For all its many attractions as a place to live, Japan can be unforgiving for anyone who's perceived as different. There's a phrase that comes up repeatedly during Hikaru Toda's "Of Love & Law": "reading the air" (kūki o yomu). It describes the unspoken way ...
'Vagina artist' Megumi Igarashi continues her battle with Japan's definition of obscenity
Artist Megumi Igarashi had never imagined battling investigative authorities over freedom of expression until they claimed she had committed crimes with her works of art. Igarashi, known by her pseudonym Rokudenashiko, which literally means "good-for-nothing girl," is noted for vagina-themed art, including "Vagina Boat," a ...
High court upholds guilty ruling for obscenity case of vagina artist Megumi Igarashi
The Tokyo High Court orders artist Megumi Igarashi to pay a ¥400,000 fine after upholding an obscenity ruling that found her guilty of distributing 3-D scans of her vagina.
The vagina on trial: more absurd than obscene
Though the obscenity trial of the artist known as Rokudenashiko — real name Megumi Igarashi — ended earlier this month with a conviction on one of her charges, we haven't heard the last of her. She plans to appeal the verdict, which is good ...
'Vagina artist' Igarashi loses obscenity case over 3-D data but is acquitted over pop art replicas
So-called vagina artist Megumi Igarashi loses an obscenity case for distributing 3-D data of her genitals but is acquitted for displaying pop art replicas and plans to appeal.
The vagina, in all its 'obscene' glory
You've probably heard of Japanese artist known as Rokudenashiko ("good for nothing girl"), who was arrested in 2014 for sending the 3-D data of her genitals to patrons of her successful crowdfunding campaign to create a vagina-shaped kayak. And although the Japanese-language press echoed the ...
'Vagina artist' Rokudenashiko to marry British rock musician Mike Scott
Megumi Igarashi, who calls herself Rokudenashiko (good-for-nothing girl), announced Tuesday online that she will wed vocalist and guitarist Mike Scott of The Waterboys, a British folk rock outfit. Igarashi is currently on trial for obscenity. "I would like to thank the police from the bottom of ...
Tokyo prosecutors seek fine in trial against 'vagina artist' Megumi Igarashi
Prosecutors asked the Tokyo District Court on Monday to levy a fine of ¥800,000 against an artist charged with obscenity for distributing 3-D scans of her own genitals. Megumi Igarashi, 43, who works under the pseudonym Rokudenashi-ko (Good-for-nothing Girl), maintained her innocence on the charges ...
Vagina artist pleads not guilty to obscenity charge
Taking the stand on the first day of her trial, Megumi Igarashi said she is fighting the charge to challenge the widely held belief in Japanese society that female genitals are “shameful.”
