For over a decade, Kazuhide Inoue has been a quiet guardian of moral boundaries in Fukuoka City, Japan. Every few months, the 73-year-old visits eight special white “post boxes” in the city. Each visit, he turns a key and empties their contents, often filled with books and DVDs. During a recent trip, he collected 16 books and 81 DVDs in a single day.
These boxes, however, are not for returning rental materials; they serve a unique and often discreet purpose. The boxes allow individuals—primarily men—to safely discard unwanted pornographic material that could end up in the hands of unsuspecting children.
“Before these white boxes were installed, this material littered the streets,” Inoue told Kyodo news agency. Street bins in Japan are less common than in many other countries because citizens typically take their garbage home, a practice that intensified after the 1995 sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway system largely eliminated street rubbish bins.
However, the advent of digital pornography on smartphones is quickly making these boxes obsolete. The number of shiroposuto, identifiable by their distinctive white color and messages promoting children’s well-being, has sharply declined over the past decade. While exact counts are unavailable, these boxes, later joined by less noticeable steel containers, are fast becoming cultural relics.
In Nagasaki, local authorities recently experimented by closing several white post boxes on a trial basis. Usage had dropped from between 5,000 and 6,000 items annually during the early 2000s to approximately 2,000 last year.
‘Men of All Ages Come to Get Rid of Their Stuff’
Shiroposuto—white post boxes—originated in Amagasaki City in 1963 as part of a grassroots campaign by local mothers to combat the surge in pornographic literature following World War II.
Tokyo’s first porn disposal box appeared in 1966, and within three years, the capital boasted around 500 boxes, spreading this discreet disposal practice beyond western Japan.
A white shiruposuto post box in Fukuoka prefecture. Japan once had hundreds of the boxes, but their numbers have dwindled. Photograph: Yuko Obi
This initiative was driven by mothers’ concerns about safeguarding their children from potentially harmful content.
Today, these boxes are commonly found near railway stations, where men discreetly dispose of unwanted material, often in the cover of night to avoid detection.
“At night, when the streets are less crowded, men of all ages come to get rid of their stuff,” a Fukuoka taxi driver commented to Kyodo news.
Regular collections suggest some boxes still serve their purpose. For example, the city of Fukui installed two boxes as recently as 2018, and some require emptying every three months.
However, the precise number of boxes remaining is uncertain. Only one is reportedly active in Tokyo, in Mitaka, though Yuko Obi, a sociology professor at Tokyo Keizai University, believes they remain more popular in regional cities among older men who still rely on physical media.
The rise of online porn has diminished the boxes’ importance in protecting children from harmful materials. According to Obi, “They were effective in the 1960s, but Japanese society and media consumption have evolved.”
She adds, “Campaigners successfully raised awareness, but digital media makes it impossible to hide pornographic content.”
The Future of Shiroposuto
Japan’s efforts to clean up public spaces from potentially offensive or risqué images continue. For instance, major convenience store chains discontinued selling pornographic magazines ahead of the 2019 Rugby World Cup and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, citing concerns about the country’s international image.
Vending machines that once sold pornographic magazines have also fallen victim to such clean-up efforts, although a few might still exist in remote areas.
The aging population and the increasing prevalence of digital media suggest that shiroposuto may not have a long future. Obi notes, “They face maintenance costs, and not all officials are willing to fund their upkeep.”
Moreover, regular emptying by education officials and sometimes police officers adds to their operational challenges.
“These factors combined mean the number of shiroposuto will likely continue to decrease,” Obi predicts.
The Evolution of Media Consumption
The story of shiroposuto reflects broader changes in Japanese society. The shift from physical to digital media has fundamentally altered how people consume and dispose of information.
While the boxes may pale in significance, they represent a thoughtful approach to combating a societal issue with empathy and practicality.
Their decline signals a broader trend, highlighting society’s progression and the challenges of balancing cultural traditions with emerging technologies.
Conclusion
Japan’s white post boxes, or shiroposuto, have played a unique role in protecting children from unwanted pornography for decades. Their importance is now waning due to the shift towards digital media.
While the boxes may soon become a relic of the past, they symbolize a conscious effort to protect society’s most vulnerable members.
Join the Conversation
What do you think about the role of shiroposuto in Japanese society? Are there similar efforts in your community to protect children from such materials? Share your thoughts in the comments below!