can Reduce Sexually Violent Crimes
In a 2022 research study of more than 130 people in each group, differences were found in the propensity for sexual assault between sex doll owners and non-owners. Under the right conditions, sex dolls can be used as therapeutic aids. Italian researchers have also found that few of the perpetrators of sexual violence are sex doll players. Underage sex dolls are illegal in many countries, but they are legal in Japan.
While most studies show that most doll owners buy toys for sexual reasons, some child-like owners of sex dolls claim this is not always the case. Suzuki, who has a collection of 20 sex dolls, has a minor doll he says because the adult doll is too heavy (35 kg), while the little doll weighs only 13 kg and is named Virginia. Suzuki says he doesn't care much if underage sex dolls are illegal, and if the government enacts a law against them, he will obey it. But he admits to being more alternative. "About half of the players I know want to have flings with underage people." Suzuki owns 20 sex dolls, a collection he started last year.
Akiyoshi Saito is a social psychiatrist who treats people who have committed sexually violent crimes against minors. He says that one in ten of his patients diagnosed as having pedophilia have used a doll similar to a minor's love doll. These people don't feel the doll is an outlet for release; the doll doesn't fully satisfy them." Some experts say proving a causal relationship between dolls and an increased likelihood of violent crime among minors through research is morally risky and likely to fail. "Because of the high risks involved, social ethics committees are unlikely to allow such a study," John Danaher, a law professor who studies the ethical implications of underage love dolls, told reporters.
But, Professor Danaher said, there is a wealth of research showing that allowing people to engage in violent behavior is harmful, even if there is no direct victim. ""Because over time, people habituate and normalize things,"" he said. Akiyoshi Saito said part of the reason the law does not ban underage love dolls is due to the lag in the law, which is a relatively new phenomenon.
Underage Sex Dolls Are Divisive
The issue of underage sex dolls is an emerging one, and related research has only gained attention in the past five to 10 years. However, some experts speculate that the global market for sex dolls is already a $10 million industry. In Japan, one is sold roughly every 30 seconds. There are dozens of online communities for sex dolls in Japan, and the vast majority of them have a section for underage dolls, some of which are the most popular.
In Japan, petitions to ban the manufacture and sale of underage sex dolls have been circulated online from time to time, but have received lukewarm support. Instead, some politicians have spoken publicly about erotic toys, arguing that there is no need to ban them on the grounds that everyone has the right to freedom of expression. Despite the Japanese government's lack of attention to banning underage dolls, Ms. Kazuna Kanajiri believes that their efforts have helped to move Japanese society away from the objectifying imagery of minors, for which she has been verbally abused and harassed by dissenters and even had used airplane cups sent to her office. She said it was unpleasant to be confronted with such practices, but it would not keep her silent from then on.
