Not unrelated, Wired implies that part of the problem with the manga was that they depicted bestiality. Although it seems that he wasn't convicted for the bestiality part?

I don't totally understand the law - maybe the bestiality helped further classify it as 'obscene'?

I assume that's something that just sounds good in a press release, not something that was actually a factor. But who knows. This guy never got his trial, so we'll never really know.

He wasn't convicted at all: he pleaded guilty.

@metamemetics: OK, but you get my point :). Does anyone have a suggestion for a succinct way to say what I meant to say?

convicted=found guilty and punishment decided. He was convicted. Pleading guilty is how the majority of people are convicted.