Member-only story

Censorship in Japan: Politics, Media, and Culture

Gene Powell

·13.2k Followers· Follow

Published in Censorship In Japan (Routledge Culture Society Business In East Asia Series)

5 min read

481 View Claps

88 Respond

Save

Listen

Censorship is a complex and controversial issue in Japan. It has a long and checkered history, dating back to the Meiji era (1868-1912). During this time, the government imposed strict controls on the press and other forms of media, in order to suppress dissent and promote national unity. These controls were relaxed somewhat during the Taisho era (1912-1926),but were tightened again in the Showa era (1926-1989),as the government sought to control the flow of information in the lead-up to World War II.

Censorship in Japan (Routledge Culture, Society, Business in East Asia Series)

by Vivek Iyer

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	4821 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	345 pages

In the aftermath of the war, Japan adopted a new constitution that guaranteed freedom of speech and press. However, the government has continued to exercise some degree of control over the media, through a variety of laws and regulations. These laws include the Public Security Law, which prohibits the dissemination of materials that are deemed to be a threat to national security, and the Broadcast Law, which gives the government the power to regulate the content of television and radio broadcasts.

Censorship in Japan is a complex and evolving issue. It is a topic that has been the subject of much debate and controversy, and it is likely to remain so for many years to come.

Historical Roots of Censorship in Japan

The roots of censorship in Japan can be traced back to the Edo period (1603-1868). During this time, the Tokugawa shogunate imposed strict controls on the media, in order to suppress dissent and maintain social order. These controls included the banning of certain books and plays, and the establishment of a system of censorship for all printed materials.

The Meiji government continued the Tokugawa tradition of censorship, but it also introduced new forms of control. These included the Public Security Law, which was enacted in 1875 and gave the government the power to suppress any publication that was deemed to be a threat to national security. The Meiji government also established a system of press censorship, which was used to control the content of newspapers and magazines.

The Taisho government relaxed the Meiji government's censorship laws, but it did not abolish them. The Public Security Law remained in effect, and the government continued to exercise some degree of control over the media. In the lead-up to World War II, the Showa government tightened censorship controls, in order to suppress dissent and promote national unity.

Legal Frameworks for Censorship in Japan

The legal framework for censorship in Japan is complex and multifaceted. It includes a number of laws and regulations that give the government the power to control the flow of information. These laws include:

The Public Security Law (1875)
The Broadcast Law (1950)
The Film Law (1956)
The Copyright Law (1970)
The Child Welfare Law (1974)

The Public Security Law is the most important law governing censorship in Japan. It prohibits the dissemination of materials that are deemed to be a threat to national security. These materials include those that incite violence, promote terrorism, or glorify war. The Broadcast Law gives the government the power to regulate the content of television and radio broadcasts. This includes the power to censor programs that are deemed to be harmful to children or that violate public order.

The Film Law gives the government the power to censor films that are deemed to be harmful to children or that violate public order. The Copyright Law gives the government the power to control the reproduction and distribution of copyrighted works. The Child Welfare Law prohibits the production and distribution of child pornography.

Contemporary Practices of Censorship in Japan

The government of Japan continues to exercise some degree of control over the media, through a variety of laws and regulations. However, the extent to which censorship is practiced in Japan has declined in recent years. This is due in part to the growing influence of international human rights law, and in part to the increasing popularity of the Internet, which has made it more difficult for the government to control the flow of information.

Despite these changes, censorship remains a significant issue in Japan. The government continues to censor materials that it deems to be a threat to national security or that violate public order. The

Censorship in Japan (Routledge Culture, Society, Business in East Asia Series)

by Vivek Iyer

5 out of 5