VICE
The Dark Side of Manga
(Inside the Pedophilic Manga Industry in Japan)

Aired on VICE News and VICE on Showtime (Season 3 Finale)
2022
16min

Emmy Award, 44th News and Documentary Emmy Awards
Los Angeles Press Club Nomination, 16th National A&E Journalism Awards

Correspondent and Producer: Hanako Montgomery
Filmed by: Sybilla Patrizia
Senior Producer: Karishma Vyas
Producers: Joe Hill,  Sybilla Patrizia
Associate Producers: Judy Cai, Oliver Gruber
Editors: Jeb Banegas, Jose Flores, Arielle Sherman
B-Camera: Jayce Ong, Shiori Ito
Sound Recording: Paul Doroshevich
Writers: Trey Strange, Neda Toloui-Semnani

A loophole in Japan’s law on child abuse material allows artists to freely draw sex with children. Despite a growing number of nations moving to ban this fictitious work, in Japan, the material is protected by a thriving manga industry and an artist’s freedom of speech.

VICE News’ Hanako Montgomery explores why Japan hasn’t moved to ban sexual depictions of children in manga, despite international and domestic pressure to outlaw the comics.
— via VICE News and Showtime

Accompanying article on VICE:
“He Abused Kids For 24 Years. Now He Wants Manga Sexualizing Children to be Banned”