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Tokyo's 'Nonexistent Youth' Bill Officially on Hold (Updated)

Iza News reports that the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly's Government Affairs Committee has unanimously decided on Friday to continue deliberations on the proposed bill to restrict sexualized depictions of characters that appear or sound to be younger than 18 years old.

As previously noted, continued deliberations at the committee level delays any vote on the bill until the Tokyo government's next regular session in June. The committee had planned to vote on the bill on Friday, and had the bill cleared the committee, it could have gone before the entire assembly on March 30.

Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara said at a Friday press conference that "the debate should be deliberate and thorough" on the bill that the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and New Komeito Parties had planned to pass during the current legislative session.

Some members of the leading Democratic Party of Japan, as well as the manga creators and publishers who oppose the bill, have said that this bill would violate freedom of expression.

Thanks to Dan Kanemitsu for the news tip.

Update: According to the Asahi Shimbun paper, Osaka governor Tōru Hashimoto said on Friday that his city is also considering a measure similar to Tokyo's proposed legislation. Thanks, Dan Kanemitsu.