Japanese National Police Investigating Games 63
Gamasutra reports that, like here in the states, Japanese games are coming under increased scrutiny by law-enforcement and politicians. From the article: "Japan's National Police Agency is currently investigating the effects playing video games and watching anime have on children. Currently being led by former deputy governor of Tokyo, Yutaka Takehana, the police-sponsored group met on April 10 in Tokyo to discuss topics such as violent video games and sexual content on the internet."
Why only now? (Score:1, Interesting)
Really, I'm surprised something like this didn't happen sooner; I wonder if any part has to do with making Japanise sites and games more "US-friendly?"
Re:You people joke, but... (Score:2, Interesting)
What usually happens about that time is that kids convert over from more private comic book reading/game playing to more social game playing, as they start to have more freedom from their parents as soon as they hit high school. So it's less about the latest Final Fantasy and more about taiko games and print club at the local amusement plex. There are varying degrees of manga, though, and those -do- continue to be acceptable through all ages, more or less; but you're expected to have a book cover on your manga so nobody knows what you're reading. (Then again, this is the country where it's entirely fine for a middle-aged guy to be reading porn mags on the train. Happens all the time.)
In the last decade or so there was a big shift in Japanese educational attitudes, largely due to kids dropping dead from stress in their schooling years. Believe it or not, it's a lot more relaxed than it used to be, and I know plenty of 20-something Japanese people who sort of float along at part time jobs and spend most of their time on their art/band/hobbies. Some are supported by their parents, but some live in tiny little apartments on their own, since property prices have taken a dive from the all-time highs of the late 80s-early 90s. It happens.
Anime, maybe, but you forget Manga (Score:3, Interesting)