VAOJ has been following this story for a while. Here's the latest (from AP):
A renowned Japanese photographer was indicted Thursday after he allegedly shot photos of a naked woman posing on a tombstone at a public cemetery.
Kishin Shinoyama, 69, was charged with public indecency and disrespect for a religious site for allegedly snapping the nude photographs in October 2008 at Tokyo's Aoyama cemetery, the Tokyo District Prosecutors Office said in a statement.
If convicted, Shinoyama faces up to six months in prison or a fine of up to 300,000 yen ($3,300).
The cemetery was one of a dozen public locations in Tokyo where two models posed nude for a photo collection titled, "No Nude by Kishin 20XX," which was released in January 2009.
Shinoyama said in a statement Thursday the models took off their clothes only briefly, "seconds or up to two minutes at the longest.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif" He was concerned about the definition of public indecency, which could discourage artistic expression, he said.
But Shinoyama added, "I humbly accept the case as a lesson, and I will pursue my challenges to new forms of expression."
Shinoyama, a prolific photographer who for decades photographed a variety of genres, shot the "Sante Fe" book that sparked Japan's so-called "hair nude" phenomena in the 1990s. His collection of actress Rie Miyazawa exposing her pubic hair became a best seller, and eased the country's strict mores on nudity.
Here's how The Mainichi Daily News reported it:
Photographer Kishin Shinoyama has been summarily indicted by Tokyo public prosecutors for disrespect to a place of worship and public indecency for a 2008 nude photo shoot in a cemetery.
Shinoyama, 69, had originally fought the charges on the basis of freedom of expression, but has since submitted a letter of apology.
"My (artistic) expression is in danger of withering under the constant stream of reports about the investigation," the photographer commented. "I will take the incident as a lesson learned, and wish to move on and express myself in new ways."
According to the indictment, Shinoyama photographed an actress in the nude as she posed atop grave markers in the Aoyama Reien cemetery in Tokyo's Minato Ward on the night of Oct. 15, 2008. The actress was not indicted as she was following Shinoyama's directions.
Papers were originally filed with prosecutors accusing the photographer of shooting nude models in 12 public places, including a department store. The Tokyo Sub-District Public Prosecutors Office settled on the summary indictment of Shinoyama for submitting a report claiming the models would be in their underwear and going ahead with the shoot even after being warned by the police in September 2008, and to respond to the owners of the graves' desire for punishment.
The crime of disrespect to a place of worship -- defined in the Penal Code as overt disrespect against religious sites such as temples or cemeteries -- carries a maximum penalty of six months imprisonment or a 100,000-yen fine for acts such as pulling down gravestones. It is very unusual to apply the law to obscene acts.
Showing posts with label nude. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nude. Show all posts
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Update: "Photographer faces charges over nude photos for book"
Partial image borrowed from Japan Press (you can see the whole image at http://www.japanpress.info/archives/994)It looks like the cops finally busted photographer Kishin Shinoyama for public indecency. Another warning about not only what but where you can't take photos in Japan...
From today's Japan Today:
Police plan to send papers to prosecutors shortly on photographer Kishin Shinoyama on suspicion of public indecency for shooting nude photos for a book, sources close to the matter said Saturday. Police are consulting with the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office on sending papers on the 69-year-old photographer and two female models, the sources said.
According to investigative sources, Shinoyama allegedly took outdoor shots of the nude models in Tokyo in the summer of 2008 at such places as a cemetery and a wedding hall for the photo book. The book, ‘‘20XX TOKYO,’’ was published in January last year. Photos in the book also include those of naked actresses at such public locations as railway tracks and waterfront areas. In November last year, the police searched Shinoyama’s office and home in Tokyo.
Reader comments follow the story:
http://www.japantoday.com/category/crime/view/photographer-faces-charges-over-nude-photos-for-book
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
"Photographer Shinoyama's office, home raided over nude photo shoot"
From Japan Today, 11/11/09:
Police investigators searched the office and home in Tokyo of photographer Kishin Shinoyama on Tuesday on suspicion of public indecency over the shooting of nude photos for his book of photos "20XX TOKYO." The investigators also raided the office in Tokyo of a talent agency to which one of the two models, a 21-year-old actress, belongs.
Shinoyama, 68, allegedly took outdoor shots of the nude models in Tokyo from mid- to late August 2008 in situations where anyone could see them, police said.
The Metropolitan Police Department plans to question Shinoyama later, police sources said.
The investigators have found nothing illegal in the photo album itself, but question the manner in which the photographs were taken, police said.
Shinoyama allegedly took the photos at a dozen locations in Tokyo, mainly at night. Some of the photos were taken on railway tracks and in cemeteries.
A number of nude photos of the two actresses appear in the photo book, which was published in late January this year and is about 60 pages long. The collection has sold out, its publisher Asahi Press says on its website.
Shinoyama’s office and the Asahi Press declined comment.
Tokyo-based Asahi Press said it has heard nothing about the police raids from either Shinoyama or the police. The Asahi Press has no links with the Asahi Shimbun newspaper or TV Asahi.
Shinoyama became a freelance photographer in 1968 after working for an advertising agency.
He has released a number of photo collections of celebrities, including novelist Yukio Mishima (1925-1970), singer Momoe Yamaguchi and actress Rie Miyazawa.
In 1991, he released "Water Fruit," a collection of uncensored nude photos of actress Kanako Higuchi in which her pubic hair is visible.
Japan’s Penal Code sets penalties of imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of up to 300,000 yen, detention for up to 29 days, or a petty fine of less than 10,000 yen, for persons who commit indecent acts in public.
The story:
http://www.japantoday.com/category/crime/view/photographer-shinoyamas-office-home-raided-over-nude-photo-shoot
Police investigators searched the office and home in Tokyo of photographer Kishin Shinoyama on Tuesday on suspicion of public indecency over the shooting of nude photos for his book of photos "20XX TOKYO." The investigators also raided the office in Tokyo of a talent agency to which one of the two models, a 21-year-old actress, belongs.
Shinoyama, 68, allegedly took outdoor shots of the nude models in Tokyo from mid- to late August 2008 in situations where anyone could see them, police said.
The Metropolitan Police Department plans to question Shinoyama later, police sources said.
The investigators have found nothing illegal in the photo album itself, but question the manner in which the photographs were taken, police said.
Shinoyama allegedly took the photos at a dozen locations in Tokyo, mainly at night. Some of the photos were taken on railway tracks and in cemeteries.
A number of nude photos of the two actresses appear in the photo book, which was published in late January this year and is about 60 pages long. The collection has sold out, its publisher Asahi Press says on its website.
Shinoyama’s office and the Asahi Press declined comment.
Tokyo-based Asahi Press said it has heard nothing about the police raids from either Shinoyama or the police. The Asahi Press has no links with the Asahi Shimbun newspaper or TV Asahi.
Shinoyama became a freelance photographer in 1968 after working for an advertising agency.
He has released a number of photo collections of celebrities, including novelist Yukio Mishima (1925-1970), singer Momoe Yamaguchi and actress Rie Miyazawa.
In 1991, he released "Water Fruit," a collection of uncensored nude photos of actress Kanako Higuchi in which her pubic hair is visible.
Japan’s Penal Code sets penalties of imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of up to 300,000 yen, detention for up to 29 days, or a petty fine of less than 10,000 yen, for persons who commit indecent acts in public.
The story:
http://www.japantoday.com/category/crime/view/photographer-shinoyamas-office-home-raided-over-nude-photo-shoot
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