"Tokyo?s manga ban has been signed into law after passing a final vote, and is set to come into effect in 2011, with Tokyo governor Ishihara crowing that ?Japan still has some common sense left after all!?

The ban already passed a committee vote, and as expected also passed a final vote on the 15th [of December] ? the law stipulates that ?voluntary restraints? must begun in April of 2011, with the full force of the ban to come in July."

Apparently this only effects "virtual" material (any photography or recording is unaffected, and will be anything considered to be "harmful."

Anyone with more information? reactions?

Oh! Is this that ban on manga over the internet and stuff? I can see why they would want that but I dont think it's going to help the industry. In fact, it might make it worse. People are going to find other ways of not paying for their manga or anime. It's just too dang pricey, especially for foreigners.

Oh not at all its a ban on certain "harmful" anime/manga related items on producers in Tokyo. It has nothing to do with exporting it. The current PM has very *ahem* conservative views about virtual entertainment and homosexuals on TV. The Internet is unaffected so much as the content will not be produced in the first place.

Ah! That one. Because I know they are trying to do something about the things on the internet too (also trying to get rid of dramas.)

But yeah I can understand why they would want to ban it, but frankly all that stuff has been so available that frankly I think it's quite impossible. I can only imagine the manga/anime smuggling rings that are going to form. Maybe the yakuza might get involved now! lol Who knows? Either way people are going to get their hands on manga/anime like that anyway, whether its finding loopholes or distributing it illegally. Even if the producers can't legally create manga/anime of that type, others surely will be able to create it. I think the law is stupid. This is just for Tokyo right? The other majors cities are fine.

thanks for sharing! wow unbelievable...the kids in tokyo will be bored? my host family kids like Beyblade alot! hmm... If they were to ban Anime industry... then Akihabara economy will be drop?

hmm...ii just read the article. But what i've found was the govt only ban those explicit x18 hentai animes, games & related items. I'm happy to hear about that..finally they take actions! Am sick of ecchi animes... If you guys realize, most ecchi animes are released in 2010.