Thread: Tokyo passes law banning selling of sexually explicit anime and manga to minors

Thoughts on this?

Personally I didn't even know such a law wasn't in place. So I think it's perfectly reasonable.

Source: BBC (I can't link it from my phone).

So before this, it was legal to sell sexually explicit anime and manga to minors in Tokyo?

Man, sometimes, I really envy the Japanese.

Here is another article about this bill.

Apparently the hardcore otakus think anime just got ruined forever.

EDIT: I found the original BBC Article:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-11998385

Tokyo has banned the sale and lease of anime films and manga comics depicting rape, incest and other sex crimes to under-18s.

A bill, introduced by the metropolitan assembly, calls on the industry to self regulate by toning down graphic comics and films on general release.

Publishers and retailers breaking rules face fines up to 300,000 yen (£2,280).

A group of publishers, complaining of censorship, have threatened to boycott March's Tokyo International Anime Fair.

Continue reading the main story
“
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You cannot possibly show such things to your own children”
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Governor Shintaro Ishihara
The bill was proposed by conservative governor Shintaro Ishihara who said it was "natural" the legislation had been passed.

"It's the conscience of the Japanese," he said after the vote.

"You cannot possibly show such things to your own children."

An industry group representing publishers and retailers expressed its "strong anger" over the vote which it sees as limiting freedom of expression.

"Artists of manga and anime have widely raised objections while the entire publishing industry has pointed out problems," it said.

Manga comics, popular with both adults and children in Japan, deal with themes including high school romance and literary classics as well as sometimes hardcore and violent pornography.

Does this mean that all examples of nudity and the like will have to be censored now?

Thanks for getting that source up Gligar.

Originally Posted by Azure Butterfly

Does this mean that all examples of nudity and the like will have to be censored now?

No, it means that kids can't own them.

So... things like Electric Tail of Pikachu, Pocket Monsters, Naruto, Dragon Ball, ect... cannot be owned by minors? O_o

Originally Posted by Azure Butterfly

So... things like Electric Tail of Pikachu, Pocket Monsters, Naruto, Dragon Ball, ect... cannot be owned by minors? O_o

No, because there's no actual porn in them.

Originally Posted by Jabberwocky

No, because there's no actual porn in them.

But the actual restrictions are so loose that they could claim that they would "corrupt the youth." The US isn't the only place with crazy people who think that things like Harry Potter and Pokemon are EVIL and must be kept away from the youth. :/

(And Pocket Monsters does have porn... D8)

Originally Posted by Azure Butterfly

But the actual restrictions are so loose that they could claim that they would "corrupt the youth."

In which case it would need to be determined to actually be a corrupting force in a court of law.

Anime isnt ruined forever. How did this get turned into that. They are trying to protect children.

This wasn't a law before? Purely why Japan is awesome.

LOL, it's not going to end the Adult Entertainment biz in Japan.

Still it's a nice feel good law to have in the books. 8)

I thought it was already a law.

Anyways, I'm not surprised. Good job Japan. You'll still have the massive amounts of moe fans buying the naughty stuff.

Originally Posted by Jabberwocky

No, it means that kids can't own them.

Unless its an erotic novel, or even one of those erotic novels with random illustrations. And magazine. Thats all still legal for japanese kids to own, I believe :/