Tokyo's Youth Ordinance Bill

[omimon]

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news...d-by-committee

It seems that today the Tokyo's Youth Ordinance Bill was passed in committee today meaning that Wednesday a full vote will take place. Of course one thing to make clear is the fact that this is a Tokyo-oriented bill meaning it'll only affect Tokyo specifically. However, as Tokyo is the pretty much the center of Japan, one must keep in mind its effects on the rest of the country.

Better start packing your bags and prepare to move outside of Tokyo.

[Taufiq91]

Well, looks liken i'm gonna copypasta from the TAF threads:

guys, ur misunderestimating this bill.

As much as i oppose this, the effects of it won't kill the anime industry.

shows like To-Love Ru will survive and be made. But they'll be less riskier and at the same time, they'll be +18 instead of +15, which i don't mind.

But the bill is still stupid because it's very stereotypical and it will affect Japanese anime in terms of economy. Japan needs its anime to survive as a cultural superpower just like how Britain needs the Beatles, Rolling Stones and Rave music to survive as a cultural superpower.

The bill is uneforcable. If it is, wait until the Japanese economy takes a huge downturn. You'll also see a closure of 1/3 of shops in Akihabara, and Akiba will look like Detroit within a few months after that.

I bet the bill will be either ignored or repealed because of the effects on the economy itself. The Japanese government would be scared to enforce this bill on public because of pressure from the investors in the anime and manga industry at stock markets.

And since this only affects Tokyo, i'll expect a rise in indie anime studios within a few years in Kyoto and Hokkaido, just like the French New Wave and New Hollywood scenes popping up after strict censorship laws in both France & USA in the 50s and 60s.

The industry would survive somehow.

[Ichihara Asako]

I'm still undecided as to how bad this really is. Since it's so vague, and reactions so far are knee-jerk, it's hard to gauge exactly what is going on, but ultimately if it leads to more adult characters in anime instead of all the school settings, I'm all for it. Particularly the end of lolis, maybe they'll return to simply being cute younger sister or daughter types, instead of the sex objects they're often glorified as.

At face value, though, since it's largely targeting ero and ero-based content, I'm not too concerned about it impacting anything I care about. But again, it really depends how the bill is enforced since the vague terms used in it are open to abuse, and governments all like to abuse what they can. So maybe shit really will hit the fan.

[octoberasian]

I was about to post something about this while looking for verified information. I just found out about it on Sankaku Complex then now ANN and Yahoo JP, and now it's starting to hit blogs and forums at the moment.

My friend and I were looking at it and we pretty much agreed on one thing:
This is the end of anime and manga as we know it.

This law when it comes into effect next year is going to destroy the industry. Pretty much every anime and manga that had any hint of yuri or homosexuality is banned. Any older, current or new anime and manga will be subjected to this law.

I fear stuff like the upcoming Evangelion 3.0 and 4.0 movies will never hit theatres or distribution once this law takes effect. Fourteen year old pilots and what not. Mahou Shojo series is going to be generally tamer. All ecchi anime and manga is dead.

It's pretty much the equivalent of Armageddon for the anime and manga industry in Japan. If this doesn't get vetoed or thrown out, majority of the animes and manga we'll see are something along the lines of slice of life, Rated G romance stories, and comedies with no hint of sexual innuendo and anything related sexually.

Stuff like Panty & Stocking, Mitsuodo Moe, Sailor Moon, Samurai Girls, etc. will no longer exist after July of next year.

I'm hoping the industry as a whole and the public itself will force the DPJ seriously reconsider this law. Given Japan's current economy, this is one thing they SHOULD NOT do.

[Hypernova]

This is bad, at beast we will see an exodus of the major players from Tokyo, at worst they comply and all creativity is snuffed. The politicians have given themselves a free pass at going after anything and everything given how vague the criterias are.

Those who think that just because this law only apply to Tokyo Japan by and large is still safe is deluding themselves. Ignoring the Tokyo market is simply not an option as it's the economic and cultural center of Japan. If the publisher want to survive they must have the income from Tokyo, and that means being subject to this law.

[aeriolewinters]

This is actually admittance that the Japanese cannot control the implementation of ratings. Instead of trying to improve the implementation of the rating system, they cower out and put on a ban because they can't regulate.

[holybell84]

The bill seriously looks like something that is of the pages of a book that sterotype manga.... regulate manga and anime but not REAL-LIFE PORN?????

