About a week ago here in Japan most major convenience stores have stopped stocking adult magazines and even non-nude gravure idols. I had a hunch and ended up confirming it today.
This might not seem like that big of a deal. I don't buy adult magazines there anyway. In any case, it's something of a dying medium in the first place. Most people our age get our stuff digitally in the first place, right? Japan is no different and its digital adult industry certainly has customers.
But the tone this sets really disturbs me. There seems to be some pressure from various feminist groups and preparation for the 2020 Olympics. I really dislike this because one of the things that I like so much about Japan is that it doesn't have this poisonous attitude that sex is something shameful and hateful about society. And I think that magazines in convenience stores are one small way that that is expressed. From being comfortable with one's own naked body and those of others in bath houses and onsens to the presence of erotic imagery in convenience stores, I think that an upfrontness and openness toward sexuality and the power of sensuality as something healing and comforting as opposed to something corrupting is a cornerstone of Japanese society at its best.
I wish people would just have argued to put BL magazines to even things out if gender equality is such a problem. They do that at manga stores... an equality paradise if ever there was one! I hope it's just an Olympics precaution so that there's a possibility this can be undone without massive cultural upheaval.
Really sucks man. I loved seeing cute and sexy girls when I went to grab some snacks or utilities. I'm going to be bummed out all week 🙁
