Game, Anime and Manga Regulations
As reported in a load of net and TV media, Tokyo Metropolitan government wants to introduce a new legislation that puts restrictions on the portrayal of youngsters under the age of 18 doing anything that resembles hanky panky. The new regulation applies to fictional characters in games, manga or anime who remotely resemble under the age of 18.
As you can imagine, folks in the anime and manga industry are not pleased. Popular artists like Machiko Satonaka and Tetsuya Chiba expressed their concerns that the new regulation restricts the freedom of expression.
If passed, this legislation would mean that we could see less and less young looking characters in manga or anime who could be seen as doing something suggestive just by their clothes or actions. I spoke to a few in the industry who are very concerned about this and how it could even cover things like figures.
Kodomo no jikan would certainly affected too and Rin-chan would not be looking so happy.
This site has been set up to aggregate information regarding this issue - they cover a call that was made to the Tokyo Metropolitan government asking a few questions which included an answer implying that there could be further regulations placed on the depiction of underage person falling in love.
A petition has been set up and digital signatures being collected at http://www.shomei.tv/project-1025.html
They need 100,000 signatures and are currently at 50,000. I've already signed and you can go and participate too. The petition will presented to the various political parties. The decision whether to implement this regulation will be made this Friday on the 19th...
In some cases restrictions are needed but blanket restrictions like this cant be good for what is a big part of Japanese culture - anime and manga. There are much more serious problems in society that need attending to and not sure why so much time, money and attention is being focused on this right now.
I hear its not only in Japan too but in countries like the US and Canada where some folks went to jail just for possessing manga? Somebody I knew got questioned as to why he was carrying figures in his carry-on at the airport. And whats all this about getting arrested just from replying to somebody on Twitter who is underage?
What do you make of this proposed legislation and are there similar laws in your kingdom?
http://hijituzai.ehoh.net/ contains links at the bottom with more coverage of this issue.
Student
http://stainless-ring.deviantart.com
OMG!
T^T I think this is ridiculous...
Underachiever
http://arayden.blogspot.coml
External influnences by foreigners.
Student (University)
Well. Pedophilia may be a big deal in the US, but I think you're right. Some people overexaggerate small issues as if they're a huge thing. I don't support pedophilia, but this has nothing to do with pedophiles. It's about art. I do believe that artists should be able to express themselves however they want, as long as they don't offend anyone doing so.
Bringing something like this up, IS a waste of time and money. They should focus more on the economy or education over something as insignificant as this. And that's coming from someone who lives in the US.
If anything, probably some random conservative came up with this, and is trying to ban it.
Underachiever
http://arayden.blogspot.coml
Think that Agnes won't be missing out on this...
Techy Guy
@Cascade: "I do believe that artists should be able to express themselves however they want, as long as they don't offend anyone doing so."
I disagree. I believe artists should be able to express themselves however they want and to hell with anyone who is offended. If nobody is being harmed, they should go for it. Hell, a really good artist is the one who goes out of their way to offend someone. That's the reason censorship is a problem in the first place.
BioResearch Assistant
You may have contradicted yourself there.
"I believe artists should be able to express themselves however they want and to hell with anyone who is offended. If nobody is being harmed, they should go for it."
What do you define as harm? Purely physical? Does it include psychological harm? Emotional damages? Does it respect moral integrity? Age appropriateness?
I just want to be clear as to the finer details of what your placements and assumptions are. I also understand what you are saying and on many points agree. Artists have a right to expression and to be able to share that with others. However, keep in mind that in their profession which involves heavily on public exposure, they have a moral responsibility to respect and uphold the values of society. It is also the responsibility of society to respond to their art with open-mindedness and dignity. If an artwork could possibly offend someone then they should make it known and do what is needed to both share as well as be respectful to those who may be offended. It's not so hard to stick a disclaimer on something (^^;)
Student, part-time slave
http://yakuri.wordpress.com/
If art is offensive, people can just choose not to look at it. I always turn around when I see some kind of disturbing or offensive piece of art. The artist doesn't force you to look at anything. Can you get offended? yes why not, but that is not harming a person, is having ideas and perspectives they don't agree with. What offends you doesn't necessarily offend other people.
Going into the emotional/psychological aspect of it is too subjective and bound to be abused. I could just as well tell such and such piece of art damaged me emotionally, which sounds a lot like being just plain offended, and have it destroyed. And if we were so psychologically sensitive by default we'd be killing people here and there just from watching movies (another form of art). A person can get offended, but for a piece of art to harm them psychologically in an alarming way they must have issues to begin with.
"they have a moral responsibility to respect and uphold the values of society"
When doing art for art's sake? I don't think so. An artist doesn't make art to uphold any values and ideas but the ones THEY themselves want to depict. Often times those ideas challenge or are the very opposite of the values society holds. It is of course their choice to adapt their work to what people would like to see, but it's not a responsibility. (unless they're bound by contracts with companies and whatnot, but then the spread of those works are for the companies to decide)
Techy Guy
@Raz: I had a feeling that line would come back to haunt me. ;) What I define has harm is the Physical sort, and even then Artists are free to harm themselves (and masochistic volunteers) if they want too. The world needs the occasional Van Gogh, even if it's just to remind the rest of us how sane WE are.
