TOKYO – Former Japanese artist Miyuki Ariga is suing adult streaming site Fanza in the Tokyo District Court to remove four titles she appeared on in 1994.
Ariga, 49, claims that her contract at the time stipulated that the films would only be shown in a limited number of adult cinemas, the Japan Times reported. reported.
Ariga claims the titles have been distributed on DVD for more than a decade and says she only learned in January that four of her films could be streamed online on Fanza.
Ariga is seeking ¥1.5 million ($9,500) in damages. Ariga’s lawyer says she has tried unsuccessfully to track down the director of the films, but she does not know where he is.
A representative for Fanza told Friday Magazine that “it only hosts the works on its website after signing contracts with companies that own the rights to them, and said it is not involved in any contracts with the artists.”
As XBIZ reported, a controversial 2022 law now regulates the country’s adult video sector. Ariga – which does not have a copy of its 1990s contract – was reportedly inspired to file the lawsuit on Monday by the new law’s provisions for removing content if artists change their mind about being included in content for adults have appeared.
The law allows adult performers to revoke contractual consent given to companies that distribute adult material in which they appear, effectively making adult industry contracts unenforceable.
A recently formed trade association, the AV Thinking Group (AV Kangaeru Kai) – co-led by veteran director and activist Hitoshi Nimura and international performer Marica Hase – is objecting to the law, drawn up by anti-porn crusaders in a climate of media panic narratives .
The law came about when a seemingly unrelated legislative debate about lowering the legal age of consent in Japan quickly turned into a sensational campaign against adult performers aged 18 to 19. A bill lowering the age of consent from 20 to 18 was unanimously passed during a plenary session of the House of Representatives, which was followed by a sharp increase in anti-porn rhetoric.
Although the 2022 law is not retroactive, Ariga is “seeking an injunction that would allow the court to order the removal of the films despite the fact that they were shot 30 years ago,” the Japan Times reported.