I often feel frustrated when I imagine how ridiculous it is that all Japanese porn is censored. You know, sometimes it actually seems like some kind of obvious form of repression, but people argue with me saying it’s actually cultural, but if it’s just cultural, then uncensored material should absolutely be available.

Now, for me personally, it’s a terrible waiste, because my favorite adult DVDs would be my imported Japanese oppai paizuri DVDs, and you know what, those mosaics ruin them completely. It dissapoints me every time I think of it.

To me, it seems like something that absolutely just cannot last, especially if you imagine that the Japanese culture is actually growing and changing, which, I’m no expert, but it is. I keep thinking that it has to change, but, I get the impression that I’m missing something, something in their culture so different and so powerful, that they actually let something that seems so obviously reppressive continue.

Those tiny mosaics are nothing comparedto what you can find in the minds of the pornographers or the people who buy them.

Then again, I find visual censorship pointlessly funny.

Sure, it’s mildly annoying when some people do it, but then again, I can always say they can’t draw that good :P

Then again, humanity can’t handle the truth, or be responsible about freedom of speech. Censorship occurs because we can’t handle the responsibility and we don’t want to take responsibility for our words and actions. Censorship is merely an excuse to shirk responsibility.

At least that’s what I think.

It’s there to remind you that whatever you’re watching/looking at isn’t necessarily acceptable to society at large, and frankly that’s probably a good thing to remind people.

See, all of this has to be filed under “Acceptable to Whom??” Who has any right or responsibility to think for me, tell me what’s offensive, or what I can or cannot look at? Who other than me has any right to decide what I find acceptable. The big question for me is WHY?? Why do I need to be protected? From whom do I need protection from?? It’s all about responsibility- PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY- I choose to purchase Eromanga, I choose to support it. I’m responsibile enough not to leave it lying around for my 5 year son to find. When he is old enough to buy it, he can make his own personal and responsible decision to buy it or not buy it.

I find utility in censorship- I find it useful to do my thinking for me- it tells me what I need to see and not see- I don’t have time or the education to make that decision myself……

I’m not responsible enough to decide for myself…..

To protect society as a whole…..but from what?

Nah, visual censorship does not bother me most of the time…I probably got used to it with all the non-US released eroge I’ve played on the PC…Basically, its just as stated, an odd part of the japanese censorship laws…But I do recall the “Gun X Sword” swimsuit kingdom episode as being one of the most frustrating to watch, all those lovely curves censored with mule stamps! ^_^;;

If one would give me six lines written by the hand of the most honest man, I would find something in them to have him hanged.
– Cardinal Richelieu

I find that quote very telling of censorship.

I guess censorship wouldn’t be such a problem if there were clear, unambiguous rules stating what is OK and what isn’t. But since things are never really clear-cut, Mr. Creator can get busted just because he didn’t draw enough black bars on that penis, and Mr. Dirty-but-legal-business can learn that shooting junior idols in bikini wasn’t completely legal after all, depending on recent news headlines and political swings.

The worst kind of censorship is probably the one you have to deal with unexpectedly afterwards, based on the whim of distributors rather than actual, existing regulations, and unconcerned with artistic vision, plot continuity or the intelligence of the viewership. Nice boat was pretty bad. Kojika is perhaps even worse, as it’s probably going to be riddled with nice e’s during its entire run (I found it interesting by the way that any remotely sexual reference the girls make about Aoki, including calling him ‘doutei’, gets censored, whereas it’s apparenly okay to show boys calling Houin-sensei ‘paipai’; not that I’m really surprised, eh, Japan).

Someone from work (I work at a comicstore) once told me that he doesn’t understand Japanese censorship.

I showed him some ero stuff with massive censorship and he said something along the lines of: What’s the big deal? There’s no need to censor it, we all know what’s happening, right?

Actually, that’s exactly what I’m thinking. But I guess that’s a cultural thing, like Hinsoong said. I’m curious to now what the majority of Japanese thinks about it.

If it’s so offfensive that it has to be censored, to be allowed to sell it, what’s the whole point? Because it WANTS to be offensive, right? ;)
Well, freedom of speech is important, and censorship can be good for people who are easily offended, but generally, that doesn’t make sense for the people who do want to watch it, ’cause they’re the ones to buy it. I mean, if you buy an adult DVD, I don’t think you’d be freaked out by it’s content (except if you bought the wrong DVD;))

Well, it probably is something to do with the ones deciding on the censorship.

In Germany there’s also a real stupid censorship for games. For example, they have two versions of Bioshock, one for Germany which is censored and one for the other German speaking countries (Austria and Switzerland).
There’s less blood and less ugly corpes but the game is still violent, so what’s up with that? And they didn’t censor the most ugly part at all, where someone gets brutally killed.

Stupid, right?

Censorship ultimately proves to be a minor annoyance. I think full enjoyment of something comes form seeing it in it’s entirety with no censorship at all, but it isn’t like it’s a deal breaker. You know good and damn well what’s being censored out and in the right (or wrong depending on how you look at it) mindset, a little mosaic action isn’t going to do anything to kill the mood.

That isn’t to say that it isn’t always a deal breaker. Since visual censorship varies so much it ends up being a crap shoot with anything you view. When censorship is small and only covers the bare minimum then it’s perfectly fine and easily overlooked. But when censorship is thick due to it just being that way or if there is a lot going on and more censorship is necessary, then it becomes too much of a distraction. If have to look through a sea of mosaic just to see a face then it really ruins any potential enjoyment.

With all that said, I ultimately don’t find any purpose in the censorship from the start. Censorship on source material that is meant for adults seems counterproductive. When a curse word on national TV is censored, that’s ok… kids could be watching. But when we are talking about something pornographic in nature, what’s the point? Adults are watching it and know they are watching it.

I guess I have two answers to the question. On the one hand, I am used to censorship, and it usually doesn’t bother me, as long as it isn’t too extreme and distracting.

>>Sydney2K
The beauty of the internet (at least HD’s corner of it) is that you can render it completely worksafe by the touch of a button, assuming borderline visuals are the only thing you’re worried about.

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