Keep It or Delete It?: Pushmo (3DS eShop)
Keep It or Delete It?: Quasar Quinn: Escape from Zargnon (Android)
Keep It or Delete It?: Mutant Mudds (3DS eShop)
Final Cut: Hetalia: World Series (Season 3) (DVD)
Keep It or Delete It?: Paper Monsters (iPad)
According to Anime News Network, the Tokyo Metropolitan government is set to vote on amendments to their laws against child pornography. Similar to the laws that recently resulted in Christopher Handley‘s sentencing in Iowa, they are looking to impose laws against sexualized depictions of characters that appear to be under the age of 18, even if they are “nonexistant.” Currently, the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly’s General Affairs Committee is intending to introduce and discuss the legislation on March 18 and hold the vote the following day. If the legislation passes committee, it could see a vote from the general assembly by the end of the month.
Yoshitoshi ABe, creator of Serial Experiments Lain and Haibane Renmei has offered his thoughts on the situation, translated by Welcome Datacomp. ABe makes some very valid arguments: that Japanese classics such as Doraemon would be outlawed under the new law because of the occasional, innocuous panty flashes; and that for a person to be a functional adult with knowledge of right and wrong, they must be able to see both.
Besides the moral implications, such a law would cripple ComiKet sales, as well, considering many of the doujinshi sold there depict teenage anime characters. Let’s face it, no matter how many times someone insists that Sasami or Evangeline McDowell are hundreds of years old, it just doesn’t look it, an no court is going to care. As I maintained through the Handley case, I don’t think it’s the court’s job to legislate morality and determine what kind of virtual entertainment people enjoy. If no one is getting hurt, they shouldn’t have a say in it.
Osaka Creating Own Pornography Law, Adding BL Regulation | G.A.M.E.S. on 05 Apr 2010 at 11:52 am #
[...] Tokyo has delayed the vote on expanding their child pornography laws to include drawn depictions of children, Osaka has decided take steps towards making their own law. [...]