Customs Blocking Hentai
While many of us have been treated like criminals going through customs, this is the first time I've come across scum treatment for possession of comics...
Saturday, I was surrounded by six officers, two watching me as the four others went page by page through my books looking for pornographic images and other evidence I was a sexual predator.Read the rest at Screw Bronze.
How did this happen? I said a word which Canada Customs considers dirty: Manga. As soon as I declared that I had some of the japanese inspired comic books called manga, a Custom’s officer said, “That’s the stuff from Japan; there is some really obscene and filthy stuff.” No, I pointed out, these was printed in America and very mainstream.
As more and more officers were called in, the six manga books I had were examined in detail. They were looking, they told me, for pornographic, obscene and adult material. “The age rating is on the back of each book.” (each manga book has ratings like 13+ or 15+ - mine were 13+).
I was informed that I could have put different covers on or done anything else I could to get the pornography in and that if I spoke anymore, the books would be seized. So I stood there and watched my previously new books get examined page by page, thumbed through and pressed open because it was assumed if I read manga, that I was a sex offender.
I probably should remove the Pink Chu Chu badge from my bag when traveling through Canadian customs to avoid toraburu.
Original text from JChow below.
Well after browsing around I found this piece of article:here
It seems that Canadian and US customs are blocking packages that contain Hentai Mangas and other sort of explicit material from Japan.
Here is a topic from HongFire I saw: "Well I've been ordering some hentai manga online for a while now. Just recently I got an email informing me that my order was canceled. The reason given was that they themselves had just gotten a letter from Canada
customs informing them that hentai manga is no longer allowed through the border."
HongFire original here: here
So seems like you can't order hentai legally online now. Or pass through customs without having people stare at you thinking your a pervert and looking through your manga page by page.
What do you guys think of this?
Image from Konachan: here
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EX-NSF / NS-Men / Certis Cisco Protection Officer
What the hell? Since when does the government became our mothers? Who are they to decide what is good and what is bad for us?
Your local Otaku Cashier.
Since they were given any kind of power, and they have the power to decide what is good and not good for you. But hey, at least you don't live in the Nanny State.
Student
http://burningland.deviantart.com/
And yet they bitch because we'll have a friend ina coutry that can get it without the legal hassles and have them mail it to us.
I believe the US itself has a list of books taht can not be purchased within the US. I suppose eventually the list will contain every hentai manga title. Too bad they'll need to update the damn thing every few months.
Limousine Driver
The worst part about this is that they are going after freedom of expression. This is the same as freedom of speech. Their first target appears to be art. The "They" would be an elitist government.
future president(hopefully)
Yeah right, turns out their so called "Law" is just Hypocrisy like they really hate it. It's just not right you know it's all normal that people like those stuff. Sex has been here with us since the beginning of time. How dare they say it's against the law! I say F*ck you!! If it's so illegal what's the difference with your adult mags! What was the purpose of age ratings?!
Student
So you can bring porn, but not hentai? What about hentai dvds or figures?
Delivery Driver | Semi-student
http://www.soulfringe.com/
This is the first step the government will take before it becomes just like a certain anime we saw this past year. You know, the one with librarians and guns. Toshokan Sensou.
Dirty Gentleman
http://cantstanzya.wordpress.com/
Errrrr? Wonder if this will interfere with Super Soniko figure @.@
Unemployed bummer
that one that you won? should be fine right? after all, it's natural display state wasn't the bare-eyes version.
isn't there any way to circumvent the customs by declaring it as a gift?
大がくせい
It probably won't cause trouble since she doesn't look too much like a child and isn't a dfl...now where I to order this one *NSFW* http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10080836 .....then that could totally mean trouble. And here I wanted to order most Koihime Musou figure. orz
Professional Panhandler
http://theinfernoproject.com
LMAO...you'll end up on Nancy Grace who'll declare you a monster on national tele
Pseudo-Graphic Designer, 触手 wrangler, H-Man
http://lightningsabre.blogspot.com/
It'd be good if they made the box without a see through window. I notice some hentai figures just uses a cardboard box without a plastic window. If not, it'll be covered by the apron by default.
Dirty Gentleman
http://cantstanzya.wordpress.com/
Thanks for the support guys. I really appreciate it.
Happy New Year!
Kokoro Kotonoha's personal trainer
http://loli1983.wordpress.com
No offense but Canada depresses me. But the law is the law.
I've never ordered any hentai or such related materials so i've never had this problem, although i can test sites like J-list to see if my order would make it here successfully. I'm sure it would since Canada is not in the state of California's way.
Blogger Looking For Employment
http://www.theandysan.com
And here I thought that Canada was the cool, laid-back part of North America...
Professional Panhandler
http://theinfernoproject.com
Nah...Cuba is more laid back than Canada :P
DSL Tech Support T____T, Kita-Kon Chairman
http://www.kita-kon.org
No offense but the USA has been blocking h-manga for years, the fact that this randomly happened at a Canadian border crossing doesn't mean it happens regularly. This is actually one of a few incidences that i have heard happen in Canada in the last 10 years. I'm also going to wager a guess that this was in the West because they have caught some people with loli material and everyone is afraid they are pedos : /
Student
http://andreijournal.blogspot.com
Canada sure is strict. US doesn't have that restriction, maybe because we have a small Japanese town here, selling those things. Hmm
カタイ－ガクセイ
I swear to god, if the US does restrict stuff like that, Im moving. That just settles it right there.
Anime Store Owner, artist, Web master
http://www.chucksanimeshrine.com
I second that
Artist (Check my website)
http://www.freewebs.com/topperception
I...(third?) that!
I like my freedom thank you σ.σ
Student
http://justobserving.wordpress.com/
Well...
THAT SUCKS 0_o. Hopefully they manage to get stuff at Anime North, or I'm f@#ked.
Although Canada can be pretty strict about certain random things.
