Japanese Censors: Sexually Aggressive Women Turn Kids Gay

[Polite Sage]

Back in 2010 Japan signed into law a bill that allows the government to censor, via a committee vote, media that "promotes illegal or immoral sexual activity." The law is almost exclusively invoked against manga; particularly "Loli" manga, which often depicts child-like characters in erotic situations.

In case some people didn't read the previous article [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/106174-Child-Safety-Bill-Could-Cripple-Anime-Industry]; this isn't actually a "censorship law" that entirely prevents producing/selling "immoral" material, but a law that allows the government to put a R-18 stamp on everything they deem not fit for "children". F.ex. if a manga series was found "immoral" (even non erotic one, like Kodomo no Jikan) it would be sold from "hard porn" shelves and put in plastic bags to prevent minors browsing them.

But still it's a horrible law supervised by horribly old men.

 

[kyoodle]

A culture where porn ranges from 'she was asking for it' to 'raped by demons' objects to women taking the lead in sexual encounters?!

Shocking.

 

[LordFisheh]

Agh. Why do we have to live as slaves to the whims of idiots like this?

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Can I just say "Oh, Japan...", because that's all that needs to be said.

(Not that we're any better, but I'll put money on it that Japan has a "Oh, England" column as well)

 

[Moonlight Butterfly]

Those notes from that meeting rule. I never realized that women actively wanting to have sex with men is what made men gay!

Yeah I think there's a way for me to make money in there somewhere. /sarcasm.

But seriously while I can understand them wanting to censor more extreme porn in a reserved society their reasoning and selection seems (offensively so) way off base.

I think it's easy for the internet generation to forget they are still being watched over or governed by people who grew up in the 40's and 50's...

 

[darthotaku]

I'm very concerned about censorship and all that. but please someone tell me what manga that picture is from. I don't care if its the worst manga ever, but I'll read it just to figure out what the hell is going on in that picture.

 

[Hosker]

I don't think the guy who said this represents the whole of Japan, people.

 

[Casual Shinji]

If I was a woman living in Japan I probably wouldn't want to have sex of my own accord either.

 

[Proverbial Jon]

I really want to know the story behind that picture though. It's hilarious.

Me too. I don't understand the picture. Is is a Japan gay test or something?

"You are presented with a topless, bespectacled man. Two kittens are attached to his chest by way of a piece of tape/strap. He looks at you sugestively, a wide grin on his face. How do you handle this situation?"

1. Run away, fast. (Recommended action)
2. Try to save the defenceless kittens! (We advise against)
3. Have full sexual intercourse with the man because you just read manga involving sexually forward women. (Warning: You could be gay as a result of overbearing women)

Hmm I think this is a trick question... If your response is number 3, then I think you were gay long before you were even exposed to women.

What? Oh there was a news story here?

 

[MetalMagpie]

Not only comedy gold, but further evidence that it is possible for an individual to be so clueless that they cease to even be offensive. Committee Member A, I wish I could shake your hand. You won't understand why, but I want to do it anyway.

If I was a woman living in Japan I probably wouldn't want to have sex of my own accord either.

That seems a little harsh! Japan has plenty of forward-thinking (and attractive) guys.

(Oh, and sympathy-in-advance for anyone who's favourite Manga gets censored by this committee.)

 

[Valanthe]

Leave it to the Japanese to make even a subject I can honestly say I despise, namely the censorship of media,speech or expression, so incredibly insane I had to check to make sure I was still on the same -planet.-

 

[Beryl77]

hahaha, that guys logic is just hilarious. Wish I could have been there when he said it, of course I wouldn't have understood but it would have made me laugh a lot.
Too bad that idiots like that guy get positions where they have some power.

 

[Lilani]

Oh Japan, you so silly.

And I would also like to take this opportunity to point out that the man in the picture for this article is showing his kitties. Tsk tsk, Escapist, I thought you were more mature than that.

 

[bakan]

Japan, a country led by very old men, with pretty stupid views.
But isn't it kinda ironic that one of those bills got supported by someone who wrote rape-novels?
[small](can't remember the name right now)[/small]

 

[David Farnell]

To quote one of dozens of similar comments:

"Why is Japan doing this??"

JAPAN is not doing this. A GUY is doing this. Granted this guy is a product of Japanese culture. But so are 127 million other Japanese people, each of whom is a person with his or her own personality, none of which are precisely identical despite the stereotype.

