Tokyo's Anti-Loli Bill has Passed in Committee.

[ajemas]

The anti-loli bill (bill 156), which has since mutated into a general anti-crazy-sex bill, has passed in committee. This means that anything deemed harmful will be pushed into the "adults only section" and will be tightly regulated. There's lots more on the story here, and I suggest that you give it a read. http://www.japanator.com/fffuuu-tokyo-s-anti-loli-bill-passes-in-commitee-17722.phtml&mainnav=&track

I actually disagree with Japanator's take on the story. I think that the bill is a good thing, as much of the things that the bill is banning really has no place anywhere other than the shelfs of the extremely depraved. After seeing some crazy loli stuff during my (very) brief tenure on 4chan, I am actually happy that this kind of material will be banned.
And yes, I know that freedom of speech is necessary, and that things like this can be used to make an artistic statement, but where a loli hentai differs from, say, Lolita or Oedipus is that the medium is drastically different. Whereas Oedipus was meant to be an allegory for the importance of understanding fate and the power of the Gods, a loli image is clearly designed for the viewer to get off on, and should (in my opinion) not have any right to exist.
So what's your take on the story? Is it a good thing or a bad thing?

 

[Kaboose the Moose]

Thank fuck!

Can I just say, that Japan has some really, really, really disturbing fetishes on their shelves. RapeLay [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RapeLay] is one just example.

I am all for the freedom of expression/speech...but you can go too far. Japan has a history of flirting with the border of sanity with this kind of shit and I am glad that this bill passed.

If you are reading this Japan, I am happy that you have matured a lot in my eyes.

 

[lacktheknack]

Wow... I wonder if there will be riots (of otakus, if nothing else).

 

[TeeBs]

To be honest, i find that this won't help anything. To me the only reason why Japan is so fucked up as far as the porn industry is concerned is because of the law banning genitalia *it must be censored* on film, this makes it so, in a small way the Japanese are sexually repressed. If you could just see the genitalia, there would be less of a reason to have a girl being fucked in the blur by a giant octopus.

 

[RobotNinja]

But if you read the article, it doesn't just ban loli stuff, but anything considered "harmful" to children. And the bill's definition of "harmful" is quite vague.

 

[Irridium]

You do realize that this will essentially cripple the japanese anime, manga, and games industries, right?

If there's an anime, manga, or game you like, chances are it'll be either banned or discontinued due to fear of being regulated under this law. Even if they would be safe.

Also, Japan's economy is already on the verge. Severely crippling such large industries is practically suicidal.

Yes it is restricted to Tokyo, but the fact this is happening at all is just ridiculous. I'm against child-porn and all that, but banning all forms of sex/porn is just ridiculous. Under very vague terms no less.

Wonder how this will affect Atlus. I'd hate to see them stop making games because of this.

Also, why is it only going after anime/manga/games? So they're saying real sex with real people is fine, but fake sex isn't?

All this "think of the children!" bullshit needs to stop.

 

[Serenegoose]

Also, why is it only going after anime/manga/games? So they're saying real sex with real people is fine, but fake sex isn't?

"Won't somebody puh-leeaaaase think of the cartoons!" seems to be the gist of the law. It's no different from that time rock and roll lead to devil worship, and DnD led to devil worship, and homosexuality led to devil worship, and video games led to devil worship, except replace devil worship with something more appropriate to Japan like generic 'moral decay'.

 

[SimuLord]

Like I said in another thread, a Tokyo without insane, ridiculous sexual content is like Seoul without dog soup and New York without apple pie.

It just seems wrong on a cultural level.

 

[Bon_Clay]

Don't give a shit what its concerning, censorship = bullshit. Don't allow kids access to certain things, let adults look at whatever the hell they want. If there are people willing to produce it and people buy it, and it isn't hurting anyone, then there shouldn't be any laws concerning it.

 

[Julianking93]

So... does this mean I won't get anymore loli? *sadface*

 

[thedoclc]

To be honest, i find that this won't help anything. To me the only reason why Japan is so fucked up as far as the porn industry is concerned is because of the law banning genitalia *it must be censored* on film, this makes it so, in a small way the Japanese are sexually repressed. If you could just see the genitalia, there would be less of a reason to have a girl being fucked in the blur by a giant octopus.

These sorts of media existed long before cinema. Japan is known culturally for having more promiscuous sexual mores than the West had for much of its history, having never been burdened with Victorian morals nor existed as a predominantly Christian society. Japan's been flirting with the WTF and naughty tentacles long, long before movies.

 

[Irridium]

So... does this mean I won't get anymore loli? *sadface*

Or possibly Atlus games, should they decide to not bother making games now that they could be harshly regulated and probably banned.

The chances of us getting Catherine have just fallen drastically.

 

[Ldude893]

As much as I hate loli (and I when I mean hate, I mean "annihilate metaphorically with fire"), I really don't think there's any way to stop it without restricting freedom of speech, which is something that a democratic governments cannot do.
This is going to cause the formation of an underground resistance movement of artists devoted to creating and distributing artwork of "adult rated" manga and anime. The Streisland effect applies even for Japan.

 

[TeeBs]

To be honest, i find that this won't help anything. To me the only reason why Japan is so fucked up as far as the porn industry is concerned is because of the law banning genitalia *it must be censored* on film, this makes it so, in a small way the Japanese are sexually repressed. If you could just see the genitalia, there would be less of a reason to have a girl being fucked in the blur by a giant octopus.

These sorts of media existed long before cinema. Japan is known culturally for having more promiscuous sexual mores than the West had for much of its history, having never been burdened with Victorian morals nor existed as a predominantly Christian society. Japan's been flirting with the WTF and naughty tentacles long, long before movies.

Hmm, I guess my other statement was only a theory but this makes more sense now that I think about it. Touche'

 

[Troublesome Lagomorph]

While I'm all for getting rid of all that... dirty loli stuff, I wonder if it will start biting into other things.
Depending on the wording it can mean A LOT of thing can be deemed bad and gotten rid of.

Which can mean a drop in manga like Negima.
And anything else like it.
Which is.. VERY VERY BAD.

But if it just bans loli H and the like, then HELL YEAH!

 

[justnotcricket]

So... does this mean I won't get anymore loli? *sadface*

This doesn't ban Nabokov, so you're OK I guess ;-P

OT: I'm glad that there is some thought being given to what is appropriate for a general audience and what is not, but I think they need to make the boundaries a bit clearer. Mind you, I suppose this sort of ting is hard to put firm boundaries on, once you get away from the *really* creepy stuff.

 

[Julianking93]

Or possibly Atlus games, should they decide to not bother making games now that they could be harshly regulated and probably banned.

The chances of us getting Catherine have just fallen dramatically.

Oh yeah. I forgot about that.
Hm... well, even still, I think they'll still release it. It isn't loli really, is it? Or am I thinking of the wrong game? >>

Also, I'm quite surprised at how many people hate loli here... like really hate it. >>
Wonder what their feelings on furries are <<

 

[Julianking93]

This doesn't ban Nabokov, so you're OK I guess ;-P

:O That doesn't count and you know it!