Japanese National Police Investigating Games 63
Gamasutra reports that, like here in the states, Japanese games are coming under increased scrutiny by law-enforcement and politicians. From the article: "Japan's National Police Agency is currently investigating the effects playing video games and watching anime have on children. Currently being led by former deputy governor of Tokyo, Yutaka Takehana, the police-sponsored group met on April 10 in Tokyo to discuss topics such as violent video games and sexual content on the internet."
Why only now? (Score:1, Interesting)
Really, I'm surprised something like this didn't happen sooner; I wonder if any part has to do with making Japanise sites and games more "US-friendly?"
Re:Why only now? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Why only now? (Score:1)
Re:Why only now? (Score:2)
You didn't mention what the hentai freaks will do. Then again, it might be for the best ;).
...Altought I have to point out how much more effective pulling hammers out of nowhere comes when you have 100+ tentacles to swing them with simultaneously.
This just in.... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:This just in.... (Score:2)
Re:This just in.... (Score:2)
Yes, Great Justice. And all your bases are belong to it.
Re:This just in.... (Score:1)
Watching anime? (Score:1)
I've been scarred for life!
Gotta catch 'em all (Score:3, Funny)
In summary, it's all personal responsibility:
Remember, here in the U.S.A, we have reached a new age.
NOBODY is responsible for their own actions.
Remember that.
Holy shit! I killed somebody! Bob made me do it!
Bob: Joe made me do it!
Joe: I blame the media!
Media: Videogames.
Videogames: Personal responsibility?
Personal Responsibility:
On the bright side (Score:2)
Wrong logic (Score:2)
The fact that people are looking for causes for crime does not mean that those who commit the crime aren't responsible.
I am sure... (Score:1, Funny)
In the course of their investigation... (Score:2)
I can dream, can't I?
Please no (Score:1, Redundant)
Granted some japanese porn still has closeups wich results in one big censored screen but it is offset by the absolutly weird stuff the companies like Soft in Demand come up with.
For instance their Deep Kiss series is totally hot yet has no censorship. Because it doesn't hav
You people joke, but... (Score:5, Insightful)
Anime & video games in Japan is largely split into two different groups:
1) For kids and shown on public TV.
2) For geeks and loners and shown on subscription channels and direct to video shows.
The average adult attitude about adults that spend a lot of time watching anime & video games is very dim thanks to widely publicized crimes by loners over the past two decades. These isolated incidents are basically the equivalent of the D&D killings in the 80s, Columbine, etc. over here and have resulted in a very similar attitude in the Japanese public about the otaku. While there's little religious fundamentalist opposition to the fan service, porn, and violence in adult targetted anime, the mainstream public still views it as unseemly and regards fans with suspicion.
I'm personally surprised they haven't launched an investigation sooner.
Re:You people joke, but... (Score:4, Insightful)
Being anti social is where the "problem" lays. Japan has a very 1984ish look on people being on their own. Everyone should be with others and constantly be doing something constructive, if you arn't you must be "one of them outsiders" and you get weird looks and such.
Plus in Japan you work to the bone and you accept it. That's how the society is and always will be.. but watching anime or playing games isn't looked down on, it's the fact that you arn't at work and arn't around people/in a social club that is.
Re:You people joke, but... (Score:2)
According to the Aussies, Japanese only work 45 hours more on average than Americans [investaustralia.gov.au]. (PDF warning...) According to the wall street journal, from 1970 to 2002, the hours worked by the Japanese fell 16.6% while the hours worked by Americans rose 20% [typepad.com]. (Info linked from a blog that draws from a WSJ article, because WSJ requires login.)
How long before we're working more hours than the Japanese?
Re:You people joke, but... (Score:2, Interesting)
What usually happens about that time is that kids convert over from more private comic book reading/game playing to more social game playing, as they start to have more freedom from their parents as soon as they hit high school. So it's less about the latest Final Fantasy and more about taiko games and print
Anime, maybe, but you forget Manga (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Anime, maybe, but you forget Manga (Score:2)
Bullshit...out of 20 people, at least half of them are playing with their cell phones. You rarely see adults reading manga in public, and when you do it's always obvious creeps or w
Re:Anime, maybe, but you forget Manga (Score:2)
Not really. I didn't mention it deliberately. (Score:2)
I deliberately didn't mention manga because it's treated differently -- supposedly, anyway. I'm beginning to suspect that that's another Western myth about Japan too.
I didn't see more than about four people reading manga on public transit when I was there for three weeks back in 2000, and I never saw anyone doing anything with porn except in the creepy otaku shops in Akihabara. I susp
Re:Not really. I didn't mention it deliberately. (Score:2)
True is, that most japanese people read normal books.
Because as we know.. (Score:2)
Re:Because as we know.. (Score:1)
Re:Because as we know.. (Score:1)
Re:Because as we know.. (Score:1)
And I emphasise "crazy" and "mad".
---
"But think of the children!" - To hell with that? Who do you take me for - Michael Jackson? - you pervert!? I'm not thinking about anyone's kids thank you very much - sicko!
Re:It's about time! (Score:2)
Re:It's about time! (Score:2)
Re:It's about time! (Score:2)
Re:It's about time! (Score:2)
Re:It's about time! (Score:2)
Seriously... (Score:4, Funny)
Wonder what they'll find (Score:1)
Are the people doing the "examination" unbiased enough to find significant, new data that clearly shows one way or the other? And if so, can that data be found true here in the US as well? Keep us posted...
Re:Wonder what they'll find (Score:2)
Well, I read manga, watch anime, including lots and lots and lots of hentai (including lolicon), and I've yet to kill or even seriously maim anyone. Except, of course, the agents of Chitauri in human disguise, but they are trying to exterminate us all so it's perfectly justified.
Seriously, if you spend all your time
Re:Wonder what they'll find (Score:2)
Watching too much violent TV and playing too many violent video games takes a toll on children's social and physical development, researchers report.
"We found that the more TV they watch, the less time they spend with their friends," says researcher David S. Bickham, a research scientist at the Center on Media and Child Health at the Harvard School of Public Health. However, "this relationship reall
Tentacles... (Score:1)
So what are they doing about H (Score:1)
Tokyo Metropolitan Police has Pipo-kun ... (Score:2)
Re:Tokyo Metropolitan Police has Pipo-kun ... (Score:1)
Re:Tokyo Metropolitan Police has Pipo-kun ... (Score:1)
Re:Tokyo Metropolitan Police has Pipo-kun ... (Score:2)
I'm not a bit suprised.... (Score:2)
Re:I'm not a bit suprised.... (Score:1)
Re:I'm not a bit suprised.... (Score:1)
It's not shown on "normal" tv... (Score:1)
Odd priority (Score:1)