Tokyo's 2D Loli Bill To Be Rejected

Loli justice is about to be served in the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly, during this month's session. If the heavily opposed and vague "nonexistent youths" bill is put to a vote, it almost certainly faces defeat, considering that the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) - the largest faction in the assembly - has formally decided to oppose the bill. Together with the other opposing parties (the Japanese Communist Party, the Tokyo Seikatsusha Network party, and the Jichi Shimin'93 faction), a majority of seats in the assembly are now expected to vote against the bill. *If* it comes down to a vote...



Because there's also a good chance that the bill won't even be put to a vote, as it's been drawing more and more criticism from manga / anime creators and publishers, recently joined by the Japan Pen Club, the Japan Cartoonists Association, and the Writers Guild of Japan. Most of them are arguing that their freedom of expression is threatened by this "nonexistent youths" bill, some in a rather unusual way.

For instance, in the latest Gintama manga installment that was published this June 1 in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine, there is a character yelling "I object to the Ooedo Youth Healthy Development Ordinance Revision Bill!" - a clear reference to Tokyo's proposed "Youth Healthy Development Bill" (Ooedo being the manga's alternate-world Tokyo). The character then goes on to say:

"One should regulate their own heart before attempting to regulate free speech!! There were lolicon far back in the past before there was manga, the Internet, anime!! What's important is to have the heart to face those desires and control them instead of trying to put a lid on them!! Now let me just state that I’m not a lolicon, but instead a feminist."

The reason this is unusual is that well-known authors such as Gintama's creator Hideaki Sorachi don't usually risk their reputation and their work, by voicing opinions on such controversial issues. Now, however, other mainstream news publications are also taking a vocal stance against the bill, by printing a common protest article prepared by the Japan Magazine Publishers Association.

In light of all this (and more), the Tokyo Metropolitan Government will reportedly revise the "nonexistent youths" bill and re-introduce it "in September or later". The later, the better!

P.S. Visibly relieved by the news, one certain politician threw a "cosplay party" at the headquarters of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), where he appeared dressed as the calculating father figure Gendou, from Evangelion. Ironically, the LDP - the second largest faction in the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly - is the very same party which is pushing this nefarious bill.

P.P.S. Oh and speaking of politics, Japan's prime minister has changed once again, after Yukio Hatoyama resigned a few days ago, having failed to keep his promise to relocate the U.S. military base from Futenma outside the prefecture of Okinawa. Indigenous angry mobs protests, and a political fiasco ensued. The newly elected prime minister is Naoto Kan, from the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) - top opposers of the 2D loli regulating bill - yay!

Update: And another protest in manga form, against the Tokyo bill, this time from Berserk mangaka (turned slacking lolicon) Kentaro Miura.