Note: From wikipedia
A major obscenity trial in the Tokyo District Court was held, the first such trial for more than 20 years. The results of the trial was the conviction of artist Yūji Suwa in January 2004 (on the charges of violating article 175 of the "National Penal Code", the Penal Code of Japan, which forbids creating and distributing "indecent" materials). Suwa was fined, and to avoid a jail sentence, pled guilty. More materially, all adult manga by Suwa was removed from the marketplace. The publisher Monotori Kishi was also convicted, but his one year in jail was suspended by the j... More...

Note: From wikipedia
A major obscenity trial in the Tokyo District Court was held, the first such trial for more than 20 years. The results of the trial was the conviction of artist Yūji Suwa in January 2004 (on the charges of violating article 175 of the "National Penal Code", the Penal Code of Japan, which forbids creating and distributing "indecent" materials). Suwa was fined, and to avoid a jail sentence, pled guilty. More materially, all adult manga by Suwa was removed from the marketplace. The publisher Monotori Kishi was also convicted, but his one year in jail was suspended by the judge.

The case was appealed to the High Court on arguments that the manga was not as indecent and explicit as much material on the Internet, and that article 175 violated the Japanese Constitution's protection of freedom of expression. The High Court upheld the ruling, and tripled the fine on Suwa to 1.5 million yen from the original 500,000 yen.
After the conviction, a number of bookstores and chains removed their adults-only section; their motivation has been attributed to the outcome, in a "chilling effect". Less...