In this case though, the finer details of the art+harm argument aren't necessary, as this case is pointless censorship to an art form that is harming nobody. And that's the kind of censorship I hate the most. The moral kind.
Geek Liaison
http://www.thegeekreview.com
"as long as they don't offend anyone doing so."
Sorry can't do it, almost everything will offend someone.
True to that
Studio Bleach founder/owner
http://myspace.com/studiobleach
That is the tricky thing about pedophilia, Cascade. Anything that has under-aged people and characters, regardless of being purely fictional or not, can be used as source material for pedophiles. I even quit talking to this guy because he made it known that he had gotten aroused just watching any anime series that had under-aged girls in it.
Besides, an episode of Detective Conan has proven that there are those who are willing to replicate an artistic image, even if it means murdering somebody. So in this case, the images they protest against are those that can be replicated in a completely different manner... Even if they have nothing to do with pedophilia, murder, etc.
And in this case, the images can become replicated into more realistic videos and photos. Something that not every artist wants or thinks about, but rather is something that the Japanese Government is trying to discourage. And at the very worst, this could have lead to crimes that had the accused claim they got the idea from XXX series or YYY game. Something that could make things hard for both the creator and fans the moment those words are spoken.
Retail slave.
But then again, ANYTHING could be used as fuel for a pedophile. From a moe anime to a friggen sears catalog showing little kids in bikinis and underwear. Its really the idea that people are being persecuted and having things banned because of what people THINK they are going to do. If moe anime and lolicon makes everyone pedos then you'd have to argue that kids playing war games will make them shoot up a school or something of that nature.
If a person is a pedophile, they were always a pedophile, psychologically speaking, no amount on anime or lolicon consumed can magically turn someone into a pedophile. Pedophiles are that way because of how they grew up in a broken and abusive home, not because they looked at a cute anime girl one day and decided to try real little girls.
I look at softcore lolicon but real children annoy the hell out of me, are you proposing I'm magically going to become a pedophile someday> Because thats not going to happen (ew)
Also, it would be best f you didn't reference aime as a source of accurate information. Just because you saw it on Detective Conan doesn't make it real...Just as anime doesn't make pedophiles do what they do.
Student, Freelance Artist
http://konpeki-san.deviantart.com
But they're just drawings! DRAWINGS!! It's not really pedophilia, most people who enjoy anime/manga with a bit of lolicon wouldn't actually think of engaging in a real-life pedo-escapade. :I
Student
http://www.shangri-la.2ya.com
I'd be surprised if this law passes as it sounds very vague and unspecific.
Student, artist, dreamer
http://tranquil-solace.com
Same thing I was thinking, I'm sure things will become a little more clear as the days go by. Someone will have to say something if the government is serious about passing this into law.
University Student
The last thing Japan needs to focus on is the well being of animated girls...
Underachiever
http://arayden.blogspot.coml
So does the rest of the world too.
Freeter
Danny, does this site accept foreign signatures? As much as I am bound by my Otaku duty to sign this petition, I can't help but feel that Japan may simply throw out the opinion of a gaijin.
CEO MIrai Inc
http://www.dannychoo.com/profile/eng/
Nothing on the form that says "Japanese only" - go for it. I did.
Works for Foreigners, too, enter "000-0000" for the ZIP Code and leave out the following fields asking for town/province.
宇宙ぐんじん （学生・軍人）
Underground art smuggling ring?
petition doesn't help ...
the rules are already approved.
2D or 3D booth are banned for sure where i live.
Lets say no mater is Japan or somewhere els. When there are rules for protecting fictive or non fictive children 99% doesn't care for banned those materials ???
Student, Freelance Artist
http://konpeki-san.deviantart.com
The concept behind laws like this is that someone who views "lolicon" in anime/manga/ext, may as well be thinking about real life underaged girls. They're in essence banning it because it could add fuel to the fire of a pedophile. It's being equated with actual child pornography, even when most of the time it's just a normal otaku who couldn't care less about such a sexual deviancy.
College Student/Web Designer
Looks like it is at 69,000 signatures currently. Lot of the gaming/anime blogs in the US starting covering this issue as well. I would be shocked if a law this vague and confusing gets passed.
Student and aspiring web designer/translator/english teacher
http://www.twitter.com/CatsonSuper
Absolutely ridiculous. Here we go again with people 'taking care' of the small, insignificant and harmless stuff, while there are tons and tons of abuse and rape cases going without proper punishment or even acknowledgment.
Will be totally furious if Kodomo no Jikan isn't allowed to continue because it will mean the end of Houin-sensei ;^;
lol i think self owning the manga Kodomo no Jikan could you be jailed in the US :)
doujin is also danger material ???
Student
http://foxkey.blog126.fc2.com/
I live in Australia, land of draconian censorship laws. Such as the previous proposal of banning flat chested women from hanky panky even if they are over age of consent, or internet censorship which would make the country into something akin to China.
TBD
Also silly game ratings that haven't' changed since the 90's.
lol, I read about that. Through extrapolation, they were basically saying no normal man would ever be attracted to a girl with A or B cups and so should be considered a potential pedophile. That's gotta do wonders for the self-esteem of small-breasted women.
People may scoff, but this really isn't too far away from banning women from shaving. Wouldn't surprise me at all to see a related proposal pop up in the near future.
