Japan Press Weekly

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2011 January 26 - February 1 [JCP]

JCP talks with cartoonists and publishers regarding Tokyo’s manga restrictions

To safeguard free cultural activities against the increased control of sexual scenes in manga comics and animations, which the Tokyo Metropolitan Government enforced last year, the Japanese Communist Party Tokyo Assembly members group on January 26 held talks with cartoonists and publishers.

There were 23 people, including three JCP Dietmembers.

On the Tokyo government’s stricter control legislated in the name of sounder development of youth, JCP Lower House member Kasai Akira said, “The problem has arisen in Japan’s capital, the center of Japan’s publishing culture. It will affect publications nationwide.”

Yoshida Nobuo, JCP Tokyo Assembly members group head, said that the adversely-revised regulations are intended to discourage the freedom of expression but that increasing counter-movements by cartoonists and others are driving the Tokyo government into a corner. He said that the need now is to create a social consensus to prevent the metropolitan government from actually enforcing stronger controls.

A woman cartoonist said, “Comic artists are angry now. I want publishing companies to call on them to join in an anti-control movement.”

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government will hold in late March the Tokyo International Anime Fair 2011. However, 25 publishing companies have cancelled their planned exhibitions so far, possibly causing a financial deficit for the fair.