Japan ends sale of porn magazines in convenience stores before Olympics

Authorities concerned adult-themed content may taint country's image in front of foreigners

Stores in Japan, 7-Eleven Japan and Lawson, will end the sale of pornographic magazines in the lead up to the Rugby World Cup and Tokyo Olympics, according to the Guardian

Authorities have cited concerns that adult-themed magazines and manga comics regularly sold in convenience stores may taint the country's image in front of foreign visitors.

Japan is hosting the Rugby World Cup in August and both foreigners and locals have complained about the effects easily available pornographic materials may have on children. The Tokyo Olympics are to be held in 2020 and the economic boom from tourism is expected to last after the events have ended.

The decision to roll back on adult magazines could also be because their sale in Japan's 20,000 7-Eleven stores accounts for less than one per cent of total sales as online pornography becomes more rampant, according to Kyodo news agency.

Lawson, meanwhile, will widen its ban to all 14,000 of its outlets after a successful trial in the southern prefecture of Okinawa.

Ministop banned adult material at its 2,000 stores early last year, while Family Mart has done the same at 2,000 of its 16,000 outlets, Kyodo said.

A record 31 million foreign tourists visited Japan last year, according to the government, which has set a target of 40 million visitors by 2020, rising to 60 million by 2030.

This article originally appeared on the Guardian.