Ten publishers will boycott Tokyo's International Anime Fair over a controversial censorship bill.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government submitted a bill to amend the Youth Healthy Development Ordinance in November, reports Anime News Network.
The current law already prevents the sale and renting of 'harmful publications' to people under 18. This is defined as material that is "sexually stimulating, encourages cruelty, and/or may compel suicide or criminal behaviour".
The new law will also require the regulation of publications that "unjustifiably glorify or exaggerate" certain sexual or pseudo sexual acts that are "considered to be excessively disrupting of social order".
The publishers that are protesting the law are Shueisha, Kadokawa Shoten, Shogakukan, Kodansha, Akita Shoten, Hakusensha, Shonen Gahousha, Shinchosha, Futabasha and LEED Publishing Co., Ltd. Bleach creator Tite Kubo has also offered his support to the boycott.
More Comics News
Comics Interviews
Superman's new villains - interviewMan of Steel's Michael Shannon, Antje Traue on cooking crème brûlée with heat vision.
Comic Movie Reviews
Marvel Heroes reviewed: A fan-pleasing MMOGazillion puts the Marvel Comics license to good use in this enjoyable MMORPG.
X-Men movies
'The Wolverine' releases new trailerLogan receives a samurai sword in the latest 20th Century Fox trailer.
Phoenix Friday
Phoenix Friday: 'Simon Swift' previewThe Phoenix previews Thomas Fickling and Zak Simmonds-Hurn's latest strip.
