Amazon yanks Japanese rape simulation computer game

Saturday 14th February, 07:07 AM JST

SAN FRANCISCO —

Online retail giant Amazon has yanked from its virtual shelves a Japanese computer game that lets players simulate raping girls.

A “Rapelay” videogame being hawked on Amazon by a third-party merchant was deemed inappropriate and the product’s page taken down after it was brought to the California Internet firm’s attention Wednesday night.

“We determined that we did not want to be selling this particular item,” Amazon spokeswoman Patty Smith said Friday of the computer game.

The “Rapelay” game was created exclusively for the Japanese market but a couple of “like new” copies were being offered on Amazon by a U.S. seller specializing in animated Japanese pornography.

The computer game maker, Illusion studio based in Japan, posts a notice on its website that its products are specifically for domestic users.

“As we say on the website, we don’t sell the products overseas because of the rating problem, and I cannot possibly comment on the report from San Francisco,” said a spokesman for the company in Yokohama.

“We believe there is no problem with the software, which has cleared the domestic ratings of an ethics watchdog body,” he said.

The game was released in 2006. Other titles from the studio include “Battle Raper” and “Artificial Girl.”

Wire reports

› Login to comment

Latest 15 of 101 Total Comments Show All

gogogo at 12:01 AM JST - 16th February

Just type ろりこん into Amazon.co.jp - it's child porn books and DVDs.
UnagiDon at 12:46 AM JST - 16th February

And people say the Japanese lack creativity...they lead the world in rape simulation!
mesostructure at 05:29 AM JST - 16th February

I'm not sure anyone has played these Hentei game before. I played these kind of game since long time ago (The first game I played is under Window 3.1). I don't see any problem with these games because: they're never ever target for non-japanese customers; you cannot play these games in non-Japanese version of Windows. All interfaces are in Japanese only. What it means is that if you know Japanese language that well (these games are very verbal), you should know the Japanese culture -- this kind of sexual content is acceptable and normal in Japanese standard.

Possessing Marijuana is legal in Netherlands, but illegal in Japan. Do you blast Netherlands' government for legalizing weed ? If not, then you should not blast Japanese government for allowing Amazon.co.jp to sell these products.
UnagiDon at 06:34 AM JST - 16th February

this kind of sexual content is acceptable and normal in Japanese standard.

Nonsense - no Japanese I know condone this, and it is hardly "normal", and crap rationalizations like yours do nothing to help Japan's reputation. As a Japanese friend said - "Japan is the pervert capital of the world", and much as I generally like and respect Japanese culture, I bet even an LDP politician would come out and say that simulated rape is part of Japanese culture.
bcbrownboy at 06:35 AM JST - 16th February

Ah, we're just tryin' a' have a liddle fun.
soldave at 09:01 AM JST - 16th February

Let's raping game enjoyment together!
T_rexmaxytime at 10:37 AM JST - 16th February

Lighten up. I love these kind of games.... I think all guys do. haha
Sarge at 10:51 AM JST - 16th February

"rape"

Who would want to forcibly have sex with a woman? I don't get it...
lordomni at 02:14 PM JST - 16th February

We believe there is no problem with the software, which has cleared the domestic ratings of an ethics watchdog body,” he said.

And thats the main problem.
T_rexmaxytime at 03:01 PM JST - 16th February

This rape games cater to those guys with Rape fantasies/fetish. You know, when Japanese girls says "noo-", it means "yes I want it but you need to force it so you wont make me look like a slut". Thats why many guys dig these games. Its a cultural thing. by the way.When Japanese girls says "NO! blablah", it means NO!.
yawmin at 02:47 AM JST - 17th February

from what i remember, people who commit rape in most cases wont even get ANY time.
DXXJP at 05:32 AM JST - 17th February

from what i remember, people who commit rape in most cases wont even get ANY time.

That's only if she's your wife.
SiouxGirl at 04:28 AM JST - 19th February

You and I both know what's going to happen. Sooner or later the headlines will be, "Parents of boy charged in area rapes say boy influenced by game." It'll be here soon. And because there are first person shooter games where you score points for shooting someone in the head doesn't mean it's okay to have rape-sim games. You don't think ppl haven't been protesting against GTA? Rape is worse than murder. With rape, you never ever forget exactly what happened, even with counseling. Someone once said that rape is a kind of murder. Do we want to live around the kinds of ppl that are into this game? Do you want your daughter dating this guy? Do you want to live next door to him with your wife and children? Do you want your mother living next door to him?
boitoi at 05:59 PM JST - 20th February

what is wrong with amazon? why ban this type of game and still sell hundreds of rape theme movies, books, manga, comics and other violent types of media. if i can't buy that in amazon, i'll probably look for that in lawson.
SiraK at 07:01 PM JST - 1st June

I honestly can't belive that so many people have actually supported the game on this page. It's disgusting. "Lighten up. I love these kind of games.... I think all guys do." If you like it your absolutely sick!What is enjoyable about ruining a womans life? Even if it is just in a game they make games like this really real and violent games have been known to induce real life violence, why wouldn't rape games have the same effect? "This rape games cater to those guys with Rape fantasies/fetish. You know, when Japanese girls says "noo-", it means "yes I want it but you need to force it so you wont make me look like a slut". Thats why many guys dig these games. Its a cultural thing. by the way.When Japanese girls says "NO! blablah", it means NO!." No means no ffs your view on this is totally disturbing! Making these games legal is like making kiddy porn legal. And it shouldn't be accepted as part of the japanese culture, that's like accepting that binge drinking is part of Aust. culture, it's bad but oh well, it's what we do. I thought the Japanese and lots of respect and all that!