A Japanese court has found an artist not guilty of obscenity for displaying figurines modelled on her vagina, although it fined her for distributing digital data of her genitals.

Key points: Megumi Igarashi works under the name "Rokudenashiko", meaning "good-for-nothing girl"

Megumi Igarashi works under the name "Rokudenashiko", meaning "good-for-nothing girl" Court ruled her her figurines could be considered "pop art"

Court ruled her her figurines could be considered "pop art" She was found guilty of distributing digital data of indecent material

She was found guilty of distributing digital data of indecent material Her arrest in 2014 triggered a debate about women's rights and artistic freedom

Megumi Igarashi was arrested in 2014 when she produced a series of artworks modelled on her vagina, which were deemed obscene under the Japanese criminal code.

Among the artworks was a life-size kayak, which resembled her genitalia.

She pleaded not guilty to the three charges, claiming there was nothing obscene about her vagina or anyone else's and the law infringed on her rights to freedom of expression.

Yesterday the Tokyo District Court found her not guilty of obscenity for two of the charges, deeming the pink, plastic, smiling vagina figurines to be "pop art."

But the artist was fined 400,000 yen ($5,040) for the charge related to the distribution of the 3D data.

The judge ruled the data file produced an image which was strikingly similar to the vagina in question and could offer sexual arousal to people viewing it.

Megumi Igarashi says she is going to appeal against the verdict.

"This is part of my body, It's natural and it's not obscene," she said.

Ms Igarashi's lawyer, Takashi Yamaguchi, says distributing the data to fans or her art got her into trouble.

"Creating obscenity is not punishable under our law, nor possession of it," he said.

"The problem is the public distribution or public presentation that causes a problem."

In Japan, depictions of genitalia are always pixelated in publications such as pornographic magazines.

Mr Yamaguchi says there is no wriggle room within the law to allow for artistic expression.

"She can create art all she wants but she might have to comply with the law when it comes to actually presenting them. So that's how our legal system works," he said.

Case highlights sex differences in depicting genitalia

The case has highlighted differences in Japan between the depictions of male and female genitalia.

Each year, there is a festival of the penis in Kawasaki just outside Tokyo, where large pink plastic penises are carried down the street in a parade as crowds cheer and line the streets.

There is no similar festival celebrating female genitalia. In fact, it is considered too rude to even mention by name.

Megumi Igarashi is planning another exhibition of her artwork in July but yesterday she would not say if her vagina would once again play a starring role.