News
1st Manga to Be Restricted by Revised Tokyo Law Listed (Updated)
posted on by Egan Loo
Tokyo lists Aki Sora, Oku-sama wa Shōgakusei, Lovers & Sharing, Koibito 8-gō, Hana-Hiyori, Midori no Kisetsu
On April 14, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government presented the first specific list of titles that are being considered for restrictions under Tokyo's recently revised Youth Healthy Development Ordinance. The government presented the six titles during a meeting with the industry's Publishing Ethics Convention and Publishing Ethics Discussion Group. The revisions to the ordinance will go into effect on July 1.
The revision will expand the number of manga and anime that fall under "harmful publications," the legal category of works that must not be sold or rented to people under the age of 18. Erotic material was already restricted before the amendment, but the amended law will also restrict the sales and renting of materials that the Tokyo Metropolitan Government considers "to be excessively disrupting of social order."
The publishers expressed concerns that the revised ordinance will diminish the manga creators and editors' ability to express themselves. Some of the publishers also asked to be notified of the standards for the revised ordinance before books are sold. Mika Sakurai, the section chief in charge of youth affairs at the government's Office for Youth Affairs and Public Safety, responded that the publishers may ask before release whether a specific publication's setting is subject to the law. However, the government may not be able to advice the publisher on a particular publication's legality immediately; for some publications, the government can respond quickly, but for others, the assessment may not be clear until release.
The following titles were on Tokyo Metropolitan Government's list for planned restrictions:
Oku-sama wa Shōgakusei (My Wife Is an Elementary Student)
By Seiji Matsuyama
Publisher: Akita Shoten
The story is set in the near future when the marriageable age was lowered in response to the declining birth rate. A 24-year-old man marries a 12-year-old girl in this gag comedy.
Reason for designation: Child rape
[Tokyo Vice Governor Naoki Inose had shown this manga on television as an example of which manga should be restricted.]
Aki Sora
By Masahiro Itosugi
Publisher: Akita Shoten
The "line-crossing" manga deals with the taboo relationship between a high school boy named Sora Aoi and his smart, athletic, "perfect" older sister Aki.
Reason for designation: Incest
[On April 21— one week after the government's meeting with the industry organizations — Itosugi had revealed that there will be no more printings of volumes 1 and 3 of this manga .]
Lovers & Sharing (Kareshi Sharing)
By Yashi Natsuba
Publisher: Shobunkan
The story revolves around a girl whose boyfriend cheated on her with her twin sister. The girl gets enraged, but the twin sister then suggests "sharing" the boyfriend.
Reasons for designation: Rape, incest, group rape
Koibito 8-gō (Lover No. 8)
By Makoto Ojiro
Publisher: Shonen Gahousha
A woman is attacked by a masked man, and a female magazine reporter, just one year into her job, goes all out to uncover the man's identity in this "erotic and suspenseful story."
Reason for designation: Rape
Hanamizawa Q-taro Jisenshū Hana-Hiyori
By Q-taro Hanamizawa
Publisher: Mediax
A collection of short stories personally selected by the author, seinen magazine manga creator Q-taro Hanamizawa. The stories are mostly light romantic comedies with some erotic scenes.
Reasons for designation: Sexual intercourse in school
Midori no Kisetsu (Blue-Green Season)
By Maakō
Publisher: Moerl Publishing
A collection of short stories by a veteran bishōjo manga creator whose work has appeared in manga magazines for "old men" such as Weekly Manga Times. Three of the eight stories have themes of incest.
Reasons for designation: Incest, sexual intercourse in school
More information about the campaign against manga regulation appear in the article "Ishihara Administration's 'Manga for Planned Deletion' Finally Revealed!!" in the current 21st issue of Weekly Playboy.
Source: Weekly Playboy via Hatima Kikō
Update: Expanded summary of Sakurai's response.
The revision will expand the number of manga and anime that fall under "harmful publications," the legal category of works that must not be sold or rented to people under the age of 18. Erotic material was already restricted before the amendment, but the amended law will also restrict the sales and renting of materials that the Tokyo Metropolitan Government considers "to be excessively disrupting of social order."
The publishers expressed concerns that the revised ordinance will diminish the manga creators and editors' ability to express themselves. Some of the publishers also asked to be notified of the standards for the revised ordinance before books are sold. Mika Sakurai, the section chief in charge of youth affairs at the government's Office for Youth Affairs and Public Safety, responded that the publishers may ask before release whether a specific publication's setting is subject to the law. However, the government may not be able to advice the publisher on a particular publication's legality immediately; for some publications, the government can respond quickly, but for others, the assessment may not be clear until release.
The following titles were on Tokyo Metropolitan Government's list for planned restrictions:
Oku-sama wa Shōgakusei (My Wife Is an Elementary Student)By Seiji Matsuyama
Publisher: Akita Shoten
The story is set in the near future when the marriageable age was lowered in response to the declining birth rate. A 24-year-old man marries a 12-year-old girl in this gag comedy.
Reason for designation: Child rape
[Tokyo Vice Governor Naoki Inose had shown this manga on television as an example of which manga should be restricted.]
Aki Sora By Masahiro Itosugi
Publisher: Akita Shoten
The "line-crossing" manga deals with the taboo relationship between a high school boy named Sora Aoi and his smart, athletic, "perfect" older sister Aki.
Reason for designation: Incest
[On April 21— one week after the government's meeting with the industry organizations — Itosugi had revealed that there will be no more printings of volumes 1 and 3 of this manga .]
Lovers & Sharing (Kareshi Sharing)By Yashi Natsuba
Publisher: Shobunkan
The story revolves around a girl whose boyfriend cheated on her with her twin sister. The girl gets enraged, but the twin sister then suggests "sharing" the boyfriend.
Reasons for designation: Rape, incest, group rape
Koibito 8-gō (Lover No. 8)By Makoto Ojiro
Publisher: Shonen Gahousha
A woman is attacked by a masked man, and a female magazine reporter, just one year into her job, goes all out to uncover the man's identity in this "erotic and suspenseful story."
Reason for designation: Rape
Hanamizawa Q-taro Jisenshū Hana-HiyoriBy Q-taro Hanamizawa
Publisher: Mediax
A collection of short stories personally selected by the author, seinen magazine manga creator Q-taro Hanamizawa. The stories are mostly light romantic comedies with some erotic scenes.
Reasons for designation: Sexual intercourse in school
Midori no Kisetsu (Blue-Green Season)By Maakō
Publisher: Moerl Publishing
A collection of short stories by a veteran bishōjo manga creator whose work has appeared in manga magazines for "old men" such as Weekly Manga Times. Three of the eight stories have themes of incest.
Reasons for designation: Incest, sexual intercourse in school
More information about the campaign against manga regulation appear in the article "Ishihara Administration's 'Manga for Planned Deletion' Finally Revealed!!" in the current 21st issue of Weekly Playboy.
Source: Weekly Playboy via Hatima Kikō
Update: Expanded summary of Sakurai's response.
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