Last month, we wrote about the controversy that threatened to wreck one of the conventions of the Japanese summer: swimwear gravure photo events where fans go to see and take pictures of models and idols.
These are often held in public lidos (outdoor pools), and are popular events that attract large numbers of fans.
After local Japanese Communist Party politicians complained about the commercial use of prefectural parks and the “lewd” nature of the poses, though, authorities stepped in to ask organizers to call off some events in June.
This was then criticized as censorship and heavy-handed, especially by male netizens and fans, not to mention the models and organizers who depend on such events economically.
On July 19, in an apparent bid to find a compromise between appeasing the prudes and keeping the fans, models, and organizers happy, Saitama public park association has issued guidelines about what kind of poses are too sexy for the events planned in September and October. (Apparently, only one of the three pools in its parks had such rules.) It’s actually quite a few poses and risks turning such swimwear photo shoot events into tame affairs indeed.
Netizens have reacted by using AI to create sample images based on the illustrations on the banned poses. The results are quite spectacular and really demonstrate the kind of sights we will now sadly not get to see at events in Saitama this summer or autumn.
Saitama has also made it clear that if models in the events are under 18, events must abide by the laws and local ordinances regarding child pornography, employing minors, and juvenile health and development.
