Dang - the editors snatched the snatch out of her - where would you use the Hello Kitty Massagi there? Is this Ken and Barbie having at it? Where is the hair, the flaps, the little man in the boat?

Hang on - I was looking at the wrong slide - speaking of which, he has nothing to slide - or he did at one point but now is gone!!!! Sweet Jesus that gives me the chills!!!!

Do the Japanese practice ritual castrations or cutthedickoffstrations? What gives? Tell me that it is a censor and not some freaky think like bukkake???!!! Is it supposed to be some whacky fill-in-the-blank?

Yes it's censorship which doesn't allow certain parts to be seen. You have to use your imagination a little.

As I understand showing any hair (down there) is illegal. This rule is circumvented in two ways, using shaven or pre-pubescent models or blurring, scratching or otherwise whiting-out that area. In manga women (and men) are usually drawn like Barbie dolls. In Western dirty magazines that are sold in Japan, the crotch area is carefully scratched out on each page.

Umm, why should they think they're doing something inappropriate? It's just fantasy.

I have absolutely no problem with anyone reading porn, I just prefer if they do it in private. In Japan (the land of contradictions) I can't understand why innocent public displays affection are not allowed, yet, it is okay for men to openly in public thumb through magazines that depict rape and violence against women and/or any other type of graphic sex.

When in Japan just accept.

However, you will note that my website carefully avoids the subject, even when covering manga. The West simply isn't ready for the confrontation. Our background is just too prudish.

Hmmm. Well, I lived in Tokyo as a kid/teenager, so this in particular doesn't seem too strange to me.

If you're looking at what someone else is reading, you're being rude, and invading their space. If you're not looking for it, you probably won't notice it. I guess that sums up my view on it.

The thing is, there are expectations of behavior in Japan, like this, that clash with what westerners often instinctively do. If you're a foreigner in Japan, remember that you're expected to give people their space, and allow them to keep to themselves, if they want to. They've got enough problems already, so usually any contact is just jama (annoyance/getting in the way)... Often the only time people have to themselves is while commuting to work, etc.

I used to feel this way too, after living there, but I eventually realized that I had to get over it and be more outgoing and more forgiving of other outgoing people's interruptions, in order to have people like me and work with me... I'm WAY better at it now, but sometimes I still feel the tiniest bit annoyed when talked to by a stranger... ;)

Somebody please send me some porn comics. Please