Student, part-time slave
http://yakuri.wordpress.com/
They really need to stop with this bullcrap, everywhere. It's ticking me off that a bunch of people want to decide what looks "underage" and what doesn't, I'm sick of people thinking they can pass on vague laws that cripple people's rights (in this case their artistic freedom).
It's even more infuriating because it's downright chauvinistic; who's to say what is too young and what is not? so big eyes and small chest means they're underage? I've seen women near their forties who look damn childish, so are they underage just because of their looks? now women with small chests can't be considered mature enough?
Point is these draconian laws can and will be abused. They don't possess an ounce of reason to why they should be passed, besides a bunch of stuck ups wanting to shove their agenda on the rest of the population. It's retarded and a shame to a supposedly first world country. Let's use some common sense people.
Underachiever
http://arayden.blogspot.coml
Moral militarism the new evil lol.
coffeellamaootarriVaderbuggwookie
http://coffeebugg.wordpress.com/
And thus cougar-centric anime is born.
TBD
Oh snap. Cougar Town anime?
???Confused???
Geez, does the governments really have nothing to do? Like fix a deficit or stopping terrorist...leave anime alone...
student
seems like there would be lots of loopholes...
Student
http://stainless-ring.deviantart.com
If there's a will, there's a way...
and my way is the internet.
Student, Performer, Freeline Skater
http://kesenaitsumi89.wordpress.com/
That is horrible....
Young Grasshopper
http://miragestrike.blogspot.com
Signed with the aid of google translate. I'll spread the word.
Student (PHP Programmer)
http://www.akuradavis.com/
'Tis same thing i did.
Otaku Graphic Designer
http://neoprolacus.spaces.live.com
No more lolinoha! 0_0
daigakusei
http://nantettatte.blogspot.com
I disagree with this regulation...
Wanderer of the Mist
http://hangmen13.16ops.com/
Everything's going the way of Equilibrium: soon, they'll start banning anything that caused us to feel and after that, we'll have to inject ourselves with drugs that suppresses our feelings or else enforcers in motorbike helmets carrying assault rifles came raiding our house!
Prop Armor Craftsman :D
YES! Love Equilibrium! Everyone should see that movie at least once, maybe then they would consider the things happening around them.
Student
Pretty drastic actions which could cripple the anime and manga industry, maybe.
Student, part-time slave
http://yakuri.wordpress.com/
> cripple the anime and manga industry, it's a fact.
fix'ed.
Studio Bleach founder/owner
http://myspace.com/studiobleach
I disagree, Yaku. Seeing how they want to prohibit artwork that could be replicated both by and for those who may prefer to see it be done by real minors... This would only be a hiccup to the entire industry.
Because in all truths, for it to "cripple" as you claim is a fact, series like One Piece, works by CLAMP, as well as the more mainstream/profitable series to be banned. Otherwise, this is like what? Less than 5-10% of an entire media section being under fire?
Then again, it may just end up crippling a good chunk of those who publish dojinshi works. But that is a different story.
DSL Tech Support T____T, Kita-Kon Chairman
http://www.kita-kon.org
The reason it could "cripple" the industry is because it is a very vague law that is being presented.
Studio Bleach founder/owner
http://myspace.com/studiobleach
I read the law and still disagree. The law pretty much states that any content considered mature or adult in nature, and contains an under-aged character will be forbidden. In all cases, the only companies affected by this will mostly be dojinshi groups, adult game makers, and the smaller companies that publish this kind of material.
And as for series including Shakugan no Shana, Lucky Star, and The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya... They contain questionable content, but would be rated nothing more than a "Teen" or "Teen+" as they are more mild to what is being targeted.
So in all cases, even if the law passes, very little will change in the mainstream market. But negotiations can be made in order to save the smaller, less mainstream market.
Student / Software Engineer
http://www.paulkloos.name
I wonder if they will see this as an attack on their culture? I don't see an issue with media containing small cute girls, it seems to be part of Japanese culture to use moe characters. I don't think they will get rid of moe, it seems to be a good marketing strategy, take moe rice for example.
http://animaticfigmation.com/
freaking signed. tired of this regulation crap
Mecha Musume Idiot
http://pauldy.deviantart.com/
This is Ludicrous !
What will be the benefit of this law? Nothing but public outrage and restriction of artistic expression~~
Apparently some government sectors have too much time to waste whilst not attending to more important issues.....
mahou kishi
http://www.animedia.com.mx
this happens every 2 or 3 years, is always the same
Otaku Graphic Designer
http://neoprolacus.spaces.live.com
If that loli ban takes effect... I believe all major animation/game/manga studios will move out from Tokyo... ^^;
And the mass soon follows... Making Tokyo a dead capital...
And an off shore nation called Otaku Bund will be realised! XD
Student, Bartender, Holy Paladin.
http://www.myspace.com/ultimatetovar
We should create our own Zanzibar---our own Outer Heaven, where otakus would always have a place. Then we'd be free of these absurd laws and restrictions... I nominate Danny as Leader our new country! lol
/signed
I'd move there!
