Megumi Igarashi

Megumi Igarashi
Born c. 1972[1]
Other names Rokudenashiko (Japanese: ろくでなし子 "good-for-nothing girl" or "bad girl")
Ethnicity Japanese
Occupation Japanese sculptor and Manga artist[2]
Known for
  • Using her vulva in works of art
Notable work
  • "Decoman", a series of decorated vulva molds
  • A kayak modeled on a 3D scan of her own genitalia[2]

Megumi Igarashi (Japanese: 五十嵐恵), who uses the pseudonym Rokudenashiko (Japanese: ろくでなし子 "good-for-nothing girl" or "bad girl"), is a Japanese sculptor and manga artist[3] who has received public attention for her work featuring female genitalia. She considers it her mission to demystify female genitalia in Japan where, according to her, they are "overly hidden".[4]

Background

At first, her sculptures, which are made from molds of her vulva, were a joke. However, after receiving a large amount of criticism and backlash, she began to use her art as a statement. She would like women to be able to speak about their bodies without shame,[5] and believes that the vulva should be "part of the body... no different from arms or legs." [6] She would like to make the vulva something that is 'casual and pop,' saying "Vagina is treated like it's something underground and hidden, so I want to industrialize and mass-produce it." [7] Conversely, the symbol of the penis is more socially accepted in Japanese culture, as each year people celebrate the "Festival of the Street Phallus" in Kawasaki.[8]

Art

Igarashi has made many vulva-themed works. She has made a vulva chandelier, a vulva-shaped remote control car, necklaces and iPhone cases. The small dioramas are part of series called, "Decoman" (a play off of manko, the Japanese word for 'cunt'). Much of her art was confiscated during a police raid, but photographs document her work.[7] Looking to make something larger, Igarashi considered making a door, and a car, before settling on a kayak. She was inspired by the connection between female sexuality and the sea.[7] She made a kayak based on a 3D scan of her vulva.[9] She funded this project through a crowdfunding page, raising over ¥3,000.[10] Those who contributed were sent 3D data of her vulva.[5]

Igarashi also created a cartoon vulva named Manko-chan (translated to Miss Pussy). She would like this cartoon to become a pop culture icon.[5] The cartoon has been made into manga, figurines, and stuffed animals. She has also made a full size Manko-chan costume.[7]

Legal trouble

In July 2014, Igarashi was arrested for the alleged violation of Japanese obscenity laws for e-mailing the 3D scanner data of her vulva in March to people who supported the crowdfunding campaign to build the kayak.[4] More than 21,000 people signed an online petition urging the government to free her.[11] She was released a week later after having successfully appealed her detention.[12]

On 3 December 2014, Igarashi was arrested for suspicion of displaying an obscene object, along with Minori Watanabe (who uses the pseudonym of Minori Kitahara), a writer, feminist activist and sex shop owner.[13] Watanabe was later released.[14] On 24 December, Igarashi was indicted and planned on pleading not-guilty, according to her lawyer.[15] She was charged with "obscenity display," "obscenity electromagnetic record," and "obscenity electromagnetic recording medium distribution" .[8] On 26 December 2014, she was released on bail.[16] Her trial began 14 April 2015 in Tokyo District Court.[1][17]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Tokyo prosecutors seek fine in trial against 'vagina artist' Megumi Igarashi - The Japan Times". The Japan Times. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  2. 1 2 "Japanese Artist Megumi Igarashi Arrested For Obscenity In Tokyo". ArtLyst Ltd. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  3. ↑ "Artist denies obscenity charge: 'My vagina is like my arms and legs'". asahi.com. Asahi Shimbun. 16 July 2014.
  4. 1 2 McCurry, Justin (15 July 2014). "Vagina selfie for 3D printers lands Japanese artist in trouble". The Guardian. Retrieved 2014-07-15.
  5. 1 2 3 "Japanese artist makes quirky sculptures from molds of her genitals". Mail Online. Retrieved 2016-02-27.
  6. ↑ Hoffman, Michael (2014-08-09). "Ah, vaginas! In defense of taboos". The Japan Times Online. ISSN 0447-5763. Retrieved 2016-02-27.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "In the Studio With Japan's Controversial Vagina Artist | Broadly". Broadly. Retrieved 2016-02-27.
  8. 1 2 "Vagina Kayak Artist Moves On to Painting - artnet News". artnet News. Retrieved 2016-02-27.
  9. ↑ Kendall, Philip (18 July 2014). "Here’s that "vagina kayak" Japanese artist Megumi Igarashi made with the help of crowdfunding". RocketNews24. SOCIO CORPORATION. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  10. ↑ "Tokyo prosecutors seek fine in trial against ‘vagina artist’ Megumi Igarashi". The Japan Times Online. 2016-02-01. ISSN 0447-5763. Retrieved 2016-02-27.
  11. ↑ "Japanese Vagina artist Megumi Igarashi released after week in jail". IANS. news.biharprabha.com. Retrieved 2014-07-20.
  12. ↑ "Tokyo vagina artist released by police". Japan Today. 19 July 2014. Retrieved 2014-07-20.
  13. ↑ "Manga artist arrested after displaying 'obscene' work in Tokyo shop". The Asahi Shimbun Company. 4 December 2014. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  14. ↑ "Writer released after arrest over displaying salacious objects at adult shop". The Japan Times. 8 December 2014. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  15. ↑ "Vagina artist Megumi Igarashi indicted on charges of obscenity". The Japan Times. 24 December 2014. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  16. ↑ "「お酒を飲みたい」保釈されたマンガ家・ろくでなし子氏　自身のキャラクターを並べて記者会見に臨む". otapol. 26 December 2014. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  17. ↑ Justin McCurry (April 15, 2015). "Japanese artist goes on trial over 'vagina selfies' Megumi Igarashi, aka Rokudenashiko, who made kayak modelled on her genitalia, argues in court that her artwork is not obscene". The Guardian. Retrieved April 15, 2015. If found guilty, Igarashi could face up to two years in prison or a maximum fine of 2.5m yen (£14,200) for distributing obscene objects.

External links

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