Japan Manga and Anime Industry to Fight New Under-18 Laws

According to Reuters, Japan’s comics and animation industry intends to fight a ban on the sale to minors of comics and film depicting “extreme sexual acts” including rape, incest and child sex imposed by authorities in the capital, Tokyo.

The bill calls on the industry to regulate itself and prevent people under the age of 18 from buying or gaining access to both manga and  anime, containing material the government deems “unhealthy.” Violators of the law will face fines of up to 300,000 yen ($3,573).

Manga Publishers have criticized the ban, which was included in a bill passed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly on Wednesday, as an infringement of free speech.

To read the full report, go to: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6BG1AN20101217

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