Youth Ordinace Bill 156

[deathlike.livejournal.com]

Dearest _debbiechan_ ask me to post this...


It's all over the place... I still honestly I don't even know where to begin with the Japan's Tokyo government whatisthisfuckery. Kubo-sensei posted about the TAF (Tokyo International Animation Fair) 2011 that was boycott for next year as business and companies are being affected: 10 Manga Publishers to Boycott Tokyo Anime Fair


Later to follow with the passing of the Japan's Youth Ordinance Bill, the bill itself affects major business of Tokyo's metropolitan capital. The bill limit and restrict artistic values and freedom of expression for animators and publisher as you do know that anime-manga-games are Japan's culture.

From Japan Times:

A Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly panel Monday passed a controversial bill to toughen regulations on the sale of comics and animation containing depictions of "extreme" sexual acts.

The bill to revise the metropolitan government's ordinance seeking sound upbringing of youth will likely clear the assembly's plenary session Wednesday for enactment.

Amid complaints from the publishing industry that the bill could violate freedom of expression and stifle creativity, a clause was added demanding the assembly give consideration to artistic and social expressions and apply the ordinance carefully.

Subject to curbs under the bill will be depictions of rapes and other penal offenses and those "unduly lauding or exaggerating" incestuous affairs.

At Monday's meeting of the assembly's general affairs committee, the bill gained approval from members of the Democratic Party of Japan, the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito, while those of the Japanese Communist Party and another minor caucus opposed it.


Japan Times: http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20101214a2.html
Japan Today: http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/govt-to-allow-unlicensed-use-of-copyrighted-works

This will certain affect Shounen Jump and other publishing companies; of course it also affects the youth and younger generation, which it's our generation.

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BRACE YOURSELF FOLKS!

From ANN:

The full Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly approved the government's revised bill to amend the Youth Healthy Development Ordinance on Wednesday afternoon.

The current ordinance already prevents the sale and renting of "harmful publications" — materials that are "sexually stimulating, encourages cruelty, and/or may compel suicide or criminal behavior" to people under the age of 18. Bill 156 would require the industry to also regulate "manga, anime, and other images (except for real-life photography)" that "unjustifiably glorify or exaggerate" certain sexual or pseudo sexual acts. Another section of the revised bill would allow the government to directly regulate the above images if the depicted acts are also "considered to be excessively disrupting of social order" such as rape.

The assembly also approved a non-binding supplemental resolution urging newly designated harmful publications to be carefully regulated, with the work's merits based on artistic, social, and other criteria to be taken into account in the evaluation process.

The voluntary self-regulation clauses will go into effect on April 1 of next year, and the restrictions on sales and renting will go into effect on July 1.


ETA: Full Tokyo Assembly Passes Youth Ordinance Bill


News travels bloody fast, Spank you astridstarr00:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gki-de1I98pzkhVt_AoDLyTUPEAw?docId=CNG.08de11db341f822637c427df96d6839a.711

http://news.ph.msn.com/lifestyle/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4520127


UPDATE from Japan Times:

Ordinance passed against manga 'extreme sex'


The Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly enacted an ordinance Wednesday to toughen regulations on the sale of manga and animation containing "extreme" depictions of sexual acts, despite claims from writers and publishers that it could breach freedom of expression and stifle creativity.

Publishers reacted strongly, threatening to withdraw from the 2011 Tokyo International Anime Fair, which is sponsored by the metropolitan government.

The ordinance calls on the industry to "self-regulate" to prevent people under age 18 from purchasing or accessing manga and "anime" containing depictions of rape and other sex crimes and those "unduly lauding or exaggerating" incest.

Manga the metropolitan government deems particularly malicious will be designated under the ordinance as "unhealthy books" and publishers will be banned from selling them to young people.

But the metropolitan government also added a clause stating it will give consideration to artistic and social expression and apply the ordinance carefully, although the clause is not legally binding.

The self-regulation rule takes effect April 1 and the sales restrictions July 1.

