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NEWS: Osaka Considers Regulating Boys-Love Materials


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JuicyB



Joined: 08 Mar 2010
Posts: 278
PostPosted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 2:41 pm Reply with quote
Here we go again. Rolling Eyes
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TsukasaElkKite



Joined: 22 Nov 2005
Posts: 4021
PostPosted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 2:43 pm Reply with quote
Why the hell regulate it? the women who buy it are over 18, and so are many of the characters portrayed in the manga.
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RestLessone



Joined: 02 Aug 2009
Posts: 1426
Location: New York
PostPosted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 2:54 pm Reply with quote
What do they mean by "regulate"? It's pretty vague. Are they talking about investigating more and deciding if other magazines are considered obscene for minors, or are they talking about banning series from circulation? I have no problem with regulating some materials to minors, but they've seem to have already have done that...Why make a huge deal about something they've already done? Does that mean there will be new restrictions/bans?

What about "the true extent of child pornography"? Are they talking virtual or real? I'm all for a ban on possessing real child pornography, but not fake stuff. If it's a problem, regulate how youths can get it, but don't get rid of it altogether. Freedom of expression, not hurting real kids, keeps people from committing crimes blahblahblah; basically what's been said a million times over.
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Nemo_N



Joined: 12 Dec 2006
Posts: 272
PostPosted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 3:43 pm Reply with quote
It seems to me like they are using BL/Josei as a cover for the ridiculous "virtual child porn" law.

Homosexuals have always been among the "concerned citizens" favorite punching bags, so they are suggesting that the real target is not freedom of speech but "those filthy deviants who are out to molest your children".

I mean, if they meant otherwise, why single out Boys Love an Josei in an announcement about "investigating the true extent of child pornography"?
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everapril



Joined: 24 Apr 2009
Posts: 112
PostPosted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 3:47 pm Reply with quote
Of course, I'm for regulating the sale of adult material to minors. But it seems a lot of the language accompanying this and recent legislation (albeit translated language) goes beyond identifying things as inappropriate for young consumers, and is underhandedly denouncing the material for even existing. The phrase "harmful publications" seems so incendiary. Like they can barely hide their contempt.

If these lawmakers could just stick to a message of keeping adult material out of children's hands, they might actually accomplish something. But, by overreaching so as to include a debate of artistic merit/freedom of expression, they are asking for a long, drawn out process that will likely leave them with nothing to show for any good intentions they might have had.


Last edited by everapril on Sun Apr 04, 2010 3:52 pm; edited 2 times in total
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bolfotha



Joined: 04 Apr 2010
Posts: 18
PostPosted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 3:47 pm Reply with quote
Well those that play the typical eroge and those that read these kind of manga are that of a similar but different target audience.

I think one of the things that they'll announce from this is oh my, women are just as perverted as their male counterparts. (which might or not might be their intention)

I'm curious how the fujoshi react.
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configspace



Joined: 16 Aug 2008
Posts: 3717
PostPosted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 4:01 pm Reply with quote
maybe it's time for fujoshi and otaku to unite! Very Happy

But seriously, similar to that now-deferred proposed Tokyo legislation, this Osaka one doesn't target hentai, which is already 18+. It's all of the girls oriented fanservice stuff, and the milder softcore seme-uke stuff .

I know it's not uncommon, but I find the idea of having an ordinance on the "Health and Growth of Youths" (Article 13, Item 1, Osaka Statute 1984.4).. personally just so Rolling Eyes Rolling Eyes Rolling Eyes

there's got to be a better way to spend government time and taxpayer money. Still if they want to waste time studying such stuff, it would seem more sensible to just publish that list, maybe even post it in stores, or circulate it; but make it non-compulsory, 'warning' only.
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Cait



Joined: 29 May 2008
Posts: 503
PostPosted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 4:14 pm Reply with quote
What I find the most amusing about these proposed regulations is that they force some poor government employee or elected official to actually go out and read these titles. It's enough to give me the giggles.

That said, this article is vague, but does not seem to suggest the proposed actions will involve banning anything outright, more like pulling shojo, josei and BL titles into an existing law that governs what can be sold to whom.
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JuicyB



Joined: 08 Mar 2010
Posts: 278
PostPosted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 4:23 pm Reply with quote
I think most westerners would be in favor of regulating the sale of "adult" materials to minors, but I don't really see the point. If parents don't want their kids reading this stuff, it's THEIR job to keep them away from it. The government has many duties, and babysitting is not one of them. Besides, if a parent is okay with their daughters reading yaoi, I don't think it is the government's right to stop them.
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ShinigamTakuto



Joined: 27 Jul 2003
Posts: 50
PostPosted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 4:31 pm Reply with quote
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Apollo-kun



Joined: 11 Feb 2010
Posts: 1213
Location: City 7, Macross 7
PostPosted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 4:33 pm Reply with quote
Are they REALLY going to make me start making "Save Yaoi" shirts?
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Egan Loo



Joined: 25 Feb 2005
Posts: 1355
PostPosted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 4:46 pm Reply with quote
ShinigamTakuto wrote:


These are different prefectures. This latest move is by the Osaka Prefecture, not Okayama. Actually, as noted in the article, ANN has been covering Osaka's ordinance against "harmful publications" since at least 2007.
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RestLessone



Joined: 02 Aug 2009
Posts: 1426
Location: New York
PostPosted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 5:49 pm Reply with quote
JuicyB wrote:
I think most westerners would be in favor of regulating the sale of "adult" materials to minors, but I don't really see the point. If parents don't want their kids reading this stuff, it's THEIR job to keep them away from it. The government has many duties, and babysitting is not one of them. Besides, if a parent is okay with their daughters reading yaoi, I don't think it is the government's right to stop them.


Aren't things a little different in Japan with regards to how easily a kid can get a book, though? I'm not sure if I'm completely correct, but bookstores are everywhere, so it's really easy for a kid to run down and grab whatever they like. And apparently some of its right out in the open. I remember a guy in the industry mentioning that it was easier for people to collect series because a store was within walking/bike riding distance.

In the US, the problems are different when you have a bunch of suburban kids who aren't going to have easy access to a bookstore. Bookstores are supposed to ask for IDs, however, when a person is buying a mature rated comic/something pornographic and they are a) not obviously old enough to buy it and/or b) not accompanied by an adult. Basically, the way bookstores are set up in the suburbs makes it easier for parents to regulate what their kids buy. Cities, well...those are a bit different, but we still have the restrictions. Whether their upheld or not depends.

Age restrictions are there to keep kids from buying porn when they don't have permission to. If a parent is fine with their kid reading whatever, then they can order it online or buy it themselves/go with the kid.
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NGK



Joined: 10 Mar 2010
Posts: 244
PostPosted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 5:50 pm Reply with quote
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVPJPMSL6vE (watch and skip to 2:05)

methinks Osaka is trying to 'regulate' the exposure of H mangas in convenient stores.

I think hey should introduce and embrace common sense regulations on H material like putting shrink wraps, introduce age verification by showing ID to show that you're 18+, introduce and create a backroom ADULTS ONLY corner section where H-related magazine should reside.

PS: I'm NOT down for regulating what the major publishers and doujin authors are publishing because that's gross violation of freedom expression/speech!
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jrnemanich



Joined: 24 Aug 2007
Posts: 238
Location: Denver
PostPosted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 6:10 pm Reply with quote
i love it on how they are only thinking about regulating shonen ai and not the hardcore hentai or bara.
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