Student
http://web.mit.edu/anime/www/index.shtml
How come human porn is fine but eroge illustrations are not ok?
That is so dumb. -__-"
Amateur novelist
http://memories-of-eternity.com
Because evidently, the majority of the people who make these laws don't use their heads. Sadly.
http://thetruemelody.wordpress.com/
agreed.
University Student
agreed too. stupid bureaucrat
NEET part-time - Technical Support Officer - Network security engineer
http://burugureibi.blogspot.com/
it should also be noted that that they are never affected by the laws they make in the first place
tl;dr - they make the rules, but they never use them
sucks how that works doesnt it?
Student, Bioresearch Assistant, WAVE VP Communications
http://gndynames.wordpress.com
Agreed wholeheartedly.
Student
http://sanguinerose.wordpress.com/
Totally agree.
BioResearch Assistant
It's stemming from the explicit loli manga. Apparently they're generalizing it and now saying that any and all explicit manga are or could end up being loli and are now banned, instead of just going after loli manga. They see the illustrations having a gray area where the age and character don't always correspond. "She may be 18 but drawn like 15" ....and all that.
With explicit material involving real individuals there is no gray zone. If she's even a day under 18 you're in jail.
Media Student
Not to mention the blocking of Loli manga is ridiculous anyway. An argument brought up all over the internet but nevertheless a valid one, no children are harmed from drawings.
http://thetruemelody.wordpress.com/
agreed.
on the subject, look at http://www.sankakucomplex.com/2008/12/16/japan-lags-in-loli-ban-unicef-lies-exposed/
Media Student
I have already read it however thank you.
大学の学生 １st year
http://otakunaka.blogspot.com/
But you must rememeber there are some RL girls that are 18+ but look younger.
For example my friends shes 18 (whilst im still 17) but looks like a 15 year old.
BioResearch Assistant
True. Very good point. I'm just bringing up the possible logic behind their decision.
In terms of that you would probably expect an answer going on the fact that despite looking younger she is still in fact of legal age and that cannot be changed or invalidated in any way. With illustrations it's really subjective based on what the creator wants. They can always change it since the character is fictional.
Disregarding the latter though, an argument on character and age conflicts with real-life individual and age since it's basically the same: The character looks 15 but is 18...my friend looks 15 but is 18. The courts would never dare to deny an individual's natural born rights just because they look younger than they actually are and allowing them to do such things is morally corruptible based on that. There they encounter a dilemma.
That's why that ban should be invalidated or changed at the least. It doesn't flow logically.
Then again they go around that by saying character's are fictional are subject to exceptional reasoning. With that though you begin to deviate from the argument and loss flow but somehow magically arrive to reason.
...Amazing.
大学の学生 １st year
http://otakunaka.blogspot.com/
Abosultely true and that's why I hate it >_>. I just told her and even she thinks it's stupid. But you know I don't see what's wrong? It's not as if its hurting anyone and the girl/guy in the doujinshi whatever can't really feel it or be hurt so ~
BioResearch Assistant
It's the principle of the thing. By allowing such material to flow around - even if its fictional - that will only incite individuals into liking explicit material involving minors which could then lead those corrupted people into committing real acts of violence and perversion.
Basically by setting a law that bans loli, activist groups and lawmakers hope to stamp out a possible motivator for abuse against minors.
However there's no strong or supporting evidence supporting the notion that people who view loli are likely to or will commit such crimes.
Student
http://www.certaincake.com
Sadly, at least over here, "she is still in fact of legal age and that cannot be changed or invalidated in any way" my sorry rear end.
Thanks to the new youth pornography laws passed over here not long ago, it's actually the looks of the actor that decide wether shit is outlawed or not, even if the actor is of legal age. (Of course, the actor has to be of legal age. But that alone is not enough.)
Of course, there is no clear-cut definition of what 'looks' underage, so it's apparently up to the judge to decide wether or not this applies.
I am looking forward to some very ridiculous court cases in the near future.
BioResearch Assistant
Wow. That's pretty strict. I doubt manga would hold up there if they went ahead and applied it to real life productions as well.
Germany, right?
Student
http://www.certaincake.com
Germany, yes. And the law includes both RL pornography and drawn art. (As well as, to my knowledge, as the lawbabble is strong with this one, with all sorts of written fiction that is -not- printed paperback. (Probably some kind of failsafe to prevent written works by well known literary figures getting the banhammer) As in, a document on an HDD, for one.)
Reading about fanpages of teenie-idols removing all the fanfic in a mad panic was somewhat amusing.
Also: You respond to comments -fast-. Do you just check your own comments regularily by hand (like I do), or do you have some sorta nifty trick/secret?
BioResearch Assistant
Wow, that's very strict. I'm not sure about fictional writings over here in the US. Chances are if a writer posted anything like that on the internet they would get flagged by the Feds and investigated in secret for any further incriminating evidence.
Eh, just for today. I'm just looking around DC longer than I usually do hence the faster replies. Apart from looking at articles I try to get back to comments I've made that day as fast as I can.
student
That's just one of quite a few laws written in such a way that they could mean pretty much anything. Another example is § 202c StGB that is banning tools that could be used to break into computers and/or steal information.
This is problematic because a lot of those tools (e. g. port scanners) can be used for such purposes but can and are also used for perfectly legal activities like securing a company network. This means that a lot of network administrators sail close to the wind when they are just doing their job.
I don't think these laws will be enforced a lot but I'm sure they will be used as wild cards. The authorities hate you but they didn't find anything they could use to put you behind bars? No problem, just use one of the wild cards that can be used against pretty much anyone.
The only way to save yourself from such dirty tricks is using things like harddrive encryption to make sure they never get control over your data.
Student
http://www.certaincake.com
Well. Technically it is now (as of a few days ago) legal for them to try to install a trojan to your computer to closely monitor you as of a few days ago, just on the grounds of suspicion and without needing the matter to go through court.
