Customs Fines Printer of Madonna’s ‘Sex’
TOKYO — Customs officials have fined a printing company that produced the Japanese version of “Sex,” Madonna’s explicit photographic tribute to her libido.
The Tokyo Customs Office has ruled that portions of Madonna’s book are obscene and has seized copies brought in by travelers at airports.
Customs officials said Friday that Toppan Printing Co. got the book’s imported photographic plates past inspectors by filing a false report that said the plates were of written text, not photographs. The fine was for the false report.
The Japanese version of “Sex,” published by the Kyoto-based Dohosha Co., went on sale in December with several photographs retouched to obscure male genitalia.
More to Read
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.