Last Friday, 10 major publishers, including Kodansha Ltd., Shueisha Inc. and Kadokawa Group Publishing Co., issued a statement saying they will refuse to take part in the internationally popular event slated to be held next March.


http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20101216a4.html

Explanations and Japan Culture (De-cultured), Spank you spartydragon

http://www.toonzone.net/forums/showthread.php?p=3747964#post3747964

Comments

[ayonoi.livejournal.com]

Actually, the Youth Ordinance Bill was passed by the advisory panel on Monday, the full assembly gets to vote on it on Wednesday (Japan time). The day just started so we will find out later tonight or tomorrow. I am also monitoring the situation, if the bill passes, I believe it will have a chilling effect in the industry as a whole not only eroge. One thing that I wondered about was what would be the impact of it on Comiket and doujinshi creators.

It is interesting to see 10 big companies protest by not going to TAF, I am not sure if they are doing it for freedom of expression (like the mangakas) but the response is welcome.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_debbiechan_/]

If Comiket is cancelled, it can get another venue outside Toyko, can't it? Even at this late date?

[escarboucle.livejournal.com]

As I told deb, Szayel would SO NOT pass that ban _o/

[la-kalaka.livejournal.com]

This crazy, this is like one step backwards, to regulate the contents with a subjetive pov just because the doesn0t approve of that,this go against the freedom of expressions of the authors. and the freedom of people to see and choose what they want to read.

[nehalenia.livejournal.com]

So is this something that will affect only Tokyo or all of Japan? It sure sounds like there's a huge outcry about this, though, so maybe it won't pass. Gah, I wonder if that means that manga, as well as anime now, won't be able to show "real" blood? (And yes, I too am wondering how this might affect doujinshi sales.)

I'd really like to know what brought this legislation on, but I suspect we'd need someone who lives there and knows the local and national politics better to weigh in on that.

[deathlike.livejournal.com]

It affects the entire Japan... Tokyo is capital of Japan, epicenter of world economy.

[cyanglow]

Soul Society Breaking News:

Living world Japanese government intervenes on behalf of Nemu Kuortsuchi, re-banishing her father, Mayuri, to The Maggots' Nest.


But seriously, this is bizarre.

[nehalenia.livejournal.com]

Oddly, that's what I thought of as well. That Mayuri would probably be the Bleach character most affected by this ruling. XD Tho I suppose that depends on how draconian the ruling is. If it turns manga into something only 8 year olds think is edgy, then... wow. Way to screw up both your economy AND a big part of your culture, Japan.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_debbiechan_/]

What I'm curious about, Brad, and I saw you arguing the point with Chronus in the BA thread, is to what extent this law is likely to be enforced. As we know with the crack-down on scanlations, there were some changes but the culture of manga scans prevailed.

As it is, I do believe fangirls will find a way to get their gay prons easily. To what extent WSJ is affected--well if the publishers aren't reigning in "artistic license" then sales of the magazines will go on as usual, ne?

Curiouser and curiouser.

Szayel should be the poster boy for the protest against this bill.

[deathlike.livejournal.com]

Japan major exports of manga-anime-manga, basically where I'm getting at it's that the entire industry as a whole has been gutted. If the companies were to move away from Tokyo, it be astronomical within its own country; it's just something not feasibly possible.

[peca-06.livejournal.com]

I wonder if it has something to do with America or other countries pressuring them, now that there stuff is more widespread, as well as forces from the inside. It is really strange though. Why now? I'm really disappointed at yet another form of oppressing artists and creative self expression etc, being Japan one of the last bastions for that, this makes me feel like a like a ton of bricks just fell on my head T_____T. It is all very subjective, I don't care for rapes or things like that, but what would be too much for them? ... It always starts like that and ends restricting more than you think...

[taliesin-cariad.livejournal.com]

...while those of the Japanese Communist Party...opposed it

It's obvious. We must all become Commies.



o/

[chiave-trust.livejournal.com]

Considering that youth culture (anime-manga-games) is a major export of Japan, they're - maybe they're wanting to present a better image to the world, but I'm wondering to what extent this will be enforced and I'm worried about potential chilling effects. I know of some manga and games (not just eroge) that would be greatly affected by this law, it seems.