Student
Where do I book the tickets? :3
Wanderer of the Mist
http://hangmen13.16ops.com/
We need an all-terrain bipedal machine capable of launching nuclear warheads anywhere in the world. That machine shall act as a powerful deterrent against any governments bent on imposing their anti-loli junta towards the free world. We shall call it... METAL GEAR
Prop Armor Craftsman :D
@Hangmen13
Don't worry Snake won't stop us, he agrees with us completely :D.
Wanderer of the Mist
http://hangmen13.16ops.com/
Pretty obvious, considering how Snake enjoys stalking Sunny with the Metal Gear Mk. II.
But more importantly, the La-Li-Lu-Le-Lo thinks we're doing it according to keikaku (TL Note: keikaku means plan).
Student
http://johndiew0107.com/
This is the world we lived in. This proved my another disappointed with all those government people up there.
student
Sadly it is true, in the U.S. i believe that one of the Dark Horse editors was charged as an sex offender just for possessing manga of similar nature, don't remember what it was exactly but here where i live they just recently passed a law regarding manga and anime that if it were considered age 16+, then it is to be treated as adult material and be placed behind counters and you have to have your ID checked. If you're 16 and younger you wouldn't be able to purchase let alone look at the manga or anime in question. I think that this censorship is ridiculous as there are many things far worse than a depiction of a made up story. Why waste taxpayer's money on putting otakus in jail when that money could be used to put actual sexoffenders in jail. I don't understand their logic sometimes.
Musician, Programmer
http://ibutsu.net
Signed. I certainly hope this doesn't happen.
Husband of Azu-nyan
None of those proposals passed so far. Let's hope the trend won't change
Customer support/Evil Mastermind
Ackrgh. Work computer does not allow for Japanese characters. I'll sign it as soon as I get home. This law is absurd. Not only would it kill the industry(Seems very contra-productive) but it basically tramples the freedom of expression. It's 2D, it's not real. The world sure has been turning rotten lately. There is war and death all over the planet and the goverements go for kicking on some small niché group that does noone any harm. Hell... Otaku tend to spend money even in the economic chrisis... and in the middle of the economic mayhem they want to mess with that very group... it truly boggles the mind...
Delivery Driver | Student
http://www.soulfringe.com/wpblog
To be somewhat fair about those guys you have heard about that have been jailed for such material, there is more than just the title of the article to the story.
These articles ALWAYS catch my eye. I see them very often on Sakunku and here and there from other sites. Most of these stories, the perpetrator really did deserve their arrest. What I mean by this, is that they were convicted sex offenders, and were caught with ungodly amounts of extremely graphic material (in some cases, some of it wasn't even animated/drawn)
Thats not to say there hasn't been any cases where it was just a regular joe who had a kodomo doujin or something like that. I am sure there has been cases as such, I am just saying that most of the time, it really is a sick perv with a bad RAP sheet. Dudes ruining it for us all.
Student
http://twitter.com/Saerianne
Signed.
Even if they think that anime and manga might be 'influential' to underage people, it's not like underage girls don't act all Hanky-panky anyway.
And as Koshieda said, here in Australia they tried to bring in a rule where flat-chested women weren't allowed to do anything Hanky-panky, even if they were over the legal age (18). This was to stop pedophilia.
I dunno. I think it's a bit silly and pointless, tbh. ^^;
Student
http://abyssimaldysnomia.deviantart.com
Signed. I hate absurd laws and out-of-place regulations.
Website Designer, Programmer
http://mystuff.berense.org
I think this is terror!
And usually the governments which resolve to "solving" this kind of issues, actually saying they can't or don't want to solve anything else... It serves them as an alibi.
Tech Support Officer - Network/Security Engineer
http://burugureibi.blogspot.com/
it's as ridiculous as the aussie internet filter
Signed.
Online Shop
http://wildarms.egloos.com
I'm hoping that this regulation would not pass since it just blatantly try to shut out the segments of the industry without proper justification. I hope the government can come up with better plan to protect the children and not just some regulations like this which wouldn't really help protect the children much.
http://projectyamada.blogspot.com
Ridiculous.
Student
THAT'S a word to describe this monstrosity of a law
ダニーさんへ
その著名サイトは今回の事案には関係ありません。著名しても法案への効果は皆無です。
Twitterで著名運動が広まってるようですが、しつこいようですが、その著名は何ら意味がありません。
東京都議会、もしくは民主党都議への陳情手紙、またはメールならば効果はあるようですので
そちらを催促されたらどうでしょうか。（日本語が堪能な方に限り）
引きこもり
軽くググッてみたけど、確かにこの署名サイトは関係無い様子。
http://mitb.bufsiz.jp/#tv
Student, Game Artist, Designer and Programmer...
http://jakel168.blogspot.com/
I heard some US folks got fined for a certain amount of money and sentence to jail for possessing a lot of pictures of young anime/manga characters... I don't think they should that to him, since it's not really against any law, and the pictures are afterall... 2Ds...
Student and full-time otaku
Thankfully my kingdom is still unaffected by this, but I follow the news from around the world and it makes me so sad and frustrated.
Sure, manga depicting loli raep and such is bad, but that doesn't mean we can't look at cute little girls, just because they are cute, right? And what is this crap with banning depictions of girls falling in love?! It seems they want to ban anything that has to do with growing up and sexuality these days.....
