Historical Background of Censorship in Japan
– Censorship in Japan throughout history
– Censorship policies during the Tokugawa/Edo Period
– Expansion of censorship during the Kansei Reforms and Tempō Reforms
– Increased censorship during social unrest and civil disobedience
– Limitations on kabuki theater actors during the shogunate
Censorship during the Meiji Period and the Pacific War
– Censorship of Western ideas, pornography, and political writings
– Increased censorship during ongoing wars
– Control over news, advertising, and public events by the Information and Propaganda Department
– Elimination of freedom of the press through the National Mobilization Law
– Censorship during the occupation of Japan
Pornographic censorship in Japan
– Article 175 of the Criminal Code restricting the sale and distribution of pornography
– Requirement for censorship of all pornography in Japan
– Arrests based on the interpretation of obscenity laws
– Introduction of online insults law for regulating speech in the online public sphere
– Issues of self-censorship and doubts about editorial independence
Contemporary issues and debates
– Concerns about self-censorship among journalists and close ties between NHK and the ruling LDP
– Exclusion of freelancers and foreign reporters from government events and interviews
– Debates on the balance between freedom of expression and regulation of harmful content
– Discussion on the government’s role in controlling information and shaping public opinion
– Advocacy for greater transparency, press freedom, and protection of individual rights
Obscenity laws and trials
– Development of the obscenity test by the Supreme Court of Japan
– Self-censorship in Japanese pornography through the use of digital mosaics and censor bars
– Landmark cases such as the ruling on ‘Black Snow’ and acquittals based on Eirin approvals
– Manga-related obscenity trial and the Supreme Court’s verdict
– Internet censorship focusing on pornography and controversial political material Source URL:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Censorship_in_Japan
