In 2015, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s Ordinance for the Healthy Development of Youth was finally passed. It was expected to have a major impact on industries such as manga, anime, and games. With the passage of the ordinance, the debate over further wording will be greatly brought into the spotlight as this could have affected the distribution of anime on other media such as websites like animeid.
Problems Encountered
In an amendment issued in March 2015, it was intended to regulate with the unclear concept of “non-existent youth.” Therefore, this time, it says that the concept has been clarified in response to the previous criticism.
This time, however, unlike last time, there are no restrictions on age, and it can be said that broader regulation has become possible. In addition, although it is a punitive law, since the setting of manga and anime is fictitious, is it not strange to apply real laws to acts in fictional worlds in the first place? Fictional settings also have rules that follow them.
Currently, self-regulation is also being carried out on the industry side. Was it really necessary to regulate with laws and regulations, as in this case? Doesn’t it feel like so much harm is clearly occurring, and if we emphasize the possibility of a crime, won’t everything be subject to regulation?
Originally, the act of expression is a human right guaranteed by Article 21, Paragraph 1 of the Constitution, but it is generally said to have a superior human rights value. As a matter of legal interpretation, the amended ordinance is likely to be controversial.
ALSO READ: Discussing Politics With Your Kids
Consideration
It can be said that the background to this revision is that manga and anime have a negative impact on young people. However, on the flip side, isn’t there something that manga and anime attract adolescent children to? I believe that the reason why manga and anime have come to be recognized as a culture of Japan that the world can be proud of is that the feelings put into the works have a common appeal to people.
There are positive things such as hope, and there are negative things such as despair. I think that a life of shining positive experiences is good, but a negative life in which you have experienced despair and setbacks is also a fascinating life.
In the information society, it may be necessary for adults to protect them. However, it can be said that the ability to make decisions on one’s own is also necessary in order to live autonomously in the coming era. Whether it is really necessary to regulate by law should have been discussed further.
Back then, an anime called “Bakuman.” (Weekly Shonen Jump serial) is being broadcast on NHK Education. In this work, adolescent boys follow their dreams of becoming serious cartoonists. You can feel the origin of the thoughts of those who make manga and anime. Only works that have a negative impact are subject to regulation, but when creating works with free ideas, won’t the standard become consequentialism?
Future Trends
In the midst of this, major publishers and others are calling for the cancellation of participation in the Tokyo International Anime Fair. The Tokyo International Anime Fair is the largest event in the anime industry held at Tokyo Big Sight every year around the end of March. It has had a major impact on such a large event, and it is still necessary to consider this ordinance.
In addition, a comic market will be held at the end of this month, and it is expected that many opinions on this ordinance will be taken up soon. Manga and anime are one of the Japanese cultures that we can be proud of in the world. There is a concern in the future whether the quality of this quality will be lowered.