But what frustrates me the most is that the people creating these bans have *nothing* to do with the matter at hand: they don't read manga, they don't watch anime and they don't get it at all, yet they just want to ban it because they perceive it a certain way. What they should focus on is the abuse of *real* underage girl, like here: http://www.sankakucomplex.com/2010/03/15/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-schoolgirl-pantsu-seller/
Gah, I'm angry again....just get some work done I gues and hope that Akiba still exists when I ever have the chance to finally get to JP -____-
Student
http://animarka.blogspot.com
Hmm, ok, I see the point....not! Who cares about what other people watch in their personal life?
Will sign. And yes, here in my country there are far more stupid laws trying to be passed.
Research Assistant
This regulation is nothing but the limitation of civil rights. So they want to say: "We are the ones who will determine the way you have fun, the way you feel, what you think, why you think and how you think!" That kind of archaic mentality belongs to the Stone Age.
There ARE perverts, yes but there ARE other methods to punish them. This regulation punishes the otaku and the art of anime. One last thing, have you noticed that EVERY regulation in the world is created because of the BAD people? Criminals, perverts, mentally disturbed, killers, terrorists, rapists: BAD people... Because of THEM there are LAW Faculties... What a waste...
Spiral Knight
http://x579.wordpress.com/
Time to "party" like it's "1984"! Seriously though, this kind of big brother mentality is not something anyone needs.
Prop Armor Craftsman :D
OMG, the signatures went up by 600 signatures just during my owning signing process lol.
It was literally going up by one sig/sec. Good to see this is getting out there.
Thank god for google Chrome translate (even if it off by a bit) :D
Fresh Diploma Grad... enlisted.. Am now a 3SG awaiting ORD
http://ani-culture.net
We might have a real toshokan senso(library war) if things keep up... now it's under 16 and anyone that looks it. Next will be hentai, then odjectable material and then things deemed not good for citizens and country.
Student
Signed! This is ridiculous.
Mecha Musume Idiot
http://pauldy.deviantart.com/
Which reminds me... OT segue...
In the Philippines, there's the same vague law that has already been passed... i think..
and you know what.. the absurdity starts when i found out that a former Sex Offender Politician is CURRENTLY RUNNING AGAIN for a position in the government~!! WTF~~!! After his grave offence, he's given a chance to return to politics??
Why waste time on protecting "Fictional" and otherwise literature stuff when we have real offenders like in the Phil. case, still around?
Painter and Designer
Paedophilia laws are in effect to protect children. But banning loli/shota illustrations will not protect children, becaue no children are being harmed.
In the US, the rule is that no children can be involved in the making of loli/shota fiction or art. (there are rules on yaoi websites that illustrations cannot look too realistic that may have been drawn from real children. I understand that.)
However, recently there was a landmark court case against a man who collected shota/kemonomimi hentai- he was put in jail just for OWNING it! This had made many of us fearful and angry! Who is next?
I don't like underage-character hentai, but I understand that you can't start putting restrictions on what people can and can't draw if no one is being hurt!!! Restrictions and laws are to help people. Next thing you know we cant have hentai websites, and free internet will crash! =( Who are they to say?
CEO
http://ginkgraph.net/
I wrote a post about this insane regulation. It will repress many manga and anime.
Student/Slacker
"..but Mr. Judge, the cartoon character told me she was 18."
a blue collar
so, am i going to jail if i draw a stick figure and someone else thinks its a naked 5 year old?
ARE THEY SERIOUS? this means that even if the anime/manga has no character below 18, but look like below 18, it will be restricted too.
if this is passed, a large majority of anime/mangas/games will be affected. (AFFECTED>75%)
Customer Service
http://www.shewsbury.com
Some old pedophile man is frustrated for not getting "it" from one of the young Otaku he found on the roadside in Akiba.... so as a revenge act... he proposed to the other fat old men sitting in the boardroom to work on this new legislation....
Just when I tot Japan is a pretty much liberal country now it seems they trying to be a new China (no offence to fellow Chinese fren as I'm also a Chinese ethnic)
So what's next? Turn Akiba into a "Otaku is Prohibited here" kind of zone?
Or maybe they would be happy to see those anime production house and studio as well as big toy company like Bandai, GSC, MaxFactory and many others to start reducing their staff again in this already bad economic situation where many Japanese are already become unemployed....
Oh yeah... is Barnagher Links (hero of that Gundam Unicorn) below 18? So Sotsu/Bandai need to make him grow up fast and reach 18 in the next OVA/anime production....
Maybe previous Prime Minister, Mr. Koizumi Junichiro should get out from retirement and join the fight against this creepy legislation....
I understand about the importance to protect the minor... but this is way too much and some overzealous censorship department staff will make it worse...
Danny Choo.... those mascot girls of Mirai Inc., are they under 18?
Maybe this is another sign that the end of the world is near....
Student, ACG Fans
http://modvisc.blogspot.com
this is certainly a bad news.
Are they nothing to do ??
Student Programmer
http://www.animetoshokan.org
i'm crapping myself over this, as my room is filled with stuff that would surely put me in jail and make me sign a register, also the anime market would be destroyed, and the artists would be out of a job just coz they draw characters that look U-18, just look at "Ladies Vs Butlers", minima says shes 19, but look at her she looks more like 8, and "To aru majitsu no index", komoe-sensei, she drinks and smokes, so she's over 21, but again looks like an 8yo...
i hope this does not pass, it would be a sad sad day, and i think prisons would get over filled very fast...
