
Australia has banned the importation and possession of hentai, deeming it 'illegal pornography'. Hentai is a form of sexually explicit Japanese anime that often features pornographic depictions of children and sexual violence. The ban also covers Japanese porn videos, sexually suggestive anime figurines, sex toys, and other products marked '18+'. Consumers possessing hentai can be charged and prosecuted if authorities deem the content to fit the definition of child exploitation material. This ban has sparked controversy, with some arguing that it limits freedom of expression and targets a small percentage of the anime and manga industry.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for ban | Child exploitation material |
| Date of ban | October 2020 |
| Entities involved | Australian Border Force (ABF), Australian Classification Board, DHL Japan, J-List, otonaJP |
| Items banned | Hentai, Japanese porn videos, sexually suggestive anime figurines, sex toys, other products with the '18+' designation |
| Legal consequences | Consumers possessing hentai can be charged and prosecuted |
| Maximum penalty for child pornography | 15 years imprisonment |
| Previous incidents | A 52-year-old man in Adelaide received a suspended jail sentence for possessing anime images classed as child pornography |
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What You'll Learn

Hentai is deemed ''illegal porn'
Australia has banned hentai, deeming it illegal pornography. Hentai is a form of Japanese pornographic anime that often includes sexually explicit depictions of children. While some argue that these cartoons do not contribute to the production of child exploitation material, authorities in Australia have determined that they can lead to the consumption of actual child pornography.
The Australian Border Force (ABF) and Customs have started blocking all adult products from entering the country, including pornographic hentai, Japanese porn videos, sexually suggestive figurines of anime characters, and any other product marked with an "18+" symbol. This decision has resulted in the adult retailer J-List being advised to stop shipping its products to Australia.
Consumers in Australia can be charged and prosecuted for possessing cartoon hentai if authorities deem it to fit the definition of child exploitation material. The country's laws prohibit all sexual depictions of children under an age set by state and territory legislation, which varies between under 16, 17, and 18 years old in different jurisdictions. The maximum penalty for possession, production, distribution, or import of child pornography in Australia is 15 years in prison.
The ban on hentai in Australia has sparked mixed reactions. Some people argue that it violates freedom of expression and that the country has more pressing issues to address. Others agree that the ban is necessary to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation, stating that even depictions of abuse, regardless of age, should be prohibited.
The Australian government's decision to ban hentai highlights its conservative stance on pornography and its commitment to upholding the standards of morality, decency, and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults.
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Child exploitation concerns
Australia has recently banned the importation and possession of hentai, a form of Japanese pornographic media, including anime, manga, and other adult products. This decision by the Australian Border Force (ABF) and customs has raised concerns about child exploitation and the potential for individuals to progress from consuming cartoon hentai to viewing actual child exploitation material.
Child exploitation is a significant issue that Australia has been actively addressing through legislation and law enforcement. The country's laws prohibit sexual depictions of children, with the maximum penalty for possession, production, distribution, import, export, sale, or access over the internet of child pornography set at 15 years' imprisonment. In 2015, a 52-year-old man in Adelaide received a suspended jail sentence for possessing over 300 anime images classified as child pornography. During the sentencing, Judge Paul Muscat highlighted the danger of individuals transitioning from consuming cartoon hentai to viewing child exploitation material involving real children. He stated, "the concern is that those who view anime will go on to view images of actual children being sexually abused."
The ABF's ban on hentai and other adult products aims to prevent the entry of illegal pornographic material into Australia. This includes not only child pornography but also publications, films, and other goods that depict or deal with matters of sex, drug misuse, crime, cruelty, violence, or other abhorrent phenomena in a manner that offends against accepted standards of morality, decency, and propriety. The ABF's actions are in line with Australia's commitment to combat child exploitation and ensure the safety and well-being of minors.
The ban has sparked mixed reactions, with some expressing concerns about freedom of expression and the potential overreach of censorship. However, supporters of the ban argue that removing pornographic and abusive content does not equate to banning the entire medium of manga or anime. They emphasize that while the majority of anime and manga content is not pornographic, the existence of such material within the industry warrants concern and justifies the need for regulatory measures.
The Australian government's decision to ban hentai and other adult products containing pornographic depictions is a reflection of the country's stance on child exploitation and its efforts to uphold moral standards. While the ban has sparked debates about freedom of expression, the primary concern driving this decision is the protection of minors from sexual exploitation and the prevention of individuals from engaging in or escalating to child exploitation behaviors.
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Ban includes sex toys, porn, and figurines
Australia has banned the import and possession of hentai, a form of Japanese pornographic media that includes anime, manga, and other adult-oriented products. The ban extends beyond just hentai to include a range of sexually explicit materials, such as sex toys, pornographic videos, and sexually suggestive figurines.
This decision by the Australian Border Force (ABF) and customs authorities has significantly impacted the adult industry, particularly retailers specializing in Japanese adult products, such as J-List. J-List reported that Australian customs had started rejecting their packages containing any adult product, forcing them to cease shipping to the country.
The ban includes sex toys, pornographic videos, and sexually suggestive figurines. Sex toys, also known as "naughty toys" or "onaholes" (artificial vaginas designed for masturbation), are now prohibited from entering Australia. This ban extends to all products with an "18+" or "+18" designation, regardless of their specific nature or purpose.