Ugh.
Working on getting a full disk encryption set up on all computers and moving windows to virtual machines only is pretty high on my priority list now.
Delivery Driver | Semi-student
http://www.soulfringe.com/
Because non-animed porn is considered "normal" and anime/manga is associated with pedos.
Another ignorant stereotype, although a good chunk of the otaku make it true. Thanks 2/4chan.
High School Student
I hate the law. They are usually stupid and very unnecessary.
are there any thats not stupid ?
Professional Panhandler
http://theinfernoproject.com
Going to jail if you kill someone doesn't sound stupid to me...though I would prefer them executed personally.
Mad scientist
Most laws actually makes sense. The thing is that we don't think about the laws that makes sense to us since it comes natural to us. We have some laws like cars should be on the road (and in the correct side) and people on the sidewalks. We don't think about this as odd but it's actually declared that way by law. We just notice laws when we disagree with them, not when we agree ^^
NEET
Since importing printed material is banned... I won't be surprised people start selling digital manga or 'print it yourself' manga ^^
I still don't see why they have to block only 2D hentai material... They should banned all if they really mean business~
Student
GAH! They are gradually going out of control! Think of the Figures! Won't someone please think of the figures?! I am still waiting on some figure orders!~ No!~
Self Employee NEET
http://www.nekoroid.com
Find some friend at US to order the manga, Then bring to Canada. XD
Self Employee NEET
http://www.nekoroid.com
Wait, I tought US allowing people ordering "H material" legally aslong as you already 18 years old?
BioResearch Assistant
Both sources point only to Canadian Customs blocking hentai containing manga.
Nothing there cites US Customs doing so as well. You may want to change that.
And the word of one person replying to the HF Thread isn't exactly credible.
Animation Grad looking for work
That is weak sauce. Let someone look at whatever gets them off. Nothing wrong with drawings in my opinion.
http://jhkplaya888.shiryoukan.com/
In canada 2d = 3d. Literally basically in there law if you have manga its considered real, and thus banned.
In the USA there was a guy arrested for having loli manga. Its quite sad to see the USA do something like that which is clearly in violation of like free speech or something.
BioResearch Assistant
There are limitations to the First Amendment though...it depends what the courts say.
Depends on what your state court says. You pretty much tell them "Up Yours" and go to Supreme Court and they go "Stupid state courts..." and then let you off the hook. This takes time and such but it delivers blows to what they can do.
Also though it never states it for that one guy. He had a past record of um...certain things that weren't exactly legal. Though he was only busted for loli manga this time I'm sure it violated some sort of rule he had to abide by.
BioResearch Assistant
Eh, more or less. The Supreme Court can basically invalidate anything a state court rules but won't let you off the hook. Unless you have a valid case one shouldn't risk Supreme Court ruling as it will provide precedence. They can make or break you and any future cases.
http://jhkplaya888.shiryoukan.com/
For cases like this in the USA i think the supreme court struck it down like 4 times in the past, so from what i hear they changed it to moving materials across state lines or something. Not sure though.
It will be quite a sad day when america thinks of 2d as 3d...then some random dude might draw a stick figure and call it under 18 and bam jail >_<
BioResearch Assistant
Like in Australia? That's basically what one of their judges said when ruling against someone convicted of holding loli.
Supreme court in past cases have ruled in favor of the person with the manga. Not to sure with the near future though. A few are ready to hang up their robes and Soon to be President Obama will have his shot at I think around 3 seats and god knows what will happen then.
Student
http://gsquaredworks.blogspot.com/
has it actually been confirmed as a law in the US? also, can't buyers just request the seller to do discreet packaging, and hope customs dont actually check?
BioResearch Assistant
It hasn't.
And customs don't open up through all packages I believe. Only ones deemed suspicious. They do check packages via scanning machines, canine units, etc...
A Real RocknRolla
yeah true but if they generalize like you said before they will think anything coming from japan that is a smaller package contains manga, AKA the root off all evil in some morons head, and will check it any way. best thing to do is if you have a friend in Europe or any place outside of the US and Canada is to buy it for you unpacks it, repacks it in a totally different thing, write on FRAGILE and send it to you. it will cost a lot, but still you get better chances to get it.
Mad scientist
sometimes they also pick random packages in order to try to catch those who really try to conceal bad stuff. It's impossible to make the package that will never be checked.
Pseudo-Graphic Designer, 触手 wrangler, H-Man
http://lightningsabre.blogspot.com/
I'm ordering a couple of eroge from RightStuf... I hope those goes through. I always hesitated ordering H materials from the US because of customs -_- Very risky, but I'm hoping it might be pushed through with no problem.
I worry about figures too, but I found a Canadian website that sells ecchi figures, so if I want one, it'll be from there.
大がくせい
Care to share the link? I could interested in ordering from them also.
Pseudo-Graphic Designer, 触手 wrangler, H-Man
http://lightningsabre.blogspot.com/
http://www.mangaworld.ca/
I've never ordered one from them before, so don't really know how good they'll be.
Student and Computer tech
http://blog.benpi.ca/
I have ordered many figures on this website before and they have a really good service. I recommend you to order from them!
College Student
Sadly, bad experiences are sometimes more memorable than good ones. In '07, I remember arriving in Canada from Hong Kong and noticed that my luggage had been checked because I had put locks on mine and I saw that the lock was missing and the zippers were broken. I had 3 figures in my luggage but they weren't confiscated. When leaving Canada for Alaska, i was momentarily pulled over by some official for a random Passport/ID check.
