Japan Expands Ban Plan

Recently, I’ve been covering stories for GotGame about RapeLay and the slippery slopes we may soon face from the world of censorship. I’d worried that I might be getting too sensationalist on the subject, but it’s looking like there’s some validity to my doomsaying.
The Ethics Organization of Computer Software in Japan recently amended their ban on lolicon and rape-themed eroge, to extensively ban all things kink. The complete list of topics that are now forbidden from not only in-game material, but also images, text, packaging, and titles (including the names of publishers) are as follows:
|
|
I can understand placing restrictions on games involving violent, victimizing sexual fantasies (I, too, think of the chil’rens!), but come on. Why should that rob me of indulging in consensual fantasies like hookers, threesomes, or even pregnant women (cuz they need love too!)? I guess even games with a wide release like Agarest Senki have their days numbered.
Japan’s ban frenzy this week isn’t limited to restricting players from games, some publishers are banning access to their own websites. Learning from the international jihad launched by the American feminist group, Equality Now, some Japanese eroge publishers are shielding their websites from foreign eyes.
Minori, a Japanese eroge publisher has blocked access to their website outside of Japan. When non-Japanese web surfers visit the publisher’s website, all they’ll see is this message:
minori official website.
This website cannot be browsed excluding Japan.
Some foreigners seem to be having an antipathy against EROGE.
Therefore, We prohibited the access from foreign countries, to defend our culture.
Sorry for you of the fan that lives in a foreign country.
minori Inc.
Well, I suppose it’s for our own good. Thank you, Equality Now, for protecting us from ourselves. It’s one thing to look out for the welfare of our homeland, but to go around dictating that the rest of the world live up to our cultural standards is a dick move. (Pun intended, for irony.)