World

What’s Japan’s Problem With Vaginas?

Art or Pornography?

Japanese artist Megumi Igarashi’s vagina kayak is considered obscene, but an annual penis festival is a family event. What’s the deal?

Artist Megumi Igarashi—known in her home country of Japan as Rokudenashiko ("the good for nothing girl")—is currently awaiting trial for obscenity charges related to selling a 3-D model of her vagina. Yet, Japan is home to a yearly festival that, almost literally, worships the penis.

Featuring video footage courtesy of Alison Klayman, director of the award-winning documentary, Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry, Jake Adelstein and Angela Kubo try to make sense of Japan's confused sexual politics.