Then when it was time for me to fly back to Boston, before the security checkpoint, a lady came up to me and said that I was chosen for a special screening meaning that my carry on bag was going to be looked at. It was an OMG moment for me that time because I was carrying two bricks of a rice powdered substance that my grandmother gave to me from HK for my mom. The person checking my bag was thinking it was cocaine or drugs. The bag of powder was not marked at all because it was probably obtained through a mom & pop store that wouldn't give a damn about paying for special packaging. There wasn't a quick way for them to verify if it was drugs or not since opening the bag would mean instant spillage and hassle. Even putting a needle through it is not a good option. So they let me slide, but not without them jotting something about me on their forms.
Looking back, I think I should've placed the rice powder in my luggage and clothes in my carryon but then my luggage was checked, and they could've confiscated it that time and I needed my clothes in my luggage to cushion the figure boxes. ^^
I really felt like I was being discriminated against the three times I was at the Vancouver Airport. I know Vancouver has a large asian population and I've heard that the city would not be where it is now without asian investors and residents. But maybe because of that, they know there's lots of weird stuff and weird food being brought over to Canada.
Well, long story short, I hope my "obscene" artbook illustrations and figures I've gotten from Hong Kong will reach the US safely.
Media Student
Honestly, you're a braver one than I for even considering going through an airport with an unmarked bag of powdered substance.
Student, Bioresearch Assistant, WAVE VP Communications
http://gndynames.wordpress.com
It might be because real smugglers would do better to hide their stuff? I dunno just a thought.
Mad scientist
I think that was a case of "oh, I didn't think of that".
Besides they are very strict regarding importing food. The reason is that they fear it contains bugs and other nasty stuff that USA/Canada don't have and really don't want to import. They keep all sorts of food all the time because of this.
♦College Student♦
Oh wow. Most I've heard/known was that you couldn't bring anything Loli/Shota over here.
Student
http://myanimelist.net/profile/Unyuu
This is sad... and really stupid ><.
student / NEET
seriously... does monetary crisis these days burns law maker brains or sanity?
things are just going down to the sink even more deep lately
australia ban loli stuff
america ban loli stuff
japanese stuff is just getting more expensive
censor to anime's
what's wrong with this world lately!!!!!???
Student, Bioresearch Assistant, WAVE VP Communications
http://gndynames.wordpress.com
I'll tell you what I told everyone else who asks about the world, "Everything."
Student
http://www.cybernetresources.com
This kind of worries me because I ordered Kimichi Yoshizuki Art Works: Calendar Film from HLJ and it has been in the mail for 27 days so far (actually, my mom paid for it as a christmas present...). On average, SAL takes me 10 days and only one time did I have an issue like this and 10 days was added mainly due to mail forwarding at my post office (so reallly, it took around 20 days). Now, the artbook I ordered is far from explicit, but if they are checking these things ..bleh, if anything is wrong with my art book I am going to be so mad.
I guess this means no hentai...maybe. I've never actually ordered any, but if by the chance I decide to, I feel like I may have a problem now :S
Customs & Weird Stuff
Not that familiar with Canada Customs, as I mainly deal with US Customs, but in
my experience Customs are usually A$$s about their authority regardless of country.
US Customs *DOES* have the authority to seize *WHATEVER* they want during
your re-entry into the US. Your item may be perfectly legal, but if the Customs
inspector is an arrogant SOB, and they decide it is "questionable" then they
can confiscate it. It is within their authority to do so by law. (Illegal material
obviously gets confiscate of course)
**HOWEVER**, I doubt there is a Federal law BANNING importing h-manga from Japan into the US.
Actually, I don't see how it would work as US Customs only sees on a high level of imports.
Customs may see you are importing a "art book" but will not know what the contents of the
art book are (innocent Japanese Samurai drawings or H-manga) unless they hold your shipment
and physically examine the shipment and look at the contents.
Customs & Weird Stuff
I should clarify that by saying "Importing h-manga into the US" I mean, via
postal,FedEx,UPS,etc. If you physically carry it in your luggage and you are
searched during your re-entry into the US, and the Customs Inspector is one
of those arrogant lazy US government employees, and that inspector find the
h-manga questionable, then you may be screwed.
pokemaster
http://francast.wordpress.com/
the customs and police here are just dxxks and power hungry aholes. this whole country is run by morons. i have zero respect for these guys.
24/7 Otaku / 100% Haruhiist
http://www.zeroaquaduct.com
I agree. Unfortunately, customs officers, police officers, as well as Canada Revenue Agency authorities, are mostly on a power trip here in Canada. I even find construction workers directing traffic through construction zones to be on a power trip most of the time too.
Raven, AMV & MAD maker, Otaku
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=last0raven
when i see these comments. i feel like we all have lost our privacy and enjoyment.
Domon Kasshu fanboy/ Starving Artist
http://tammaro.deviantart.com/
This is bull of the highest degree. Canada used to be the nicest easiest country in the continent to get into, but ever since Harper passed all these new border laws with the republicans down south, it's been tarnished. I feel like there's no point to going to Japan now almost.
pokemaster
http://francast.wordpress.com/
just buy and don't think about it. if you get checked, you are gonna get swrewed over anyways even if didn't bring any porn.
Art student
http://ohcirnine.wordpress.com
I'm walking in from here , don't mind if I do...
Let me reiterate some questions from that thread:
For immigrants, they have to describe and list down everything they're bringing in. How does one go about that with manga and figurines?
The second question is what kind of behavior does Canadian Customs take when it comes to items within mailing boxes(like from internet orders)?
Student and full-time otaku
Damn...bunch of uptight gits...hope we don't get these problems in Europe. It is legal, nonhurting merchandise afterall, right?
JR. College Student
http://npc.talkingincircles.net/
Eeeexxaaactly!
People seriously have their priorities mixed up. There are plenty of REAL issues we could be putting our tax dollars to work on. Don't get me started... if worst comes to worst sometime in the future, Otaku will have to protest for their right to import health care. When that happens we'll officially have two messed up health care systems haha.
