Historic Japanese erotica reveals Tokyo’s sex secrets
The British Museum is displaying 150 pieces of erotic art from Japan in one of its boldest ever exhibitions.
Known as Shunga, the pictures provide a perspective on sex quite different from European art of the same period.
The exhibition allows viewers to see the most intimate moments of Japan from a time when it was largely closed off from the rest of the world.
Most of the pictures are wood block prints, produced in Tokyo in the 16th, 17th and 18th Centuries and show a range of sex acts, often in explicit detail.
The term "Shunga" literally means "spring pictures"; a euphemism for the erotic art which flourished at a time when the city's population was growing rapidly and contact with the West was not allowed. They are also known as "pillow pictures" or "laughing pictures" and tend to show their subjects enjoying sex.
Most depict partnerships of men and women but there are some gay and lesbian scenes, as well as depictions of groups of people taking part in orgies.
(continued, whilsts religious nutjob moralists ruled the west it was all going on in japan)