Studio Bleach founder/owner
http://myspace.com/studiobleach
Danny, I do remember at one point that you wrote a bit about how a video company was making and publishing videos of a little girl. In it, they were taking panty shots and tried making what she thought was innocent fun time into something sexual.
For example, one noted how she was wearing a two piece swimsuit while eating an ice cream... And the images were taken as if she was a fully grown adult. And I also remember how many here were so up in arms over that. Myself included.
And yet, every time a law is brought up to prevent that kind of thing from happening... We have an opposite reaction. And why? Because it is manga, anime, and video games. The three things that have people ignore the fact it can be replicated in real life, all because they believe it will put what they like at risk.
As for me, I might sign the petition. I believe the law should be lessened by including an age-rating system. Such as that added on U.S. published manga. And that those who purchase any series that may include said themes, they must submit a valid ID so the stores can submit any information needed when such acts were committed. This itself will put more responsibility on the stores, more awareness to the publishing companies, and allow them to come up with stricter punishments onto those who may reenact such scenes/images for their own desires.
But that is my own opinion. (^_^;;
Student
All twitter users! Retweet my petition ad from here: http://bit.ly/a2Ny7x
Student
*sigh* Also, there goes half of Lucky Star if I'm understanding this legislation correctly.
AND Hachikuji Mayoi...
IT-Architect, Virtualization and Storage lover, WebDesign and coding
http://www.milkdrop.de/
Considering that germany wants to change it's laws alike, if not even way more strict (even the OUTLINES of a kid who COULD be naked - nakid airport scanners hint hint - could be considered as a "wrong image of a child") this is certainly annoying.
I must admit i am not a fan of Kodomo no Jikan or such, yet i enjoyed Kanokon lots, and this would be affected for sure too.
Of course, owning such material will get you arrested here, it would play in the same league as real child pron. -.-
In the near future we will all be living in cages and for our own good not leave them or we will be arrested... wait... cage = jail no? mhhhh!
Gundam Pilot (in training)
http://www.youtube.com/user/Thebarrett
this won't hurt anyone except law abiding citizens...
Gundam Pilot (in training)
http://www.youtube.com/user/Thebarrett
oh yeah and i heard the law also goes into voice acting, you can't voice act and sound like a little kid in Hen-tie, so even if the characters looks old enough if the voice is too young its banned...
Liberal Arts & Sciences Student
Thought it was the usual thread about new laws being invented but not implemented... However, reading this thread makes me understand the current situation: 19 March will surely be a critical date. Yeah, the law itself is not about banning loli/shota illustration because those "use" real children. It's all about the effect of these illustrations on an otaku's mind. But I firmly believe that the rejection such a law will never result in otaku's being transformed pedophiles. Not only in Japan but also in countries such as the Netherlands, bills and questions about problems within society often involve the two important aspects of freedom versus safety. I think Japan has already proven that freedom does not have to result in a decrease in safety for children. But there are always politicians, together with their followers of citizens, who blow the few accidents which happen in a state out of proportions. As long as they anticipate 1) the safety in their country as decreased because of otaku's turning into pedophilias and 2) actually see those few cases of otaku's turning into pedophilias because of their interests in lolicon, without looking at the reality, then numbers and accompanying digital signatures will have to show who's the winner.
C'mon people, just keep in mind that you can never ban out criminality and that implementing this new pedophilia law can never bring the amount of sex offenses down more than it already is. But the people who do want to implement the law: they indeed do not read manga, watch anime, and perceive the otaku subculture in another way, which makes them alter the real numbers into numbers which basically imply the following: "This otaku subculture is certainly the problem which keeps the number of sex offenses from going to zero"
Thank god the counter on the website you mentioned Danny, is counting 1 signature/second atm.
In the Netherlands, someone made a 3D movie which depicted underage girls but of which the inherent idea was, to learn underage girls how to sexually please an older man. Now, THIS is something they should ban (and indeed, the Dutch government did). Without doubt, such a video could make the sexual gap between adults and children much smaller in a dangerous sense: such a video has the intention to alter the norms and values of the society for both adults and children: sex under 18 is approved. But I think this is certainly not the case for anime and manga. Adults with a decent upbringing know how the reality works and as a result, they will not make such videos with the intention of approving sexual contact between children and adults.
I am wondering what would happen to the laws in the Netherlands, if the proposed Japanese law will indeed come into effect..., "depicting images/videos which can be distinguished from reality does not fall under legislation xxx" will be altered/erased?? But Dutch government can act strange by sometimes not applying certain laws and "confiscate a number of Chinese(!) drawn porn books depicting underaged having sex with adults". Nevertheless, offender was a pedophile...
Liberal Arts & Sciences Student
LOL, friend (girl) just came and made a comment about my TO HEART 2 Maryan Sempai dakimakura: Oh, you do see her underpants but I still think it's a cute and funny poster (she doesn't know what a dakimakura is and I am certainly not going to tell her...
Student
http://theotakukid.com/
The issue have been brought up last year due to the external pressure from Australia if I'm not mistaken claiming that these arts causes harm to the children. It's pointless to debate this issue in Japan because art form must be free from every restriction there is in order to create something different rather than pleasing the general public. Why make a mole hill into a mountain whereby those energy + money can be use on others area like education? public transport? cut down taxes? upgrade community facilities?
