A Brief History on Doujinshi and Obscenity

From Heisei Democracy comes an article titled "Doujinshi, Obscenity, and Japan's Imperiled Freedom of Speech," which takes a brief look at the history doujinshi and obscenity laws in Japan:

In the light of the recent arrest of a doujin artist on obscenity charges we take a look back at the past five years in the history of free speech regulation and litigation vis a vis drawn pornography in Japan. We examine the current state of affairs and speculate as to the fate of the free speech right enshrined in article 13 of Japan's constitution, one that now seems to rest on a very fragile footing indeed.