Works Depicting Young Girls Covered with Cloth, Some Even Removed... What Happened at Gallery in Prestigious Japanese Hotel

Gallery Exhibition at Tokyo's Imperial Hotel
Some Works Removed Amid Social Media Criticism
Locals Question Venue and Management Responsibility

Controversy has erupted after works criticized for sexually depicting children were exhibited inside the Imperial Hotel, a prestigious hotel in Tokyo, Japan. With both the gallery and the hotel apologizing, scrutiny has turned not only to the content of the works but also to the management system that allowed them to be exhibited in a venue used by the general public.

Local media outlets, including the Japanese legal news site Bengoshi.com and Unshin Japan, recently reported that controversy over obscenity had arisen at the group exhibition "Okomorikai," held from October 3 to 13 at Medel Gallery Shu on the first floor of the Imperial Hotel Tower. The exhibition featured character-themed works, but some were criticized for portraying young girls as sexual objects or evoking sexual violence against children.

Criticism spread after photos of some of the works were shared on social media. As the controversy grew, Gallery Chaek removed some of the works during the exhibition. Social media.

Criticism mounted after photos of some of the works were shared on social media. As the controversy escalated, the gallery removed some of the works during the exhibition. The response of Neko, the artist who organized the exhibition, also fueled the controversy. According to Bengoshi.com, Neko said on social media on October 9 that the hotel had told them the action was taken at customers' request, but also raised the possibility that someone was behind the complaints.

Local netizens in particular questioned whether the exhibition venue was appropriate. Bengoshi.com reported social media reactions expressing concern about crimes against children and arguing that commercial facilities open to the general public should carefully consider displaying works that visitors may find sexually offensive. Japanese media outlet News Post Seven also reported online criticism that "nude depictions of young girls are not art." A woman interviewed by the outlet said some works had been covered with cloth or removed, and argued that the organizers and artist should have considered whether the exhibition was suitable for a venue visited by people of various ages.

Two days after the exhibition ended, on October 15, the gallery issued an apology. It acknowledged that it had not sufficiently consulted with the event organizer in advance, reviewed the works, or considered the exhibition venue's environment, and said, "These checks and decisions should have been made before the exhibition opened." It also stressed that it does not tolerate the sexual exploitation or sexual abuse of infants and minors, or acts that encourage them. The gallery explained that after receiving feedback, it reviewed the matter again and decided on its own to remove the works. It added that the exhibition was not planned or hosted by the hotel, but was organized by a tenant gallery in cooperation with the organizer.

Local internet users also raised concerns, particularly about whether the exhibition venue was appropriate. Bengoshi.com cited social media comments expressing concern about crimes against children and saying that venues open to the general public should carefully consider whether to display works that visitors may find sexually offensive. SNS

The Imperial Hotel also apologized that day. The hotel said the works in question had not been reviewed or approved in advance, while acknowledging that they had caused discomfort to visitors and raised concerns about the tenant's operational and management systems.

Controversy over the scope of displaying works containing sexual expression had arisen in Japan before. At the "Aida Makoto: Sorry for Being a Genius" exhibition, held at the Mori Art Museum in Tokyo from November 2012 to March 2013, a civic group called for the removal of some works that depicted girls in sexual and violent ways. The group questioned the exhibition responsibilities of a museum with a public role.

At the time, the museum said it would continue the exhibition, explaining that it aimed to introduce diverse perspectives and provide opportunities for discussion through art. Its official visitor information included advance notice about sexual expression and explained that particularly provocative works would be displayed in a separate area where visitors under 18 were not permitted. In 2021, Chiba Prefectural Police released and then deleted a traffic safety video featuring the virtual YouTuber Tojo Rinka. The move followed protests from groups including the National Federation of Feminist Diet Members, which argued that the character's depiction sexualized women. The character's operator and some netizens, however, objected to the protests and deletion, and the dispute escalated into a debate over freedom of expression.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.