This law must not be pass! Let sign the petition.
IT Administrator
Already sign in that project ;)
Do it mean outside Tokyo will not affect by that law? But everything is in Tokyo....Orz
NEET
http://otakudeals.com
I wonder how much effort will be done in enforcing the laws? It looks like it's just a show set up to please other countries' pressures. Child pornography was banned in Japan in 1998, but as you can see, very questionable junior idol videos are still being produced and sold freely.
I don't think anime/manga will be affected too much by this. I think the dojin artists are the ones taking the hit.
IT Administrator
I think it's ok depending on how far that law goes. I do not like any of the loli stuff and would rather see less of it. Although not liking it it's not a reason to ban. But sometimes these laws can be dangerous since they spread to other areas of expression.
~Undine~
http://bluebluewave.wordpress.com
While I can fathom youths and children need to be sufficiently protected and all, as Danny says there are a ton of more urgent and pressing real problems all over the world, such as war, famine, aids, violence,... and that list of more important issues goes on for a while.
IT Administrator
Very true.
Student
http://lordofgundams.blogspot.com/
That's going a bit far, but I do admit that there needs to be a limit to the way really young looking characters appear.
I agree. High school age doesn't seem like a big deal, but when they are elementery age, such as kodomo no jikan, I can understand there being an issue.
Student
http://chingaruna.deviantart.com
Whatever it is , we have to keep the icon alive!
Scientist, unemployed.
http://fmphoenixhawk.livejournal.com
Why am I not surprised at this? Oh wait, because it's been tried in various forms since the 1960s. You know that if ACTA somehow gets signed, then if this fails they'll just write some sort of treaty and get it in the back door.
trainee at German Telekom
http://grew.themania.org/
You know Germany?
We have some beautifl stickers on DVDs Games etc media.
And cuts Games and so on. Nice, isn't it?
But thank God that aren't many cut Games. If so, I order them from the UK or Switzerland/Austria. Same Game - Uncut. And no sticker too.
Student
This will seriously hit the anime/manga industry hard and can admitted if the government may want to tone down the "hanky panky" of underage girls. Yet I believe that if it has being going on from some time as is then why change it now all of a sudden. Also the anime/manga industry is pretty big in Jpana and adding MORE regulation may hurt the manga and anime companies to totally re-design how they are going to run things and there could a possibility of the loss of money. Any way this comment ran longer then it needed but as everybody else feels here we keep the dream alive.
Studio Bleach founder/owner
http://myspace.com/studiobleach
I am curious to where you came up with this.
Because based on facts, this will only affect the smaller companies that rely on the content that they regulate. And that this will also affect dojinshi groups, as well as adult game companies. Plus, they are trying to regulate any content deemed either "mature" or "adult", not how you are describing it.
Besides... I looked this up. And to be honest, the law can be altered. That, and it will not do any serious harm. Or, at least, the kind of hard you assumed. (^_^;;
CG Artist
Mio with headphone is so kawaii >_<
CG Artist
Its one of the subculture in Japan... banning in means destroying it..
Artist
http://www.somedoodles.com/
Anything that makes the concept of child molestation look even slightly acceptable in any way, shape or form should not be allowed to exist. I'm an artist myself and I'm all for freedom of expression, but there is such a thing as going too far. Just because you have the freedom to do it, doesn't mean you should.
I'm all for forbidding this stuff. It's the only part of the otaku culture that I hate.
Programmer
(>_<)eeekkk (>_<)The anime apocalypse is among us. repent for your naughty sins.
Student
Would to join the petition but I can't read...
This almost as dumb when Australia ban all A cup breast sizes from porn.
Studio Bleach founder/owner
http://myspace.com/studiobleach
Really? I want to get a tshirt with that law written on it now. :O
Student of Air Force
http://kovash.wordpress.com/
I lawl'd so hard, Good thing I'm 18 years of age. Heheahah.
It reminds me of that one time with a country (I think it was China) that was going to ban lolicon and the remark was that it would increase pedophile cases and I don't think it was passed. It was funny whatever it was.
IM ALWAYS WATCHING YOU
Why don't they just hunker down behind the couch to avoid playing.
Tokyo MP: I'm going behind the couch!
Dead Last: You go do that! Go bunker yourself from the anime!
Liberal Arts & Sciences Student
But how do you vote on that site? I voted with a comment, but it doesn't appear in the list of "last votes"
IT Administrator
I don't think it's a bad idea really. It's quite embarrasing that if you say you like anime many people think about the perv and loli stuff right away. Like all business they will have to shift to other topics to make money. They will be hit but eventually move on.
Studio Bleach founder/owner
http://myspace.com/studiobleach
G-So... Exactly how I feel. :O
I mean I feel embarassed being an otaku at times because people immediately assume that if you take away this content, it is the end of everything for otaku. I mean this gives way to people ignoring franchises like Dragon Ball and Gundam, as well as series like Spice and Wolf, in favor of stereotypical concepts that all otaku like this type of stuff.
I mean, it was bad enough a Japanese woman chose to drop me because she thought being with me would mean living a stereotypical otaku life. But to have people ignore series like "Spice and Wolf", "Shakugan no Shana", and "Keroro Gunso" in favor of the generic concepts that others are defending.
