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BPO Watchdog Group Discusses Goblin Slayer Content Controversy
posted on by Lynzee Loveridge
The Broadcasting Ethics & Program Improvement Organization (BPO) is a watchdog group focused on Japanese television content. Every month, the BPO publishes submitted viewer opinions and complaints about what's appearing on television. Past submissions have included concerns about character designs and sexual content in the children's anime Yo-kai Watch, nudity in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, and violence in Magical Girl Site. Anime isn't the only programming to cause concern, however. Viewers have also complained about news coverage about Pokémon GO and too many people complaining about late-night anime all together.
It's important to note that the BPO opinions and comments published are not necessarily the opinions held by members of the BPO itself. In a summary of the organization's 207th Youth Committee meeting, the group looked at this season's Goblin Slayer anime series. The show's first episode contains mature content, namely sexual violence against women, that drew concerns from both Japanese and English-speaking viewers. The BPO decided to discuss the show at its meeting on October 23 and came to a different conclusion about the show.
The seven committee members dismissed concerns about the first episode's content. A viewer had expressed that the graphic sexual violence was a bad influence on young people but the committee responded that they felt adequate consideration went into how the scene was depicted and that they believe it falls within an acceptable range for what is aired in a late night time slot.
Goblin Slayer's first episode opens with a 15-year-old girl going out on her first guild mission into the lair of a group of goblins, monsters that terrorize the human population. The guild, made up of women, are hoping to rescue a group of girls kidnapped by the goblins. Upon entering the monsters' den, the characters and viewers are confronted with graphic scenes of violent rape, murder, and infanticide.
In the world of Goblin Slayer, goblins can only propagate their species with female humans. This introduces the in-world reasoning for the violent attacks female characters suffer at the hands of goblins.
During the meeting, the BPO committee also discussed concerns about a drama featuring a romance between a junior high school student and teacher. The committee also dismissed that the story would negatively impact viewers.
White Fox is adapting Kumo Kagyu's light novel series and Crunchyroll is streaming the anime as it airs in Japan. Crunchyroll recently added its own content warning to Goblin Slayer after listening to viewer concerns.
Source: BPO