[sombra29.livejournal.com]

Your icon is pretty cool,where is it from? :D

OH NO THIS AGAIN D :

[sombra29.livejournal.com]

Urg,this is so painful to look at.I...still don't want to believe it...so I'm just going to quote an user from Japanator who made a very spot-on comment instead...

"How does it make sense to destroy an industry in the middle of a recession?"

[reynardine.livejournal.com]

I'm of two minds on this. On one hand, if I did have children under the age of 18, I wouldn't be too keen on them having easy access to explicit sexual or especially rape manga. Keep it for the adults: put it on the top shelf or behind the counter or whatever. Not that it will stop the most determined, but a measure like that would probably be enough to mollify concerned parents.

(The incest stuff...well, I'm not sure why that would incite young people to sleep with their siblings in real life? C'mon.)

OTOH, this law seems way too vague and could be too widely interpreted. I can see why the publishing companies and artists are concerned. It would be far too easy to abuse.

[lazymew.livejournal.com]

I thought the adult manga are already usually placed at separate sections in the bookstore and wrapped using tight plastic cover to indicate that they contain certain non-child-safe materials? :S I've also heard that the Japanese society adheres to this age-restriction rule quite well. I'm not sure if the trend has changed, though...like you said, "Not that it will stop the most determined" ^_^;

[(Anonymous)]

I've been following this bill since I first heard about it a little while back. It's quite upsetting. I read (I don't have a link so it could easily be false) but that Jump basically said they're going to publish what they want anyways, studio Ghibli said basically the same also. I also read that a couple of BL authors were already told they couldn't/shouldn't use high school uniforms.
This would mean that most series wouldn't be able to be sold at their usual spots or would be put further away with the rest of the R-18 stuff. And since more youths buy most of these mangas it could ultimately cause the collapse of the industry.
Reading through the bill most Jump series would be affected by this which I would hate if my fav series were to go downhill because of this.
Another problem is that the bill is pretty vague so either they could be pretty lenient or abuse the heck out of it. Unfortunately, I think its going to pass which is a shame.

[ash-ka-chan.livejournal.com]

I don't exactly see how this could effect Bleach, since it is a kids/teen series in Japan. The worst that could happen is that it's rating could go up to a 16+.

On another note, maybe anime and manga will finally start getting better. MAYBE.

Though, if it effects Panty & Stocking, I'm gonna rage.

[astridstarr00.livejournal.com]

*Wishes there was an edit button*

The problem with this is that I believe that Japan doesn't really have the same rating system as we do. So basically its E or R-18. And a lot of Jump series falls under a lot of the things listed in the bill. If jump were to go R-18 it wouldn't sell since the majority of those who buy it are teens, and if it follows the bill's criteria then it would be heavily censored.

[astridstarr00.livejournal.com]

This is quite upsetting. I'm not too worried about yaoi since most are sold as 18+ anyways. But I'm definitely worried about the shounen series. I don't want mangakas, especially Kubo's, work to suffer. Other demographics (i.e seinen & josei) could be affected by this also since I think most aren't sold with a 18+ label & a lot of teens buy those also.

[lovely-masoka.livejournal.com]

I don't think I really understand...but how would Bleach and One Piece be affected by this thing?

Though I guess in Bleach Mayuri and Szayle would be affected. Just what could they do to already established characters like that?

[deathlike.livejournal.com]

It affects them either way, Shounen Jump/Shueisha publishing company, therefore it also affects Bleach and One Piece who published under them as a parent company.

[ashurahime.livejournal.com]

It clearly says "extreme" sexual acts. By no stretch of the imagination can any scene in Bleach be construed as displaying extreme sexual acts. The innuendo for such acts may be there, but that's a completely different thing.

This bill is not targeted towards Bleach or Naruto or such things. This is for animes like the one where a third grade girl is making overt sexual advances on her teacher. Boners included.

This isn't something for us to be nervous about. This may be an attack on Japan's culture of filthy sexual fetishes, but that may be for the better.

[deathlike.livejournal.com]

This isn't something for us to be nervous about. This may be an attack on Japan's culture of filthy sexual fetishes, but that may be for the better.

That's pretty much the entire Japan's subculture alone, itself.