No matter... What you said, I agree on. b(^_^)d Now I hope the others will also realize that no all the companies they mentioned are in Tokyo. (-_-;;
In principle, the intention to prevent youths from being misguided isn't bad in itself, but the problem with this regulation is that interpretation is just too vague and not well thought-out enough, that rabid moralist can easily use this as their excuse to start a witch hunt.
And once that starts, when's it going to end?
Artist
http://www.somedoodles.com/
You have a good point. I suppose it was worded very poorly. My Japanese isn't good enough yet to understand every word of it but that does seem to be the case, yeah. Perhaps they should define what exactly they mean by "sexual activity" and so on.
Although we should probably keep in mind that Japan has a completely different attitude when it comes to nudity and such. They wouldn't look at a child in a bath tub and think "this is suggestive", while in America people most certainly would (I know people who are uncomfortable with the bath scene in Totoro - yes, seriously). I think the line between natural, innocent nudity and implied sexual activity or a suggestive pose/situation is much clearer for them than it is for the rest of us.
Regardless, though, they should have worded the whole thing better and provided a less vague definition, for the sake of clarity.
Studio Bleach founder/owner
http://myspace.com/studiobleach
It'll end the moment that somebody makes a more rational version of the law. The law I want to submit to them says the following:
All anime, manga, and video games that contain specific content must be known in advance by a regulation group, as well as stores that will sell it. Those who purchase said content must submit a valid ID to the store, which is later submitted to the regulation group, as a precaution to having the content be replicated in some way.
This way, while many may protest against their privacy rights, it will allow regulations to become minimal and be nothing more than the U.S. law that states people who want to buy "M" rated games and "R" rated movies must submit a valid ID... And stores can be penalized if they do not follow this law.
Upcoming College Student and Otaku
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/Patches418?ref=profile
Signed
I am sick and tired of crap like this. Makes me disgusted that they would try banning stuff when it isn't even real. What I don't understand is that in the United States we have shows like Jerry Springer, Maury, etc but we can't have anime because of inappropiate material? Ridiculous.
Street Drifter
Serious??? they're just fictional characters.
REJOICE! for the law has not been passed, anime/manga/game are safe for the time being.
maintenence
http://joey1058.wordpress.com
As corny as this sounds, I think there are lobbyists and legislators working globally, attacking at anything that doesn't fit into their mold of control, stifling freedom of expression. Socialism is creeping in everywhere it can gain a foothold.
Slacker
cascade is right about the government. they need to focus more on education and economy, not the media. this doesn't matter if no one has power to turn on the tv or computer.
Student, father,
http://billthewelder.wordpress.com/
At the risk of having my account jacked again for speaking my mind I will say that I feel there should be some sort of controls since the industry does not police itself, I mean is there really a need for an obviously 10 year old figure to be bent over on her knee's and shoulder in nothing more than pantsu and shoes with a look of horror on her face.
I'll continue to exercise my objections to the above by not buying any material that depicts child like figures in sexual situations, my little expenditures may be nothing but its the mass expenditures for these kind of works that says allot.
Seeker of ways to return to Tokyo soon.
This action won`t get rid of the problem!But it will cause those kinds of people to get it some other way.Only way to get rid of problems is to trick the ones who buy it and give them strict punishments when they get caught.
kaisyainn
http://nhk.boo.jp/
Tokyo want to kill drawing the love of under-18's in manga+anime.
Do you understand?
love of unde-18 is illegal.
Tokyo tried to make the approval of the bill succeed with secret .
However, it failed. The discussion on the bill became June.
Student
http://www.fabricerequin.com
I'd be surprised if this law passes as it sounds very vague and unspecific.
Druggist/Student
...please...no!
Desperately searching for DD Natsuki! <3
Guess that means no more chu-bra.
Student
I sure hope a law like this doesn't make its way to Arizona. The current, mostly-conservative legislature would definitely approve it given what I've heard about the Immigration Act. If this ever happens, I'll be packing my bags.
Student
cute..!!
Supervisor
http://myanimelist.net/profile/karas667
im a bit behind posting about this would like to know the out come of it all.
as far as art goes censorship is a big NO NO! if it offends you dont look, if you dont like it go somewhere else. its not shoved in your face, you have a CHOICE dont punish people who CHOSE to look and didn't find it offencive just because you CHOSE to look and did find it offencive.
as for this imparticular law well, i can see the logic of these *insert deity here* fearing politicians, but thats exactly what they are politicians they have no "real" knowledge of the topic at hand, the sub-culture involved, its mannerisms or our opinions/morals as a collective. If it does come into effect all it will accomplish is punishing the law abiding people who are fans of this material but can tell the difference between FANTASY and REALITY,
beacuse well wat the end of the day thats all it is fantasy material for the entertainment of a person within thier own mind like any other art-form, book or movie.
however what this law has no affect on what-so-ever is the perpatrators of the real crimes which i would wager a very slim amount of acctually own any of the material in question, perhaps the government should foruc on cracking down on those REAL CRIMINALS and making thier "punishment" more severe.(i dont know about any other countries but criminal punishment in general in my country is a joke) and with that i think ive gone on long enough i hope ive at least provided some food for thought.