Mechanical Engineering student
http://sabekujikaneda.multiply.com/
I hope I don't encounter the same problems here in the Philippines. But then again, the government (and it's people) copies EVERYTHING from USA so there's a high possibility it'll happen here as well. I feel bad for you guys though *pats you all in the back* x_x
Student
http://sanguinerose.wordpress.com/
But then again, the government (and it's people) copies EVERYTHING from USA so there's a high possibility it'll happen here as well.
^^^ And that is why our country's economy is deep down the sink right now.
Mechanical Engineering student
http://sabekujikaneda.multiply.com/
But you know, I think we won't be affected by this economic crisis too much. The Filipinos are very experienced when it comes to living in poverty so I think we won't be affected too much x_x
High school student
http://www.animeraku.com
This is very sad and stupid. I hope that Europe won't meet the same fate as America.
Office Administrator
http://aquilla429.co.uk
Well I don't like or approve of hentai, but banning it is a bit stupid. You could still walk into the local and buy a sleazy pron mag couldn't you? So why should harmless pictures be banned.
Wanderer of the Mist
http://hangmen13.16ops.com/
So much for Western democracy.
Student, Bioresearch Assistant, WAVE VP Communications
http://gndynames.wordpress.com
Democracy pretty much means any pissed off person has the right to complain and the government has to do something about it.
24/7 Otaku / 100% Haruhiist
http://www.zeroaquaduct.com
I have some experience with Canadian customs (postal) since I used to run an online computer business back in the old days. If you try to import "obscene" material, they would simply confiscate it and give you a letter instead of your package. The letter will explain the reason for the confiscation. On the other hand, if they define the material you have as "child pornography," then you could be in trouble.
Myself-finder
anyone know is singapore safe? if u bring back through luggage it's safe ( i'm a living example!)
Nekophilia
Ze end of za warudo!
Figurine & Gundam Hunter
Don't know about Singapore, I want to know about the custom here in Malaysia. Will they check my order for Hentai Figurine?
thousand master II, Internet Learner, Auto didacta
http://pipopaz.wordpress.com/
Dude this really hit me hard since i was expecting to move to Canada to Study my career, but then will all my manga be searched when i arrive or what?
http://paliodor.wordpress.com
OMG, that sukcs totally, the world is starting to be a Medieval dictatorship if this goes like that...
The only thing that I could say for all those politics,Unicef and etc when I read stuff like this is:
Use brain idiots...
Student, Otaku, She-Geek(Sheek lol)
http://meimi132.wordpress.com/
OMG.....
Moment for our fallen comrade........
WTF?!? I thought the UK had issues... but Canada is even crazier apparantly... And to think I wanted to move to Canada.... I wonder how they'd react to a girl reading some of the dirtier stuff though? I'd like to see their faces actually.... Asswipes...
Art student
http://ohcirnine.wordpress.com
I thought the UK was even worse than Canada. I was under the impression they're the ur-example of a "paranoid nanny state" with all their new policies.
Gundam Meister
The world is in total distortion! That's why we need Celestial Being!
Violinist
lol, celestial being does an armed intervention on Canadian customs? Overkill.
High School Student
It's alrighty overkill to for Customs to be doing this.
~Undine~
http://bluebluewave.wordpress.com
Sounds like biased illicit targeting and prosecution of certain goods and groups by customs.
I would seriously ask if doing that is saving the Canadian people from suffering any additional crimes being committed.
大がくせい
Actually, from a judge, they do believe by doing so they protect the children from horrible pedophile sex offender.
"Interpreting "person" in accordance with Parliament's purpose of criminalizing possession of material that poses a reasoned risk of harm to children, it seems that it should include visual works of the imagination as well as depictions of actual people. Notwithstanding the fact that 'person' in the charging section and in s. 163.1(1)(b) refers to a flesh-and-blood person, I conclude that "person" in s. 163.1(1)(a) includes both actual and imaginary human beings."
From wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lolicon#Canada
But then....that should make most video game and movie illegal.....since isn't killing virtual people a threat to real people, if you go by that line of though?
Technical Account Manager
http://howdoyoufigure.wordpress.com
This isn't the first case of censorship like this. There's a case that's panning out in Iowa right now (more info: http://www.cbldf.org/pr/archives/000372.shtml) where a collector was arrested for posession of "obscene" manga. The man faces a 20 year sentance for the crime under the PROTECT act.
I guess not being able to import isn't so bad after all...
student
Is it just me or has the whole world gone nuts since 911? As if throwing everyone's rights out of the window in the name of "security" is not enough, moralist crackpots have a field day as well.. -_-
http://yuuwaku.wordpress.com
I just had a package clear US customs from Hobbysearch with a figure (no bare anything), and a hentai manga o.O Hope they didn't seize or put my name on a list of anything...it should be delivered today...
Maybe it's a good thing I held off on ordering those shota erocomics... lol Was gonna see how my first package went, and if that made it, I might make another order...
Graphic Designer
Wow, remind me to never go through customs.
Violinist
In the end, isn't it just because they want our money? Or I dunno, something along those lines?
Civil Servant
http://kyokohunter.net/
Absolutely horrendous. Seems like anything 2D is being demonized. I'd like to see serious, petitioned action on this and make it clear to the world that 2D = 2D and 3D = 3D.
Student
http://animestuff.wordpress.com/
I never ordered manga but I have a couple magazines like dengeki hime which are full of eroge game pictures and some art books like ChuxChu Idol which have also lots of erotic and porn pictures. Our custom services don't care about that the only problem we'll have is that if we order child porn, now that is a serious offense and can lead to prison but besides that there is no problem
Engineering and Sales
I am really sick of the ganging up on us Anime folk. There are just as many American cartoons which are perverse and lewed. Also American comics show just as much T&A, only difference is that the characters "look" older. The government should be much more worries about the economy, health care and jobs then this trivial crap.
Student
http://www.certaincake.com
Well. I suppose technically organizing dolphin waxing materials is a health care matter of sorts.
