Sexual images in Japan's public spacesCEFR B1
29 Dec 2025
Adapted from Jo Carter, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Vrooom Vrooom, Unsplash
Sexual images are widespread in Japan’s public spaces, appearing on magazine covers in convenience stores, on billboards and in other media. The long visibility of erotic content has raised public concern about children, gender roles and everyday behaviour.
After the post-war spread of manga, anime and print magazines, adult magazines became a steady source of revenue for many stores. A 1989 survey cited by Nippon.com reported that 92.3 percent of convenience stores sold pornographic magazines. The rise of moe aesthetics and "lolicon" content further blurred entertainment and eroticism.
Major convenience-store chains — 7-Eleven, Lawson and FamilyMart — announced they would stop selling adult magazines nationwide before the 2020 Tokyo Games. Reactions were mixed online, and in October 2025 a Change.org petition urged removal of such magazines. Critics also point to sexualised adverts online and children’s exposure in games and manga.
Sex education in schools is still limited, focusing on biological reproduction and often taught separately by gender. Calls for more realistic, inclusive classes have grown, and campaigners say curriculum change is an important step.
Difficult words
- widespread — present in many places or situations
- erotic — connected with sexual feelings or behaviour
- convenience store — small shop open for everyday itemsconvenience stores, convenience-store
- revenue — money that a business receives regularly
- survey — study that asks people questions
- lolicon — sexual interest in young-looking fictional characters
- sexualised — made to seem sexual or suggestive
- curriculum — set of subjects taught at school
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Do you think removing adult magazines from convenience stores will reduce children’s exposure? Why or why not?
- What changes would you suggest for sex education to make it more realistic and inclusive?
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