[spartydragon.livejournal.com]

Eeeeh, the trouble isn't so much the kiddie porn (which most somewhat sane people agree is weird and wrong and wrooooong), it's that the wording of the ordinance is SO VAGUE that it gives these people the power to censor or cancel pretty much anything they deem offensive or inappropriate.

If the committee who calls the shots doesn't like the violence in Naruto: R18. Matsumoto's bust is unrealistic and offensive to women? R18! Nudity in a Rumiko Takahashi manga? R18! Luffy is stretchy EVERYWHERE you say? R18! Gintama... what's this - I don't even...? O___o???

Basically, there's already laws like this on the books, and all adult stuff is already clearly marked and placed in areas where kids can't get to them. What they're doing is a blatant attack on the industry at large. Gah! There's a great post on another forum that sums everything up better, but the forum is down for maintenance. >.< I'll link once it's back up.

This is the Comics Code all over again. :/

[aentee.livejournal.com]

I guess we won't ever find out what Chad's night job is 8C

I think this will affect people like Shinjo Mayu more than Kubo and the rest of WSJ's mangaka. But I hope we will keep being updated on this situation. Thanks for posting it!

[escarboucle.livejournal.com]

Well Shinju Mayu apparently switched to shounen, so I'm not sure what she's doing these days. I don't think they have smut or whatever - the plus side of her switching, probably XD

[cyanglow]

Well, it passed y'all.

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-12-15/full-tokyo-assembly-passes-youth-ordinance-bill

ETA: Wow Brad, you're fast on the editing. ^^

[deathlike.livejournal.com]

m(__)m Gomenasai

[strawberries-85.livejournal.com]

I'm beginning to feel like more nations are trying to become this sort of "nanny state" as the government is mothering us and "teaching" us right from wrong by imposing these sorts of restrictions.

[astridstarr00.livejournal.com]

Just seeing your icon makes me fear for Fairy tail...

[astridstarr00.livejournal.com]

Some more info if anyone is interested:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gki-de1I98pzkhVt_AoDLyTUPEAw?docId=CNG.08de11db341f822637c427df96d6839a.711

http://news.ph.msn.com/lifestyle/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4520127

[(Anonymous)]

Well, given the increasingly unsavory reputation of otaku stuff in Japan, I expect this law to be very popular with non-fans of anime and manga.

I don't mind censorship on "extreme sexual acts", in fact I actually welcome it, but the censorship on "violence" is too vague, and the word itself is not that easy to define.

[deathlike.livejournal.com]

It has nothing to do with Otaku. It has to do with the industry itself as anime-manga-games are all, whether its too pornogrpahic or violence, somewhere along the lines from doujinshi, mangaka or animators are always be making them.

Meanwhile it makes real life porn as OKAY as its not fictional.

[tsubaki99.livejournal.com]

Sooooooooo what will happen to older works?

Those will be edited? or removed from circulation?

[heartless9.livejournal.com]

They'll probably be removed from circulation, depending on whether or not they have many scenes of that nature. There's a bigger chance, though, that they'll be edited heavily and redistributed.

[heartless9.livejournal.com]

Ugh this is becoming frustrating as it goes. Jeez, this bill is just cutting down artistic creativity, no matter if it's shojo, shonen, doujinshi or manga. I mean seriously, I read the light (y'know, the girly shojo stories) stuff down to the nitty gritty hard stuff (you don't want to know 0_0). Stories need some of these elements to tell them, while some is just for entertainment.
Hopefully, this doesn't affect any major mangaka's work (godforbid Kubo Sensei!) but it will be saddening because I actually like some doujinshi stories because I get a kick out of seeing my favorite characters in different situations (What?! Renji's at Karakura High?!?! OMFG Aizen is a douchebag[who didn't know?]!?!? VAT A TWIST!!!! XD)
Oh well....I guess it can't be helped. Also, the putting-bad-naughty-18+-manga-in-a-different-section doesn't always work.....in America at least. (IDK about Japan...I guess so.) I'm (unfortunately) under 18 and I can buy them. soooo yeah.

And I agree with everyone elese when they say that Szayel should be the poster boy.