Pornographic videos, specifically Japanese porn videos, are also included in the ban. This prohibition is not limited to animated or cartoon pornography, known as hentai, but covers a broad range of visual pornography. Consumers possessing cartoon hentai can be charged and prosecuted if authorities deem the material to fit the definition of child exploitation.
Sexually suggestive figurines, often depicting anime or manga characters in explicit poses or with exaggerated physical features, are now banned in Australia. These figurines are considered offensive and contrary to the standards of morality, decency, and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults. The ban on these figurines extends to any product marked with an "18+" rating or similar adult-only designation.
The ban on hentai and related adult products in Australia has sparked debates about freedom of expression and the role of government in regulating sexually explicit content. While some criticize the ban as an overreach, others argue that it is necessary to protect against the sexualization and exploitation of minors, a concern that has been highlighted by Australian politicians and judges.
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Consumers can be charged for possession
Australia has banned hentai, deeming it 'illegal pornography'. Consumers can be charged and prosecuted for possessing cartoon hentai if authorities decide it fits the definition of child exploitation material. This definition includes "child pornography (any depiction of children in a sexually explicit manner)" as well as "publications, films, computer games and any other goods that describe, depict, express or otherwise deal with matters of sex, drug misuse or addiction, crime, cruelty, violence, terrorist acts or revolting or abhorrent phenomena in such a way that they offend against the standards of morality, decency and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults".
In 2015, a 52-year-old man in Adelaide was given a suspended jail sentence for possessing more than 300 anime images that were classed as child pornography. During sentencing, Judge Paul Muscat noted that although the man thought what he was doing was “similar to reading or taking part in a fantasy rather than contributing to the production of child exploitation material”, it was not “that great a step” to go from that to viewing material of actual, real-life child exploitation. Judge Muscat also said, "Does it matter that most of the images you accessed on the internet were anime? On a limited assessment, it must, for no actual child was being sexually abused. However, as I previously observed, the concern is that those who view anime will go on to view images of actual children being sexually abused."
In August 2007, an Australian was sentenced to pay a $9,000 fine for attempting to import eight DVDs of Japanese anime and hentai found to contain pornographic depictions of children and 14 found to contain depictions of sexual violence. No images of real children were involved. Customs National Manager Investigations, Richard Janeczko, emphasised that even cartoons or drawings such as those depicted in anime were prohibited if they contained offensive sexual content.
The Australian law prohibits all sexual depictions of children under an age set by state and territory legislation. The relevant ages are under 16 in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia, under 17 in South Australia, and under 18 in the other jurisdictions and under federal law. The laws also cover depictions of sexual acts involving people over the threshold age who are simulating or otherwise alluding to being underage, even if all those involved are of a legal age.
Some sources suggest that the ban is due to depictions of child abuse in hentai.
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Distributors' discretion to submit for review
Australia has banned the import of hentai, classifying it as "illegal pornography". Hentai is a Japanese form of pornographic comic book or animation that often features sexually explicit depictions of children. While there is no official ban on hentai in Australia, the country's Border Force (ABF) and customs have started blocking all adult products, including hentai, from entering the country.
The ABF's website states that people travelling to or entering Australia must not bring in anything constituting "illegal pornography", which includes "child pornography" and publications, films, computer games, and any other goods that describe, depict, express, or otherwise deal with matters of sex, drug misuse or addiction, crime, cruelty, violence, terrorist acts, or revolting or abhorrent phenomena in such a way that they offend against the standards of morality, decency, and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults".
The Australian Classification Board only assesses the suitability of comic books if they are submitted for review, and these submissions are made at the distributor's discretion. Distributors are not required to submit their products for review, but if they choose not to, consumers can still be charged and prosecuted for possessing cartoon hentai if authorities deem it child exploitation material.
The decision to block hentai from entering Australia has sparked mixed reactions. Some people argue that hentai is a form of freedom of expression and that banning it is an overreach of government power. Others argue that hentai is offensive and should not be allowed in the country, citing concerns about the potential for it to contribute to the sexual abuse of minors.
While the distributor has the discretion to submit hentai for review, the Australian government's stance on the matter suggests that any submission is likely to be rejected and classified as illegal pornography. Distributors who choose not to submit their products for review face the risk of having their shipments blocked and returned, as well as potential legal consequences if their products are deemed illegal by the authorities.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia is banning hentai because it is considered "illegal pornography". Hentai is deemed to constitute child pornography or offensive depictions of sexual violence.
The Australian law prohibits all sexual depictions of children under an age set by state and territory legislation. The relevant ages are under 16 in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia, under 17 in South Australia, and under 18 in the other jurisdictions and under federal law.
Consumers can be charged and prosecuted for possessing cartoon hentai if authorities decide it fits the definition of child exploitation material. In 2015, a 52-year-old man in Adelaide was given a suspended jail sentence for possessing more than 300 anime images classed as child pornography.
Australia has some of the toughest tobacco laws in the world, only allowing plain packaged cigarettes. In addition, an Australian politician has called for a review of all anime due to depictions of child abuse.
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