I previously posted in October about the child abuse images and pornographic materials being openly sold on Amazon (also on Rakuten and Tsutaya). An online protest was started shortly thereafter, and Amazon Japan responded by (partly) removing the most offensive items. But they didn’t go far enough, didn’t explain anything or apologize to the public for posting the items and breaking the law, and in essence tried to ignore the situation or pretend it never happened. To no avail. In January, the police raided Amazon offices in Tokyo, and revealed that they had in fact already been looking into the situation for several months (perhaps, we like to think, partly encouraged or jump-started by the fuss we raised through various online media sources).

Now it appears that they have begun “investigating” two suspects in connection with the case. “Investigating” in Japan usually means that the police are trying to build an airtight-case before arrest. (That’s because there is no “innocent until proven guilty” mentality here; if you’re arrested, you must already be guilty…otherwise, why would you be arrested?  Makes an odd sort of logic if you’re used to the justice system in the UK and the US.)

Media is reporting that one man in his 40s was assigned to Amazon Japan Logistics as a temporary worker, yet was responsible for the management and distribution of third-party products. This sounds suspiciously mafioso…which would not be surprising, as the various “kumi” (i.e., quasi-legal organized crime syndicates) of Japan have long had their tentacles into practically every aspect of big business and government, and are especially fond of funding members of the current right-wing extremist Abe administration.

I suspect (no pun intended) the police will tread carefully so as not to step on the toes of anybody important. Child pornography is huge money, and Japan is the hub. Let’s hope the cops have the guts to do the right thing.