An overpowering array of household name mangaka heads the list of those announcing their opposition to the efforts to ban raunchy manga as “2D child pornography” in Tokyo and, by extension, all of Japan.
Elder mangaka Tetsuya Chiba (Ashita no Joe) decries the law as threatening the very cultural complex which has become so vibrant in Japan:
“When new culture and expression comes about many types of flowers bloom. Pretty blooms like violets and sakura, but also more odious jungle blooms like Rafflesia.
However, these are all interconnected – merely saying ‘this one is dirty’ and cutting it down will only destroy the entire ecology.”
Go Nagai (Mazinger) puts it another way:
“I came into the world with Harenchi Gakuen. People struck out at it back then, but if there’s a ban this would be impossible to put out now.
If you say something stinks and then try to put a lid on it by censoring it all you do is increase the number of warped people out there.”
More details on the law and its proponents in the previous article on the subject.
Dozens of top industry figures, including many boasting government awards and iconic cultural impact, have put their names to the list opposing any restrictions; a sampling:
Fujiko Fujio A (Ninja Hattori-kun)
Takao Saitō (Golgo 13)
Gosho Aoyama (Case Closed)
Rumiko Takahashi (Ranma ½)
Mitsuru Adachi (Touch)
Moto Hagio (They Were Eleven)
Machiko Satonaka (Constellation of the Hunter)
Ryōhei Saigan (Kamakura Monogatari)
Tooru Fujisawa (GTO)
Ken Akamatsu (Love Hina)
Kaworu Watashiya (Kodomo no Jikan)
Alongside these are a variety of figures ranging from obscure ero-mangaka to the Seikon no Qwaser production staff. All the major manga publishers have also put their names to the list.
In fact, the only figures conspicuously absent seem to Shonen Jump mangaka…
With many figures in the list being household names, those who were expecting a long list of ero-mangaka and eroge companies have been taken aback.
Of course, what remains to be seen is the reaction of the senile geriatrics and moralist busybodies supporting this measure when they vote on its fate on the 19th.
You cannot even write l0li anymore…
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I really don’t give a crap about this ban. Anime characters are ageless. You can make cute, youthful, sweet, moe girls who aren’t underage. It’s a drawing.
Of course they are against it. Even “household mangaka” will make an income from or will at least want to have the option of drawing lolicon, since it does sell well. I would protest a cut of one of my income sources, too.
I do not think that this debate is about morals, really.
Always keep in mind the economic interests. It’s the strongest force in the world of today.
I find it very amusing how Japan itself seems to forget that they have some of the lowest sex crime rates, especially child abuse in the world.
Do they?
First of all, the legal age for sex is 13, so a lot of what constitutes as child abuse in other countries does not apply.
And second, we do not know how many children are abused, we can only know the number of pressed charges. Is it easy, is it encouraged or discouraged to press charges in Japan? How openly can you speak about r♥♥e?