It’s been three and a half months now since 23 year old Mao Sugiyama cooked and served his own genitals to diners in Tokyo, but the “chef” is finally facing criminal charges. Tokyo’s Metropolitan Police Department has said that Sugiyama and three others who organized the event are looking at allegations of indecent exposure from public prosecutors. After undergoing voluntary surgery in order to fulfill his desire of becoming asexual, the young illustrator then offered to cook and serve his severed organs to five of the “luckiest” high-paying bidders.
Sugiyama has openly admitted to the event that was attended by more than 70 guests, and while it was never mentioned before now, he says that it was part of an effort to raise awareness about asexual people and others of sexual minorities. Interestingly police say there are no laws against cannibalism, so they have no issue with the “meal.” Instead, police spokespeople say, the organizers are being charged with openly displaying the severed genitals to those who knew what they were attending on May 13th. Sugiyama made it abundantly clear that he would cook his penis, scrotum, and testicles to five diners for roughly $250 each.
If the 23 year old and the three others are convicted of indecent exposure, defined in Japan as the display of obscene material, they can face up to two years in prison in possible combinations with a fine of 2.5 million yen (approx. $32,000). Sugiyama’s organs had been professionally removed by a physician and were tested as free of diseases. He made sure to adhere to all laws on organ sales, and a professional chef was present at the time of preparations and cooking to meet sanitation requirements.
[via Times Live]