BioResearch Assistant
I find a little ironic about Canada's concern over manga when I was watching 'Total Drama Island' on CartoonNetwork here in the US.
The show is a Canadian animation just picked up here in the US by CN. It's a cartoon parody of reality shows like the Real Life and Survivor, etc... One of the episodes a branch caught one of the contestant's shirts and pulled it off. Apparently she wasn't wearing a bra and they had to pixelate her chest which was shown for a good second or two.
In Canada they rated the cartoon a G meaning acceptable for all children.
Here in the US it's PG, not for all children, and they show parental advisory warnings in between commercials to drive that in.
anime junky :3
http://www.youtube.com/ThisGuyJohn
'security' is a lie, government is a lie. gonna continue studying japanese so i can get the hell out of here.
american cartoon more to kids and some just superhero!!sucks
Student
Crap, I hate it when the government thinks all the citizens are idiots and feels the need to ban everything and anything that was/is/can potentially be offensive to anyone alive or dead.
Well from my experience, most "average" Americans are very un-intellignet. Their world is no larger than there village, town, city. They waste there days away discussing mundane things like cousin sue marrying brad from the body shop, or what the weather is like today. They watch reality shows, drama shows, Nascar, cooking shows, and spend all their money on materialistic gains. They put all their faith in failed institutions like churches, governments, banks, Wall Street. No one reads classic literature anymore or studies history. No cares about learning and understanding, especially each other. No one thinks globally or takes time to understand the plight of other corners of the world. They are full of hatred and misunderstanding and ultimately are nothing more than slaves of their own beliefs and money.
It is only on college campuses, online resources,and the luck to have many intelligent, cultured, and passion friends that i can rise above the blandness surrounding me daily.
Student, Bioresearch Assistant, WAVE VP Communications
http://gndynames.wordpress.com
This is probably why we have shows like "This hour has 22mins", "Ricker Mercer Report" and "Air Farce"
Hacker / Modder / Computer Assembler / Bored Out of My Mind
http://stainless-ring.deviantart.com
... I thought that that Japan was censoring the hell of their hentai even doing recalls on some of them. And i always find that all porn mags aren't censored at all. so technically speaking hentai is much more .... umm cant come up with a word, well you know its better to have a kid accidently finding a hentai then a porn magazine.
Hacker / Modder / Computer Assembler / Bored Out of My Mind
http://stainless-ring.deviantart.com
We should start a petition or something that might help.
Student, Bioresearch Assistant, WAVE VP Communications
http://gndynames.wordpress.com
The problem is that, if one doesn't understand us otakus they'd be screaming to support the government.
大がくせい
You might be right, but if we want thing to change we need to start somewhere. Even talking about thing like Romeo and Juliet been illegal here should be a good start.
大がくせい
I've just thought about i but, Claude Dubois song "Plein de tendresse" is also illegal by that law. Since it about a young boy under 16 having a sexual relationship with a woman that is 30. And we still hear it played on the radio with no one getting offended.
For your information, Claude Dubois is a Quebecker singer/song writer.
Here's the link to the "offending" song http://www.mp3lyrics.org/c/claude-dubois/plein-de-tendresse/
Well the message this sends me is this: I could stroll into an airport dressed like a 70s porn star (Flannel, jeans, mustache, circle shades) and i could be carrying a bag full of the most filthy disgusting hardcore pornography ever recorded, with a blow up doll in the other hand..and I'm gonna be just fine. But, if i had 2 doujinshis then all hell would break lose. What a waste of time and money. And what about the whole "talk again and we'll seize it" line. That can't be true. These people are just like worthless scumbag cops who go on powertrips to makeup for some neurotic tendencies that developed as a result of their failed youths. They make the same remarks that make it seem like they are in control. They have all the power. Please, they are all just (okay most em are) overweight, corrupt, joyless individuals with no passion or bliss in their lives. Sorry to all the good cops and custom agents (never met one but they must exist).
6 officers searching a man who mentioned manga. I knew customs people wasted our time like no other, but this is crossing the line. And to instantly suspect someone of having illegal porn because of that is foolish. Shouldn't these people be concerned about weapons, drugs, and terrorists. The comments if quoted properly, show the lack of any sort of culture from these people. With a global culture these days, one would hope ignorance like that would disappear over time.....
The censorship people will strive for holds no bounds. If not for the artists who spoke up in the 80s and 90s we could have seen our music being stripped down and censored, but it didn't happen because we (the musicians) fought back.
Web developer
Mature Manga
Dangerous Drawings
Student.
http://www.flashflashrevolution.com/profile/Yuusuke-kun/
That's complete bull, I hate it when people like this rationalize and think that all manga's are hentai's. And sense when does the government care about what we read and don't, that doesn't harm anyone or anything??
MS pilot
WOW...that is ridiculous! outrageous! looks like customs are being real jerks and generalizing on manga...argh >_<
The Sword of Magus
http://daichouginga.blogspot.com/
This is weird, really weird O__o
Apprentice Baking & Pastry Chef
http://Ima-Monogatari.com/
thats stupid, it should be if your 18+ you can do whatever the hell you want with your sex life.
the government has no right to look through your belongings like that..thats just ignant. they can say whatever they want like "oh you got weed! or crack, etc." as an excuse and just find other crap instead of the primary reason.
and the fact that its an Americanized Manga...well, haha...shows that people here hate it too...haha
just be discrete and say "Books" or "literature"...dont say Manga, thats like calling your medicine "Drugs"
Student/Evil Overlord
Why don't the Canadian government first try blocking off porn from their own continent? F#&@!*$ double standards!!
Student, Bioresearch Assistant, WAVE VP Communications
http://gndynames.wordpress.com
Probably because the folks will complain. I don't think there is enough otaku in Canada to actually have a voice in this situation.
Student artist
http://www.requestview.wordpress.com
The world is becoming a military state
Associate Network Administrator
They should worry about getting my packages to me on time instead of this crap.
