As far as storylines are concerned, we cannot easily say 'no' because freedom of expression is at issue. Some novels, comics and movies also contain extreme content.

Saturday 16th May, 05:28 AM JST

A senior official of the Ethics Organization of Computer Software, an industry organization made up of more than 200 software production companies, on whether a rape simulation video game should have been banned. (Asahi Shimbun)

› Login to comment

9 Comments

neverknow2 at 08:22 AM JST - 16th May

on whether a rape simulation video game should have been banned

It's funny how ever other nation would not even need to ask this question except for Japan.
Tatsumaru at 04:05 PM JST - 16th May

Love freedom of speech, expression and all. But somethings shouldn't have to be made into a law for someone to compelled not to do something that is questionable at best. This leads me to point this as a fault of their society as a whole than that of legal equality issue.
jonnyboy at 07:44 PM JST - 16th May

you don't have the freedom to say things that encourage people to break the law...
ANOTSUSAGAMI at 08:24 PM JST - 16th May

jonnyboy- What law has been broken?
telecasterplayer at 12:12 PM JST - 17th May

..because freedom of expression is at issue.

How about some games in which a Woman is elected Prime Minister, a Labor Union struggles and achieves higher wages and better working conditions, or Unit 731 is held fully accountable as is its C.I.A. after-the-fact protectors. Will freedom of expression be considered in those cases?
jonnyboy at 01:57 PM JST - 17th May

jonnyboy- What law has been broken?

well, freedom of speech (supposedly) does not give you the freedom to yell fire in a crowded theatre. you could argue that a game that rewards the player for committing crimes is thus not defensible under freedom of speech
kyoken at 11:01 PM JST - 22nd May

So pubic hair in sex films is censored in Japan, but the act of rape is freely available in all sorts of media. What is next? How about killing foreigners as computer game, or Manga ...
Good_Jorb at 11:17 PM JST - 22nd May

you could argue that a game that rewards the player for committing crimes is thus not defensible under freedom of speech.

This is an odd agruement, games are fictitious and therefore any crimes committed in a game are not real crimes.