Seriously, Governor Ishihara should be given a check up to see whether he was deprived of entertainment or something during his younger days. This bill is going to cause a lot of creative minds to lose their source of income and destroy the economy

I hope enuff rackus will be caused for them to reverse this decision.

LDP wasn't able to improve the economy; DPJ pretty much destroy it.

[NakkiNyan]

It is actually a rating system but when you put something like Nanoha in the adult section and can't show it on TV you essentially killed it. Movies should be ok but then again if they expect DVD/BD sales instead of ticket sales it could get dropped.

@holybell84 the ironic part is manga is just stories with pictures, Ishihara wrote stories with rape in them and made sure words only, even when lolis are involved, are not banned or relegated to the "back room"

[saya_leviathan]

I think some people should be clear on this. Dan Kanemitsu made some clear points on the bill:

- This is a Tokyo ordinance bill, so while it is not a national legislation, it will still have a profound impact because all publishers and anime companies are centered in Tokyo.
- This is not a ban, but it penalizes any publisher and producer of material that Tokyo considers to be harmful to minors. Unlike in the US, retails have less responsibility, i.e. if a book they sell is marketed as a general audience by the publisher, but Tokyo deems it to be harmful, then it is the publisher’s responsibility to recall all the books.
- Tokyo already has the power to designate anything that is too sexually stimulating for minors OR too sadistic for minors OR too likely to cause criminal acts among minors OR cause suicide among minors as “harmful material”, and force such material to be treated as adult only material.
- This bill does not target simple nudity and panties showing up on the screen, but will make it more difficult to conduct social commentary on difficult issues of sex and relationships since fictional material must adhere to real life criminal codes AND not celebrate relationships between close relatives who can’t marry in real life, or their material may be considered harmful to minors.
- This bill does not target “hentai” (which is a term we don’t even use in Japan). All material already marketed as adults only is exempt, since those titles are considered to be inaccessible to minors.

BTW, the regulation will go on effect on July 1 2011. Dan also pointed out why 10 publishers boycott next TAF:

Part of the reason why Kadokawa and Shueisha and others are so angry that they are pulling out of the Tokyo International Anime Fair is that they have almost ZERO opportunity to give input about the bill that was proposed. Had the bill been revealed sooner, and the industry to could have provided some input, the anger against it might have been much more subdued and perhaps even a conciliatory atmosphere might have come about.

It’s hard to accept Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s posturing of being a manga and anime friendly municipality through its operation of the Tokyo International Anime Fair when they are not allowing the industry and the creative community to have any input on legislation that will impact them, and they are ramming through legislation that singles them out.

Apparently, Ishihara doesn't give a damn about the boycott either.

[holybell84]

Originally Posted by saya_leviathan

Apparently, Ishihara doesn't give a damn about the boycott either.

He's too inflated now to give a damn about commoners. The Japanese are our only chance to force the bill to be reversed; Ishihara hate us foreigners (Singaporean here) even more.

I think the seiyuus and animators will be a lot worse off than now.

Someone should start a facebook for SC**W YOU ISHIHARA or something

[Marcus H.]

This brings about some implications if in case this gets implemented:

> Anything that "incites illegal activities" will be relegated to the R-18 status. This includes the Big Three of Manga, major light novel adaptations of J.C. Staff like Toaru Majutsu no Index and Shakugan no Shana and many others with plots revolving on illegal affairs like Baccano! and Durarara!.

> Anime series classified under R-18 will drastically increase in number. Hentai series will tend to be merged with less titillating titles. "Anime" will be left with tamer moe series and family drama. Also, as with another mangaka's anecdote, high school uniforms might even be "prohibited" in some cases.

> The tendency of Japanese society to oversimplify will cause ALL R-18 TITLES, no matter the genre, to be FURTHER SHOVED DOWN THE NICHE PATH if anime isn't niche to start. Series production sales will drop because of this because casual anime fans aged 18 below will no longer be gained access to anime titles.

[Iron Maw]

Originally Posted by Ichihara Asako

At face value, though, since it's largely targeting ero and ero-based content, I'm not too concerned about it impacting anything I care about. But again, it really depends how the bill is enforced since the vague terms used in it are open to abuse, and governments all like to abuse what they can. So maybe shit really will hit the fan.

It's not just ero, but things like violence, homosexuality and what not. The effect will definitely be felt through much of medium with Publishers getting "cold feet" and start rejecting new Manga/Anime (or canceling current ones) for having anything slightly illegal.