College Student
JLIST actually say the don't send 18+ manga to Canada and stuff.
College Freshmen
How stupid. Haven't they got anything better to do than look for manga. I hate how people hate on things they don't understand.
Student
http://k625.blogspot.com/
Aha. My friend had problems with customs and stuff too @_@ Didn't think they'd go through the book page by page though. You could argue that their actions are against the Charter though..I think @_@
Thats Bull****
Student, part-time slave
http://yakuri.wordpress.com/
Oh so now we can't have our FAKE pr0n in peace? Srsly, wtf is wrong with these people?
...me thinks they're jealous they can't have their own so they enjoy spreading the misery.
US Navy Sailor
http://punynari.wordpress.com/
This is aweful but some things you can do when you ship these home. Do not write or declare "manga" or "comics". That is a red flag. They are "books".
Try to ship or ask the seller to ship with other items and tag as "gift".
This sucks that westerners have to do this. Freedom of speech and expression is slowly going out the window.
Art student
http://ohcirnine.wordpress.com
Problem with Hobbylink Japan is that they will never tag the items as "gifts". Let's send them a torrent of emails about the paranoia of customs to make them think twice.
Pokemon master
http://thecococafe.wordpress.com/
Please excuse me while I bang my head against the wall.
I read the entry on Screw Bronze, and is it really true these books aren't allowed in!? http://www.amazon.com/gp/richpub/listmania/fullview/EN9ZONTZ1MS8/103-8936114-5648664?_encoding=UTF8
Wannabe Web Developer
http://www.sakuafk.com
I think we should form a Coalition Government and de-throne the current one so we can make our own rules regarding this matter ^^
canada = 0
japan = 1
Otaku
http://imperiomoe.wordpress.com
I hope there not going to star doing this stupidity with the figures too
http://animaticfigmation.com/
it'll only be a matter of time before they pull this crap in the US I bet...
Med student
i live in Malaysia and most of the people in my area think that foreign manga, regardless of where its from are considered dirty, childish and unhealthy. but all that didn't stop me from buying manga and gunpla.
MG Impulse no Tamashi
Don't both those countries have like billion-dollar porn industries they just ignore?
Just because Jap porn is the best...
Student // Collector // Gaijin
http://zacbush.com
As a Canadian who is going to Japan (likely bringing back doujins as well) this scares me quite a bit. I recently returned from Japan in April with alot of doujins in my bag and didn't get questioned (thankfully). If it's more strict now I don't know what I'll do. I guess just put them between magazines and other books in my regular luggage and hope they don't get seized.
Mad scientist
I never had any problems with customs in airports. I once experienced an odd moment though. I was once in an airport and for some strange reason only one plane had arrived so everybody came with the same plane (so everybody had the same risk of being smugglers). When the suitcases finally arrived a whole group of people claimed their own and went to customs. Just my luck that there were like 10 or 15 people in front of me and nobody behind me and I could see that they stopped everybody and started opening all bags. I just thought "ok, this can take a while" and queued up. For some unknown reason some custom worker decided that I could just go through without being checked and that it would appear that I was the only one not being checked.
I guess I just have a trustworthy aura and radiated the right attitude or something. After all I had nothing but clean cloth and stuff like that so I had nothing to fear at all.
Come to think of it I have never been searched in customs. Maybe they have a 6th sense telling them that my personaliity would never try to smuggle or something.
My mom once tried the opposite. Customs searched every single car crossing the border and they didn't care at all who they searched and they even ignored diplomatic immunity (so you are a diplomat returning to your own country... we still want to see everything you got). My mom said it was quite unpleasant since they treated everybody like criminals. The next day the newspaper headlines told about how the custom workers managed to catch the biggest drug shipmment in years. It would appear that they somehow knew something was planned to cross the border that day.
As for the search in this news (the manga one), I say that while I prefer strict border control, it would appear that they were overreacting. They should check the bags if they get the impression that there is something illegal in it. However it would appear that they spent too much time in this case with too many people. It shouldn't take 6 people to check one person for illegal images. Imagine how many potiential smugglers who were not checked because they spent so many resources on one guy where they didn't find anything after all. Also I didn't know that custom workers were allowed to search something in a way that would decrease the value of the searched object.
???Confused???
They think 2D porn is worse than real porn?...really they're probably just mad that their own industry isn't making big bucks and decided that if they aren't getting any we don't get any...
Student
http://www.certaincake.com
Probably closer to the truth than one would think, that.
Student of Computer Info. & Office Sys.
Say... what?
That's absolutely... Ridiculous.
Programmer Trainee
http://jointsareokay.blogspot.com
Wow that's really bad
In this country, even with the overzealous people I don't seem to see any law against manga and stuff. I guess with so much corruption and lack of funds they can't do anything of the sort
Artist - MMORPG'R
Wow.. just wow. As my friend put it when I told him, bull crap. Except in an uncensored way.
If they're going to go out of their way to block hentai from Japan, then they need to take a closer look at what's being distributed here in their own Countries. As someone else mentioned, double standards much?
I honestly haven't bought an "adult" manga or doujinshi in a few years, and most of mine were bought at conventions, but this bothers me. I'm sure that if they're going to crack down on it like this, you won't even be able to purchase them at conventions anymore because the vendors won't be able to bring their stock in.
God forbid they crack down on figures, too. Majority of the figures made would probably be deemed "explicit" because their panties are showing/she looks too young/etc.
If hentai automatically makes you some sexual predator/deviant, then what does good 'ol porn from the US/Canada make you? Mr. Rogers?
Their reactions to it just make me think of high school. Anytime I would bring in a manga to read when I had some free time the kids would be asking, "Is that porn? That's so porn, that's that Chinese stuff!" A few even went as far as to try and grab the books out of my hands just to prove it was porn, which it was not. It's childish and to think a Government is behaving like one.
