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Prefecture's Youth Council Discusses 'Harmful' Books & Homosexuality
posted on by Egan Loo
On December 23, the southwestern Japanese prefecture of Miyazaki posted the meeting notes for the prefecture's Youth Healthy Development Council, the group that designates the "publications harmful to youths." Similar to other prefectures, Miyazaki passed a law in 1977 and amended it several times to allow it to restrict the sale of "harmful publications" from people under the age of 18.
The council held its second meeting of 2011 on October 14. In that meeting, the members discussed selected books that were reportedly placed in a major bookstore, outside of its adults-only section. According to the government staff member who spoke about the books, boys-love comics, ladies' comics (manga aimed at women), and similar material are generally mixed in with "regular comics" on the same shelves. One of the council members gave the following comments:
These books contain a little shadow of violence and brutality in them, most of which are to stimulate the sexual feelings and tend to depict women taking the lead over men. We are concerned that if youths read such material, they may have a biased notion that women desire [these feelings].Also, if there are more depictions where women lead, it will encourage the tendency toward homosexuality and make it difficult psychologically to have a sexual intercourse normally.
Although it cannot be generalized, it is said that men tend to lean toward the homosexuality by thinking that they cannot take the lead.
We see such a tendency in today's books which are placed among the regular books within sight of youths. I think that it is very dangerous.
A second council member said that this tendency is a reflection of the times and added that he or she does not understand it. The second council member continued that in the past, homosexuality was discussed in special surroundings, but are now discussed publicly.
Although the 12 of the 13 council members who were present were identified by name, comments made in the meeting were deliberately not attributed to specific members.
Source: Gigazine
