The good burghers of the Japanese town of Okuizumo have suggested a giant replica of Michelangelo's David might do well to slip on some underpants, lest kiddies are left traumatised by an eyeful of the "big and unexpected" statue.

Okuizumo, in Shimane Prefecture, has enjoyed the 5-metre tall nude since last summer. It was erected in a park, courtesy of a local businessman, who also stumped up for an imposing Venus de Milo.

Town official Yoji Morinaga explained: "Some people have told the town’s legislators that toddlers are afraid of the statues because they are so big and they appeared unexpectedly over the summer. They are statues of unclothed humans, and such pieces of art work are very rare in our area. Some people apparently said the statues might not be good for their children."

We at El Reg are not experts, but believe David might actually be in contravention of Japan's obscenity laws, which require the pixelation of on-screen genitals in a process known as "bokashi", even when presented for adult-only consumption. ®

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