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Tokyo Bill on 'Virtual' Child Porn Set for March Vote (Update 3)
posted on by Egan Loo
A legislative proposal was submitted on February 24 to amend Metropolitan Tokyo's youth welfare law on child pornography to include sexually provocative, "visual depictions" of characters who sound or appear to be younger than 18 years old. In addition to clauses that restrict the depictions of "nonexistent youths," the amendment has clauses to restrict the Internet use of minors through filtering software and services in net cafés and on mobile phones.
According to a March 4 Twitter post of legislator Yukie Nogami, the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly's General Affairs Committee plans to deliberate on this proposal on March 18 and vote on it on March 19. If the proposal makes it out of the committee, it will face a vote by the entire assembly on March 30. If the assembly passes the legislation, it can go into effect as early as October 1.
Sources: ITmedia News, Mumei no Icchizaiseisaku Watcher blog via Canned Dogs blog
Update: Manga and anime creator Yoshitoshi ABe responded to the proposed legislation in a Wednesday blog entry: "You don't raise a healthy mind by locking it up in a room sterilized of information." Thanks, dormcat.
Update 2: Manga creator and anime designer Yun Kouga also commented on the proposed legislature on February 27. Thanks, 4nBlue.
Update 3: The Welcome Datacomp blog posted a translation of ABe's response (via Icarus Publishing).
this article has been modified since it was originally posted; see change history