You may have heard it from various newsgroups, gossips and one particular book back in 1955 that sensationalized the very term that would have most normal people lose their lunch. But honestly, it's a kind of reality that is already happening, and usually well hidden in the dark.
Kodomo no Jikan is a poignant story from the brainchild of Watashiya Kaworu, which focuses on kids and and the act of maturing way too much for their own good. Of course, we tend to scold kids to stop acting like brats, but if faced in a situation where a girl would 'playfully' invite a 23-year-old teacher Aoki Daisuke to acts of... erm... debauchery... what can morality do?
Sure enough, the fan service (for the usual freaks) were more accidental and highly coincidental where adults would pass it off as innocent teasing. But in the eyes and mind of protagonist (or might as well anti-hero) Kokonoe Rin, she is one child who has gone through a personal life-altering event that forced her way to grow up rather prematurely. The same thing would go through her surrogate father and cousin Kokonoe Reiji, who has to struggle to keep up with his financial intake to support a child at the same time with his own personal demons of his childhood, thus the adult-hating adult becomes overprotective to the point of being obsessive towards Rin.
In all things insanity, Kodomo no Jikan is a kind of morality set in comic format as an eye opener for those who fear to tread through the subject. Japan has been a nation full of diverse fetishes and fads ranging from shops selling high school girls' used underwear to loli fashion. The present world has placed a boon that protects children from such realities, while only a number may use it to their advantage in order to gain a favor or two. Either the teacher was caught in a trap or willingly sets it off himself, the artist of Kodomo no Jikan abuses the very rules that governments from all nations to protect children, has found a way to gain a foothold into power.
Kodomo no Jikan is considered as the comic world's uncharted territory, where risk is involve for those who wish to enter. A little perverse, funny, clever, dramatic, as well as moving, this is one story that has broken through the boundaries between conservative ideals to realistic acceptance.
And until now, people still find it hard to tell a child on where babies come from.