Anime Over - Anime & Manga Ban Passes

[Tsundere]

This will not mark the death of anime, manga and gaming (Yes this bill also affects games for those who dont know) from japan as we know it. It will just result in the fanservice heavy series will be pushed to the 18+ rating (I have also heard that hentai is also exempt from bill 156 for this reason). Also this law will only be in affect in Tokyo and nowhere else. This means that companies can move if the wish to publish their material. This is how kyoto animation are not going to be affected by this. This also can be a helping hand in the removal of heavy fanservice from anime which is not a bad thing (So long ikki tousen ^_^). Also its something like the this will only really come into effect if the author recieves 6 or more warnings within a twelve month period.

So you can still get your quality series. Also dont forget its questions the artistic merit of why they look like that.

I am annoed that the person who thought up this is an extreme racist and homophobe. His ideals are severely outdated (But this can be attributed to Japanese culture) and he would be more comfortable in 1910 not 2010. He does blame homosexuals for a lot of things if you ever read any of his statements.

[toyNN]

While its quite possible that the restrictions, move to 18+, etc... will be for stuff we've never heard of it will have a ripple down effect on the overall profitability of the publishers.

Similarly Tokyo is basically Japan so a ban or restriction there affects the profitability so much that it might as well be the whole country. Others have noted that items with an *adult* classification (Japan only as two, "general" and "adult") aren't sold through regular retail channels so its not like these things will just move to another rack.

And as you point out Tokyo Governor Ishihara views:

“Ishihara responded to the Tokyo Parent Teacher Association’s December 3 petition in support of the bill by saying, “It’s not just about children. We’ve got homosexuals casually appearing even on television. Japan has become far too untamed.”

So will their restrictions cascade over to yuri/yaoi titles that aren't too explicit like Uraboku or Maria Watches Over Us or Togainu no Chi.

Originally Posted by Tsundere I am annoed that the person who thought up this is an extreme racist and homophobe. His ideals are severely outdated (But this can be attributed to Japanese culture) and he would be more comfortable in 1910 not 2010. He does blame homosexuals for a lot of things if you ever read any of his statements.

Anyone read about the protest event?
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/inte...-protest-event

I took a few interesting snippets from Dan Kanemitsu's blog that might help educate and put perspective on a few things.

Secondly, it appears the publishing industry will continue to fight this revision and the mentality behind it for quite some time, so the heat will probably increase in the coming weeks and months. This is Kadokawa’s president Mr. Inoue’s message following the news of the bill’s passage in committee: “So [Bill 156] was approved. That’s unfortunate. But we should continue our opposition. We must continue to raise our voices. With [the help of] wisdom and courage, let’s stick it out.” Furthermore, 47 News reports how Mr. Shimizu, CEO of Kodansha and current chair of the Big 10 Manga Publishers Association expresses how their members are furious over how a bill that was previously defeated could be resuscitated and brought up to a vote so rapidly. Even more striking is the statement conveyed via newspiece on Jiji.　At Shueisha’s rookie manga author awards ceremony, Shueisha senior managing director Mr. Torishima was quoted saying, “I want new manga authors to produce manga that would blow away [Tokyo Governor] Shintaro Ishihara.” A senior editor at Shueisha, Mr. Araki asks that manga authors “don’t let the chilling effect [of increased regulation] stop you from doing material you want to do. Jump will feature anything [we feel] is exciting [to read]“. It’s clear the Big 10 have no intent to back down following their announcement to pull out of the Tokyo International Animation Fair, and event sponsored in part by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. With the Big 10 being made up of Shueisha, Shogakukan, Kadokawa Shoten, Kodansha, Akita Shoten, Hakusensha, Shonen Gahousha, Shinchosha, Futabasha, and LEED Publishing Co., Ltd., all huge industry giants, their lack of presence in the Tokyo International Animation Fair is starting to worry the Prime Minister of Japan.

Originally Posted by Kanashimi I understand what you're saying Zero, and I believe some people don't know what to believe in. Though at the same time I have to say that some of the things released in Japan are extreme, but I also believe there has to be some sort of freedom to what a person can create. Limiting creativity can be both negative and positive depending on the way one looks at it. I've said from the beginning that I'm on the strict spectrum of this argument, automatically assuming the worst of this bill; however, that doesn't change that the bill states that is is attempting to accept only items which are the "social norm". This phrase bothers me much more than anything else honestly. Social norm is so vague and can be so many things it's almost obnoxious to think of what does and doesn't classify here. As I've stated earlier, homosexuality or gay relations would essentially be discouraged in a piece of fiction. There was this great video over on Extra Credits about sexual diversity (you can view it here http://www.escapistmagazine.com/vide...xual-Diversity) and it brings up how characters who were trying to find themselves through sexuality and gender issues made the characters deeper as well as easier to relate to. Characters throughout any medium consistently have trouble defining who they are, having struggles, deep and dark places of the human psyche. My worry is that, depending on how strict the bill will be, are the dark things that help us discover ourselves and define characters with depth unacceptable because they don't fit a social standard? Looking at it that way is a bit more realistic in my eyes, and brings worry not only for things that have fan-service, but actual story and life to it. For example, when you're growing up did you think to yourself I wish this person would just die and imagine in your head to make yourself feel better? Have you ever experimented with drugs? Ditched school? Suicide attempts? Bullied or were bulled harshly? All these things are technically not acceptable (or legal) or right, but they're things that happen. Limiting a story that can touch people with real events brings out real emotion, I'm more worried about that. /me ranted too much /me leaps away for now

