In February 2015, we published a manga, Blue Heart, based on the experiences of survivors who have reached out to our hotline. We published the manga in the hope of protecting children from the serious issue of commercialization of children’s sex in Japan. Our sincere wish is for this manga to be a tool for children to learn the issue and their rights, as well as for adults to learn the issue and stand up to take action to protect the children.
Thousands of parents, teachers, social workers, librarians, students, healthcare workers, and government officials have been utilizing the manga since publication. Blue Heart has also been covered in many media and has drawn international attention.
In October 2015, the manga was translated into Chinese by the Rotary Club of Taipei North. In 2018, it was also translated into English by a group of high school students at Yokohama International School.
There are many people who have reached out to our hotline after reading the manga and realizing that the situation they are in is very similar to the stories in the manga. Blue Heart has helped many victims to come forward.
We hope that more children and youth have access to this manga and that it contributes to the prevention of and the early intervention of sexual exploitation cases. But more than anything, we yearn for the realization of the society in which tool like Blue Heart is unneeded and there is no need for us to have to warn children to be careful of being sexually exploited.
#1
It was just supposed to be an
easy job with good pay...[Yumi]
Teenagers are often victims of child pornography or prostitution.
Prostitution is when money and/or goods are exchanged for sex.
This also includes compensated dating.
The crime of child prostitution has been committed if such exchanges involve minors under the age of 18.
Paying minors to touch their body is also illegal.
Many victimized children are unable to confide in their parents or other trusted individuals for many reasons. They may not want anyone to worry about them; they may not want anyone to know what happened; or they may believe they are at fault.
Some who feel a strong sense of responsibility for their situation will try to solve the problem themselves. This sometimes ends up backfiring, resulting in further manipulation by the abuser.
This Story’s protagonist, Yumi, is one of many who suffered this very predicament.
#2
He was so nice,
until all of a sudden...[Kaito]
Sexual violence against boys is also on the rise.
Not only girls, but boys too can be victims of sexual harassment, child prostitution, and child pornography.
According to a study conducted by the Japanese Association for Sex Education in 2008, 1 in 3 male fourth year students at the high school examined in the study had been the victim of some form of sexual harassment or sexual assault, and/or had been raped via coercion or violence.
Even if the abuser claims that the victim did not say no, making unwanted sexual remarks or forcibly touching a person without their consent is considered sexual violence.
Perpetrators of these crimes will be arrested. Kaito’s story provides food for thought about the often overlooked sexual violence suffered by boys.
#3
Blackmailed with a photo
I sent without thinking...[Haruka]
Revenge porn is a despicable means of blackmail.
Imagine if your private photos were uploaded on the Internet by a friend or partner without your consent. Just the mere thought of that is terrifying, isn’t it? “Revenge porn” is when someone publishes a private picture of another person, whether it is showing their face or just their body, for revenge, harassment, or just to hurt them. This crime is on the rise in our digital age. In this story, a high school student named Haruka suffers because of a photos she took of herself back in middle school. This story shows us how anyone can make a simple mistake that puts them in a horrible situation.
#1
It was just supposed to be an
easy job with good pay...[Yumi]
Teenagers are often victims of child pornography or prostitution.
Prostitution is when money and/or goods are exchanged for sex.
This also includes compensated dating.
The crime of child prostitution has been committed if such exchanges involve minors under the age of 18.
Paying minors to touch their body is also illegal.
Many victimized children are unable to confide in their parents or other trusted individuals for many reasons. They may not want anyone to worry about them; they may not want anyone to know what happened; or they may believe they are at fault.
Some who feel a strong sense of responsibility for their situation will try to solve the problem themselves. This sometimes ends up backfiring, resulting in further manipulation by the abuser.
This Story’s protagonist, Yumi, is one of many who suffered this very predicament.
#2
He was so nice,
until all of a sudden...[Kaito]
Sexual violence against boys is also on the rise.
Not only girls, but boys too can be victims of sexual harassment, child prostitution, and child pornography.
According to a study conducted by the Japanese Association for Sex Education in 2008, 1 in 3 male fourth year students at the high school examined in the study had been the victim of some form of sexual harassment or sexual assault, and/or had been raped via coercion or violence.
Even if the abuser claims that the victim did not say no, making unwanted sexual remarks or forcibly touching a person without their consent is considered sexual violence.
Perpetrators of these crimes will be arrested. Kaito’s story provides food for thought about the often overlooked sexual violence suffered by boys.
#3
Blackmailed with a photo
I sent without thinking...[Haruka]
Revenge porn is a despicable means of blackmail.
Imagine if your private photos were uploaded on the Internet by a friend or partner without your consent. Just the mere thought of that is terrifying, isn’t it? “Revenge porn” is when someone publishes a private picture of another person, whether it is showing their face or just their body, for revenge, harassment, or just to hurt them. This crime is on the rise in our digital age. In this story, a high school student named Haruka suffers because of a photos she took of herself back in middle school. This story shows us how anyone can make a simple mistake that puts them in a horrible situation.
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