Japan party seeks to ban possession of child porn

By Isabel Reynolds

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's ruling party plans to ban possession of child pornography after pressure from the United States to fall in with industrialised countries which have stepped up the fight against sexual exploitation of children.

The production and distribution of obscene images of people under 18 is already illegal under a 1999 law, but there is no law banning individuals from possessing such material.

Asked whether such a ban would be introduced, an official at the office of a former Justice Minister who was picked to head a committee on the issue said: "We are basically moving in that direction."

But the official added that the committee set up by Liberal Democratic Party had yet to begin its deliberations.

Justice Minister Kunio Hatoyama said earlier this month that possession of obscene images of children should be banned.

Most child porn investigations cut across international borders and the United States has urged Japan to clamp down on possession of child porn, so that it can better cooperate with police from other countries.

"Because it is legal in Japan to possess child pornography, it is almost impossible for investigators here to obtain search warrants to confiscate and search suspects' computers," U.S. ambassador to Japan Thomas Schieffer said in an article in the English language Daily Yomiuri last month.

Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and the United States have all banned possession of child porn, while Russia and Japan have not, he added.