If you searched "myfans Fueiho" and ended up here, you probably got a little worried — "wait, is this service illegal?" Short answer: myfans itself isn't illegal. That said, it does genuinely intersect with the "Fueiho" (Adult Entertainment Business Law) framework more seriously than you might expect. This article breaks the topic down from two angles: as a viewer, and as someone considering becoming a creator.
📌 The short version (3 lines)
What is the "Fueiho" law, exactly?
What part of myfans is actually covered (the free/paid line)
How the actual filing process works, and what happens if you don't file
How myfans itself is handling this
What viewers actually need to worry about
"Fueiho" is short for the "Act on Control and Improvement of Amusement Business, etc." (風俗営業等の規制及び業務の適正化等に関する法律). It was originally written to regulate physical businesses like hostess clubs and brothels, but it includes a category called "video-transmission-type sex-related special business" (映像送信型性風俗特殊営業). Put simply, this category covers businesses that distribute sexual content for payment over the internet.
Posting adult photos and videos on a fan platform like myfans, Fantia, or CandFans through monthly plans or individual sales falls squarely into this "video-transmission-type sex-related special business" category. This is the single most common "wait, I had no idea" reaction people have to this topic.
Not covered
Free content only
If you're posting without charging any money, a Fueiho filing is reportedly not required.
Covered
Monetized through paid access
If you're earning money by distributing sexual content through monthly plans, individual sales, etc., this applies to you.
In other words, the line is simply "whether or not money changes hands." Since most of the posts you see on myfans are structured as monthly plans or individual purchases, it's fair to say this covers a fairly wide range of creators in practice.
The obligation to file rests with the individual creator, not the platform. myfans doesn't handle this on their behalf. Based on a summary of explanations from administrative scrivener (gyoseishoshi) offices, the process generally looks like this:
Secure an office/workspace
This needs to be either a home you own, or a rental property where the landlord has given consent for this type of use.
Gather the required documents
This includes a residence certificate (with registered domicile noted), a landlord consent form, a copy of the lease agreement, a certified copy of the building registry, and more.
File at least 10 days before you start distributing
You submit a "video-transmission-type sex-related special business" notification form to the police station (Public Safety Commission) with jurisdiction over your office location.
Required per account
If you're distributing across multiple accounts or multiple services, a separate filing is reportedly required for each one.
Honestly, this is a fairly involved process. Between securing a workspace and preparing the required documents, it's high-effort enough that many creators reportedly hire an administrative scrivener to handle it for them rather than doing it on the side themselves.
⚠️ Penalties for operating without filing
Reportedly, penalties can include imprisonment of up to 6 months, a fine of up to ¥1,000,000, or both.
This is clearly not a minor issue — "I didn't know" isn't going to cut it here. This penalty is exactly why myfans has been taking steps on this, which is the next part of the story.
myfans reportedly announced officially on July 5, 2024 that it would require this filing from creators on an individual basis. In other words, this isn't a service that's turning a blind eye and running unregulated — it's a service trying to operate in line with the legal framework. This lines up with what we covered in our earlier article, Is myfans safe to use?, and if anything, it's worth taking as a point of reassurance.
If you've read this far and started worrying "wait, do I need to file something too if I'm just watching?" — don't worry, you're fine.
💡 Viewers have no filing obligation
The Fueiho filing obligation applies only to the "creator side" distributing content for payment. Users who just view or purchase content have no obligation related to this filing whatsoever. If anything, it's fair to think of it as: you're using a service that has a system in place assuming this filing happens.
If you're thinking about posting on myfans yourself, this changes things. If you're planning to distribute paid adult content, you'll likely need to secure a workspace, prepare documents, and file at least 10 days in advance. Since the process is fairly complex, it's safest to consult a specialist like an administrative scrivener before moving forward (this site doesn't handle filing on anyone's behalf, so please reach out to a specialized administrative scrivener office for individual consultations).
Q. Could myfans itself get shut down or prosecuted?
A. The filing obligation belongs to the individual creators distributing content, which is a separate question from the platform's own legality. myfans reportedly requires creators to file as part of its own compliance approach.
Q. I only watch free posts — does this affect me?
A. If it's free-only, it reportedly isn't covered by Fueiho at all. Even if you do sign up for a paid plan, viewers have no filing obligation.
Q. Does the same apply to Fantia and CandFans?
A. The same "video-transmission-type sex-related special business" framework reportedly applies. The finer details may differ by platform and could shift depending on future regulatory developments.
It's true that myfans intersects with the "Fueiho" law, but that's not a story about "the service being illegal" — it's a story about "creators distributing paid adult content having a procedural obligation to file a notification." Given that myfans itself has been moving to comply with this, viewers don't need to worry excessively — if anything, it's fair to see this as a sign the platform is operating with real structure. If you want to know more about how to use myfans and stay safe, check out Is myfans safe to use? and What is myfans? as well.
※This article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Please consult a specialist, such as an administrative scrivener, regarding your specific situation.
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