"JAPAN" is not some monolithic hive-mind. There's one guy in Miyazaki Prefecture (a tiny, mostly rural "state" tucked away in the far south of Japan...the size and population of a couple of American counties) who thinks this way. There are probably a few million others who have similar ridiculous opinions, but most Japanese people would find his views as appalling as most of us do.

And how many millions of Americans think that homosexuality is caused by dominant women? How many Canadians? Dave Sim, the writer of Cerberus, one of the greatest comic books ever, thinks so. Most North Americans who've read his wacky views rightfully think he's a nutcase. Do they say, "Why is Canada doing this??" No. They think, "Why did such a great comic creator turn into such a homophobic, misogynistic creep?"

Why is a Canadian or an American opinion an individual's opinion, but a minor Japanese functionary's opinion is suddenly JAPAN's opinion?

And for the several people who wrote variations on "This is why I hate Japan": Stop being idiots. I could understand such a sentiment if you were, say, Japanese and complaining about your own culture, or if you were Chinese or Korean and your country had been invaded and terribly harmed by Japan, or if you were an 80-year-old Pacific War vet. But even those people should get the hell over it. Americans should remember that Japan is one of America's closest and most loyal allies. It is far from a perfect country, and it has crimes to answer for in its history...but name me a country that is perfect. Name me a country that is free from an ugly past.

 

[faranar]

I think you are all missing the point here. The problem the committee members have is that there actually aren't that many women who would openly express their sexuality and "take the lead". So by having such women in most relationship related manga and anime, male teens start to expect such women to come on to them. Think about it - I read manga almost every day and I can't think of one where the male teenage protagonist goes after his love interest openly and isn't branded a pervert. Imagine actually growing up with such role models. In a country where most marriages are between people of ages 20-25, more and more males turn 25 without ever even kissing a girl. So you turn 25 without ever having a relationship with a girl an you practically have two options - turn gay in pursuit of happiness or kill yourself(Japan is in the top 5 countries by suicide rate). Both of those aren't helping in a country with a serious demographic deficit

 

[Ragsnstitches]

Does... does this mean that manga is a socially progressive force in japan? I think I might have gained a higher respect for the medium.

I lost my taste for reading manga and watching anime a year or 2 ago due to seemingly cookie cutter concepts, characters and plot. Though I do dip in and out every so often to try and catch the rare gems that stumble into that pool of bland.

The sexually and socially delicate female character was endearing at first due to being raised in a time where the western media tries to "empower" women by basically making them more masculine or making them into cold and heartless bitches or just cock hungry nymphs. The delicate flower character type soon became tedious and flat, whiles my view on women became less conformed and more free formed (judge each person as an individual, not a group overall).

But I can't deny that some Manga and Anime also tried to empower women and did a better job at it then western media on occasion. I like the idea of Manga being a socially inquisitive medium. It gives it a flare that renders it more Artistically then any amount of panty shots or bizarre boob physics could ever possibly achieve.

... and par to the course, the powers that be will try and stunt social progression because it meddles with their conformed ideals. Hopefully this eejit won't be enough of a force to stunt social evolution.

I think you are all missing the point here. The problem the committee members have is that there actually aren't that many women who would openly express their sexuality and "take the lead". So by having such women in most relationship related manga and anime, male teens start to expect such women to come on to them. Think about it - I read manga almost every day and I can't think of one where the male teenage protagonist goes after his love interest openly and isn't branded a pervert. Imagine actually growing up with such role models. In a country where most marriages are between people of ages 20-25, more and more males turn 25 without ever even kissing a girl. So you turn 25 without ever having a relationship with a girl an you practically have two options - turn gay in pursuit of happiness or kill yourself(Japan is in the top 5 countries by suicide rate). Both of those aren't helping in a country with a serious demographic deficit

Okay, I'm sure you meant that as a deliberate jest, but I can't be too sure since this is the internet. But turning gay isn't exactly an option, unless your Bi.

Also, I'm 23, never been kissed and have no sexual stirrings towards men... I'm fucked in this case right?

 

[Daverson]

...what? =/

No, seriously, what?

Maybe I'm not reading this right, correct me if I'm wrong: They want to ban pornography featuring women who do anything other than just sit back, because they're afraid it'll be used to manufacture homosexuals?

Spoiler: the only possible reaction to this

I don't think there's anyone this isn't offensive to.