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History

Contemporary Censorship in Japan dates to the Meiji period. The influence of Victorian culture was a catalyst for legislative interest in public sexual morals. Post-WWII the Allies imposed a number of reforms on the Japanese government including anti-censorship laws. The legal prescriptions against pornography, therefore, derive from the nation’s penal code. At present “obscenity” is still prohibited. How this term is interpreted has not remained constant. While exposed genitalia (and until recently pubic hair), in pornography, are illegal the diversity of permissible sexual acts is now wide compared with other liberal democracies. In the 1980s, however, even “sensual scenes in bed” were unacceptable. Leaders within the tentacle porn industry have stated in interviews that much of their work was initially directed at circumventing this policy. The animator Toshio Maeda states the following: “At that time [pre-Urotsuki Doji], it was illegal to create a sensual scene in bed. I thought I should do something to avoid drawing such a normal sensual scene. So I just created a creature. [His tentacle] is not a [penis] as a pretext. I could say, as an excuse, this is not a [penis], this is just a part of the creature. You know, the creatures, they don't have a gender. A creature is a creature. So it is not obscene - not illegal. (“Manga Artist Interview Series (Part 1),” 2002)”

Gender Studies

Surprisingly, tentacle porn is not treated extensively in feminist studies in Japan itself. The industry, in accordance with demand, produces a wide range of erotica. Many of the scenarios depicted feature violent rape and sexual assault, most often of women (but not always). Although elements of contemporary tentacle porn are seen as early as the 19th century, the modern equivalent places less emphasis on mutual satisfaction. The consumption of these materials is not exclusively associated with any one gender. The pseudo-phallic symbolism has found an audience among those who eroticize the penetrative and receptive rolls. Some actors who are involved in the production of pornographic material report that their participation is motivated both by money and erotic pleasure.