Student
http://konadora.wordpress.com
Luckily for Singapore, many people here enjoy manga, hence the popular Comic connections appearing everywhere (for the casual readers) and Kinokuniya and such for the more avid otakus. Never had trouble with customs, even when coming back from Japan a few days back. They even offered to label my cardboard box of Figmas as 'Fragile'.
Don't really understand why such disgusting treatment is received in Canada and the States.
浦の引き篭り
http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/3219/haruhimemew.gif
Man that treatment is ridiculous :/
Lucky me, that I haven't experienced anything similar ^^;
Gamer,Anime Watcher,Student,Youtuber (below is my YouTubepage click for reviews and more)
http://www.youtube.com/user/nintendokid
thats ridiclusly stupid and dont they sell porn of real ppl of america i mean they have a place called the bunny ranch full of strippers......dosent that make them comunisists and since when do they ave that kind of authority
Student
WOW, What the hell!
student
Isn't real(3D) porn worse? So what's the deal with our precious (H)manga? It sounds completely stupid to put a ban on it and treating everyone who reads it like scum.
Web Design & Development
http://www.nerdculture.org
Every day the government gives me another reason not to live here. >.>
student
http://www.kingdomwingszero.webs.com/
dude what the hell wow
http://strangeknight.wordpress.com
Ah. Hentai: the New Crack :)
This just drives the trade underground.
student
http://coolanime-music.blogspot.com/
it's a discimination men!! whatever we read or do as long it's contain no violance i think it's ok,but well every country has it's own rule ~_~"
they're running out of ppl to catch with drugs, so now they need another reason to stay employed
we have videos and magazines of girls getting f*****in the butthole, but cartoon manga not allowed in?! what the s***?!
student/ legal assistant/ otaku/ worshipper of dc.com
thats dispicable.....
Polytechnic Junior, Bronze Lifesaving Trainee, Mech Designer In-training.
http://thehangerbay.wordpress.com/
So much for literacy. X(
Well, I haven't heard of anything like that in Singapore, which is good, but I wonder for how long will it continue...
Student
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dramacd/
Maybe the officers just wanted to read some manga.
Graphic designer
That's just ridiculous! prude American/Canadian higher ups, while I bet they have dirty dirty fetishes themselfs!
Luckily I don't think bringing x-rated stuff back to the Netherlands will get me in trouble, never had to go through customs when coming back here.
Also, almost being at the age of 20 makes me have more power here than being alot younger I guess.
Student
http://www.certaincake.com
It's funny. The more I read news like this, the more I have to imagine an otaku mass-exodus to Japan. O_o
http://nopybot.com
Unfortunately, some criminals here in Canada have given manga and anime (ie: calling lolicon hentai manga and/or anime) a bad name and hence the reaction of the officers. Any depiction of underage sex is illegal in Canada so anyone possessing lolicon hentai can be arrested under some child protection act (even though there's no children involved).
http://nopybot.com
Interestingly enough, lolicon hentai is legal in america where the laws do not include depictions of underage sex, only material involving actual children.
high school student
http://hentaifreak99.newgrounds.com
but wait that is weird i ordered 3 h-books from jlist.com and 4 packs of h-cards so and they were not taken they came to me nicely packaged at my door step and nothing was missing so now if i order the new queens gate that features dizzy from guilty gear its gonna be searched and conficated that is not fair!!!!
gamer
i totally agree, this isnt fair! how the heck can i read my manga without buying it, and what about hentai! i heard that there was a court ruling about hentai and hentai won, but they still try to stop this! wtf! hopefully Obama could fix this because if i order any thing or buy any thing and it gets confiscated i am gonna be so PISSED!
Yes, gotta keep cartoon drawings of womenz from spreading. Great priorities.
Schoolkid
http://did-someone-say-anime.blogspot.com
Wha- So real porn, which is, in my opinion, grosser, is allowed, but hentai isn't? Weird... O.o
Student
http://hana-bix.livejournal.com/
Wow, manga is filthy? -_-;
“That’s the stuff from Japan; there is some really obscene and filthy stuff.”
That was really mean and offending -__-;
I read more manga then I do reading novels >__>;
And with the Twilight series on the loose,
Manga > Twilight anyday >__>;;.
Student / Free Thinker / Otaku
http://www.google.com/profiles/SeanSigloch
I agree Manga > Twilight any day of the week.
Student
I just don't get it - since when did fictional characters involved in sexual activities become more of a target for censorship and thought policing than real domestic issues that are far more urgent?
Student / Free Thinker / Otaku
http://www.google.com/profiles/SeanSigloch
Thanks for the heads up, if I go to Canada I'll have to remember NEVER carry manga (or even mention it) when going through customs.
Otaku ^^
I can only think of two reason why US and Canadian government tried to control the import of Manga and Anime into their country.
1> They wanted to protect their Adult Media from foreign adult media invasion.
2> And for them, anything animated are accessible by children, thus they restrict manga or anime as they may contain explicit contents that unsuitable for children.
d@@b
Wearing a NEET Touhou shirt at work to be contradictive
And here I thought my beloved maple country was awesome. Stupid me. I hope they don't sieze my arriving Hiiragi figmas because of viewable panties...
Sorry I'm late.
Decepticon Boss/Pokemon Master
part of the reason for me wanting to move to Japan. This is the main reason why its hard for me to be a Japan fan, the kids at school all think its stuff for emos (WTF?) and my dad is still all hung up on WW2. I cant even browse the manga or anime sections in stores and libraries without getting stared at in a funny way, god-forrbid i actually pick up and look at one. Even though i do have some of that hentei stuff, i dont get why everyone is against Japan. Trust me, i feel your pain. Does anyone else?
http://thisblogissuxor.blogspot.com
Wow kinda sad they are watching out for manga and hentai when they could be solving REAL problems
freedom to read whatever we choose, IMO