Freedom of Expression vs. Social Protection: Manga in Japan
About the Presentation:
In 2004 the Yokohama Congress enabled Japanese society to come to terms, for the first time ever, the tension between freedom of expression and the government’s interest in eliminating harmful, explicit, sexual speech through an unprecedented prosecution against the famous manga artist. Meanwhile, in 2010, the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly passed the Tokyo Metropolitan Ordinance Regarding the Healthy Development of Youths which was designed to regulate excesses of the anime and manga industry. Visiting Scholar Masaaki Yatabe will explore the tension between constitutional guarantees of freedom of expression and the substantial interest of the government in protecting children.*
About the Speaker:
Masaaki Yatabe received his J.D. from Keio University Law School in 2010, and has been a lawyer for seven years in Japan. He has devoted an important part of his career to the development of criminals’ rights and freedom of expression. He was appointed the vice chairman of the Criminal Defense Committee of the Daini Tokyo Bar Association in April 2018. He is also an attorney who handles legal issues relating to publication and press, and has engaged in civil matters related to manga, television and internet media. Currently, he mainly conducts research on the issues related to the restrictions on the expression about crimes and criminals.