Aki Sora Getting Censored?

Manga creator Masahiro Itosugi has revealed word that the first and third volumes of her just concluded manga series Aki Sora will cease getting reprinted after July. Itosugi stated that the decision to cease publication of select volumes of her manga was not made by her, and the reason behind decision the lies in the fact that the manga series depicts incest, not because the manga is sexually graphic. Itosugi also stated that she expects digital distribution to be unlikely.

Speculation suggests that the manga series is threatened by Tokyo’s recently ammended Youth Healthy Development Ordinance which prohibits the mass market distribution of anime and manga deemed “harmful” to minors. When asked if the Aki Sora manga could continue publication with an adults-only label, Itosugi admitted that the possiblity exists, but clarified that the Aki Sora manga series does not meet the current criteria for classification as “adults only” manga, nor did she create the manga with the intention of it being for adults only. Itsogi emphasized that the Aki Sora manga would have been completely different had she created it with the intention of it being an adults-only work.

The Tokyo Youth Healthy Development Ordinance does not prohibit the public distribution of potentially “harmful” manga outside of Tokyo, but considering that Tokyo is Japan’s largest manga market, publishing and distributing manga in areas outside of Tokyo isn’t economically viable.

Source: Anime News Network