Megumi Igarashi - or the 'good-for-nothing kid' - crowd funded the kayak based on a 3D scan of her genitalia and sent the file to backers as a thank you.

A Japanese artist on a mission to “demystify” female genitalia has been arrested under local obscenity laws for distributing a digitised model of her vagina for 3D printing. Megumi Igarashi - who works under the alias Rokudenashiko or ‘good-for-nothing kid’ - produced the 3D scan as part of a crowd funded project to create a kayak modelled on her genitalia.

But why vaginas? Rokudenashiko's art aims to breakdown taboos about female gentilia in Japan. Typically, female privates are discreetly referred to as "asoko" ("down there"), while the more descriptive "manko" ("pussy") is seen as far more vulgar.

Meanwhile, there are a tons of playful words for "penis" bandied about by kids and adults alike. Rokudenashiko says she also wants vaginas to be as "fun" and "pop" in Japan, too.

Initially, Rokudenashiko hoped to row her vessel across Lake Geneva. She ended up paddling on the Tama River, between Tokyo and Kanagawa.

The police alleged that Igarashi, 42, collected around 1 million yen in exchange for the scans, but local media has reported that Igarashi denies this and does not recognize the 3D scans as obscene.

Igarashi says she turned to 3D scanning and printing when she found that silicone molds used to make her diaoramas would “gradually deteriorate”:

“I was wondering how I can make it possible, and then I finally found that 3D scanner can make it happen easily! 3D scanner can be used to make a p***y boat that will go across the ocean!”