Originally Posted by NakkiNyan

@holybell84 the ironic part is manga is just stories with pictures, Ishihara wrote stories with rape in them and made sure words only, even when lolis are involved, are not banned or relegated to the "back room"

For what he's talking about:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crazed_Fruit

[aeriolewinters]

Lol Gundam Incites rebellion, treason and lol nuclear war: Which means WTFLOL we won't have gundam in the future.

Seriously people, of course some people are going to get away with it. the real problem is with the small players. the big players can easily throw money.
And of course, i just have to take a guess and they'd actually make a regulatory board for this with some experts from the industry as members of the board.

[Blaat]

Originally Posted by Taufiq91

And since this only affects Tokyo, i'll expect a rise in indie anime studios within a few years in Kyoto and Hokkaido, just like the French New Wave and New Hollywood scenes popping up after strict censorship laws in both France & USA in the 50s and 60s.

Pretty much this. I also fully expect the entire industry to move to the Osaka metropolitan area.

[orion]

Originally Posted by Blaat

Pretty much this. I also fully expect the entire industry to move to the Osaka metropolitan area.

Tokyo is the largest consumer area for that stuff so they'd be complying even if they are based in Hokkaido.

It's better to just adapt to the new policy. They have until 7/1/2011 to comply, wrap things up on anything that's ongoing, or add an 18+ label to the property and continue life as is.

Originally Posted by saya_leviathan

Apparently, Ishihara doesn't give a damn about the boycott either.

It's a trade show. The boycotters are basically hurting themselves and the space will be sold to other companies. If they pulled out too late, they still owe the fees for the space they bought at the convention.

Boycotting TAF did not have the desired effect on the vote.

[aeriolewinters]

stuff are going to be reviewed before they are viewed as offensive or whatnot. It's not going to be some witch hunt.

[Decagon]

I noticed the bit about "too likely to cause criminal acts among minors". I don't think I can recall any shonen manga I've read that don't involve trespassing, wanton destruction of private/public property, or the more nominal bullies beating up the hero and hero beating up the bullies. I wonder if they'll bill Crayon Shin-chan as 18+ too for encouraging indecent exposure and inciting general mayhem? lol.

[NakkiNyan]

Originally Posted by aeriolewinters

stuff are going to be reviewed before they are viewed as offensive or whatnot. It's not going to be some witch hunt.

Of course, but viewed by who and what test of unbiasness do they have to take and how many years of training is required before the flaming feminist from equality now going to get to start marking things R-18?

This is the problem with the law now, it was passed without specific descriptions of what is banned and what isn't and if it is banned after some show is made and they find out their show cannot be played on 3am TV and is relegated to the adult corner then what? Yes I realize they will make a pilot episode for review and show story boards but by then much of the work is done and money is either allocated or already spent.

This is not a matter of adding black bars and bleeping out words, this is a matter of making something that you and I may consider PG at best R-18 because the flaming bitch with the trigger does not like the author. They are allowing personal witch hunts.

[orion]

Originally Posted by NakkiNyan

Of course, but viewed by who and what test of unbiasness do they have to take and how many years of training is required before the flaming feminist from equality now going to get to start marking things R-18?

This is the problem with the law now, it was passed without specific descriptions of what is banned and what isn't and if it is banned after some show is made and they find out their show cannot be played on 3am TV and is relegated to the adult corner then what? Yes I realize they will make a pilot episode for review and show story boards but by then much of the work is done and money is either allocated or already spent.

This is not a matter of adding black bars and bleeping out words, this is a matter of making something that you and I may consider PG at best R-18 because the flaming bitch with the trigger does not like the author. They are allowing personal witch hunts.

Companies have legal departments and editors to figure these things out. They have to self-police now and those that slip through the government "slaps".

[Triple_R]

Some animes won't be effected because they're already clearly aimed at adults (i.e. for many eroge adaptations, slapping a "R-18" label on it will likely have zilch effect on the size of its fanbase or how well it sells).

However, this could do a real number on shounen animes. Shounen animes are, as the name itself suggests, aimed at a male teenage audience. Most of these have at least some of the content that the Youth Ordinance Bill refers to. However, much of this content is what gives many shounen anime a bit of an adult edge which no doubt makes it more appealing to teenagers as well.

This really puts the makers of shounen animes between a rock and a hard place - do you reclassify your anime as a R-18 and hence make it harder for your actual target audience to get their hands on it (in any sort of legal transaction way; which is the only way the animation studio profits from it), or do you thoroughly sterilize it of any of the "adult content" and risk making it seem too kiddy or tame to appeal to the vast majority of your current audience?