Personally limiting the story because of law is bad for business and limits creativity of an author. Fan service though in Japan has gotten out of control... Sora no Otoshimo and other manga/anime. Also anyone can excess pornographic/explicit things a lot easier than they can in other countries.

I'm going to say, I've only skimmed the bill, and I'm not too happy with it. I'm not a big fan of censorship in any fashion. I'm instead for parenting, and categorization or a rating system , yeah kinda censorship, but its better to warn and inform than to strip the creative muse from an author. As everyone has said the bill is too vague to actually do anything and to me is like the CMAA, but a Japanese version might come to existence which scares me.

I'm really hoping that the bill only focuses on the doujin industry and some of the more extreme exceses that are allowed to be published. I'm a fan of doujins, but seriously stealing stuff from creative geniuses for you own profit is a bad thing. And on the homosexual thing, I'm hoping this whole thing isn't a conservative crack down on homosexuals because Japan is facing depopulation as we all know. All these issues better not correspond politically with manga or I will be even more upset.

[Osaka]

Originally Posted by toyNN I seriously doubt if they want or would succeed in broadly interpret this new bill. Its quoted that the bill states "only manga and animation that glorifies or exaggerates illegal sexual acts". Is the fan service and such in titles like Strike Witches, School Days, or Demon King illegal or a sexual act? Seems it would depend on how broadly they want to interpret. While I don't know if its possible it would seem that the Japanese federal government could step in and declare it unconstitutional (assuming they have some way to override local laws). I think its also part of the bill that the material would be restricted (not banned) so its not sold to underage kids. If its strictly interpreted it might not affect that many titles and those it did would be pushed into an 18+ category.

I hope thats the case, I do think they need a new rating system but I hope they don't get too drastic.

[Jrockergirl]

It's only anime and mangas that are affected, the man behind the bill has written some nasty crap in his life one he had made into a manga and of course that's not touched, including nudity on tv.

This will heavily affect the anime/manga series because it also has problems against showing anything with underage kids where even school uniforms are being banned.

I just love how so many companies are banding together to say FU government you arent working with us or even talking to us but just slamming the door in the face....the response well deal with it, if you arent here this year next year you will crawl back

Originally Posted by Jrockergirl It's only anime and mangas that are affected, the man behind the bill has written some nasty crap in his life one he had made into a manga and of course that's not touched, including nudity on tv. This will heavily affect the anime/manga series because it also has problems against showing anything with underage kids where even school uniforms are being banned. I just love how so many companies are banding together to say FU government you arent working with us or even talking to us but just slamming the door in the face....the response well deal with it, if you arent here this year next year you will crawl back

The problem is that that the Diet is totally ignoring his rape stories and attacking the much bigger, and more wealthier manga/anime industry. The only reason its being attacked is because its big target and a big scapegoat.
There are problems with the excesses that have come to be allowed in doujins, manga, anime, and the industry as a whole. However, like everyone here I believe that there are other ways in doing what they are doing. Just card people.... its a lot easier.

[Osaka]

Wow perhaps he feels guilty for exposing children to the stuff he has written?

They need to be careful. They can go a little too far. They should think about all of the media and I think they haven't covered the nudity because you know how immature some people get when trying to let go of a form of masturbation.

While I appreciate the passion of many of the opinions I've read in this discussion, I cannot help but feel that they are somewhat overly-reactionary in nature. Japan is a culture of many centuries, and has changed more in the last 150 years than almost any Western nation or society in the same period. And that change is a continuing process. While we might cringe at the legal proceedings we are witnessing in Tokyo right now, we need remember that even here in the West censorship is still a very real problem. It must also be remembered that advances in personal (among them, artistic) freedoms often provoke harsh social reactions, whatever the society or culture. What is gained is often lost, at least in part, only to be regained later. In truth, I marvel that the anime industry blossomed so fully in Japan to begin with--of course maintaining its creative freedom will be challenging. But are we really so far beyond such restrictions ourselves, when news outlets so recently reported books being banned from public school libraries for "promoting witchcraft?" Freedom, once experienced, is much more likely to be curtailed rather than permanently lost. Be patient--I doubt this law will prove either as effectively restrictive or long-lasting as its author[s] hope[s].

[Osaka]

I kind of found out something; Among American television. Though not legally, The industry itself is overdoing it with making franchises or trying to make them "kid friendly"....Its a trend that was creeping forward but went into full swing when Toonami met its death.(I question if Toonami has died at all, TOM did say something that sounded more like he was going to comeback.)