Censorship! What's Censorship?
by Brad Richards

Originally Posted: 3 April 2000

-------------------------------------------------

Finally, I sit at my computer writing my first editorial for VegettoEX. I've read many editorials so I finally figured I should write one. Now! The main point of this editorial is to examine the differences in Japanese and American Culture and how it reflects television standards in each country. Here goes!

Every otaku knows that anime that is broadcasted on TV here in the states is cut and censored to some degree, some more than others. Most everyone agrees that the first to seasons of Dragon Ball Z were censored to an extreme. The third season, though very different from the Japanese version, is remarkably censored very little. This is the standard, if there is any, that Dragon Ball Z should be censored at. However, some parents feel that the show is too violent and that nothing is learned. Well here's something to chew on. America is a fucked up society when it comes to Television. You might be wondering the reason behind this. Most americans consider TV a big part of their lives, especially childrens. In Japan, people have more important things to do. The main priority for children is education. Education always, always comes before television. Where as an American kid, after seeing the episode where Kuririn gets impaled by one of Freeza's horns, would say "That was cool how he got impaled!", a Japanese kid probably would have said after the episode, when he or she saw it in 1991 , "Oh, time to finish my homework and be ready for school."

Another example of the intolerance of some Americans toward Japanese culture is that of a recall of a particular Pokemon card. Parents conplained that the card had a "weird symbol" on it that looked similar to a Nazi Swastica. The symbol stood for friendship. This, in my eyes and of others that can read the Japanese lanuage, is an insult to the language itself. I can't believe a kanji can be interpreted this way. I know about 20 different kanji characters that look closer to a Swastica than the one for friendship. People who are going to complain over the similarity of kanji to symbols such as the Swastica are waisting their time! What's next! Maybe they'll censor the kanji for mountain since it looks like the top of a pitchfork! If that happened, the most common character used in Japanese names would be eliminated. Hell, the middle character of Akira Toriyama's name would be included in that group! The vast differences in culture and attitudes and the misunderstanding, and sometimes intolerance of these differences, are the reason for censoring of shows such as Dragon Ball Z. I'll explain this in the paragraphs below.

First off, there's the violence in some anime that gives many parents concern. In my opinion, the source of this concern is the media. In the US, school shootings and killing sprees are blown to epic proportions by the media. I could probably track at least 100 instances where Columbine High School has been metioned on TV, in the newspaper, in magazines, etc. Parents, after seeing this violence break out, try to put the blame on someone or something else (i.e. Television, Video Games). The true reason for the violence is the parents. Most parents in the US don't take time to explain to their children the difference between television and real life. When kids are told about these things at an early age, there is no worry of violent acts steming from violence seen on TV. In fact, children who watch shows for older kids tend to be more mature during their teenage years. In Japan, however, violent crime is almost non-existent. Kids watched shows with violence like Dragon Ball Z, yet they did not grow up with violence and hate. Because there is hardly any violent crime in Japan, there is nothing for parents to blame it on.

Second, there is foul language and religion. Americans generally aren't as socially polite as Japanese. Inappropriate words such as damn, hell, and shit are heard even at school. In Japan, cuss words are heard numerously on Television. Children do learn these words, but because the Japanese are a socially strict and polite society, children know not to use words such as baka, kuso, and shimatta in front of others, especially adults. There is a time and place to use those words. Concerning religion, Japanese really don't care. Most of them are Shinto, not Christian. In the US the majority of people are Christian. However, there is a small percentage of people who are intolerant of any kind of reference to religion that is not Christianity. Some consider it to be devil worshiping (which is a bunch of BS if you ask me). HELLO PEOPLE! It's all fiction. Just because other references are made doesn't mean you have to be offensive about it. It's not like your kids will immediately convert. It's all mythology. Try telling your child that learning Greek mythology, or watching Hercules is bad for them.

Last but not least, there is the question of nudity. Some anime, like those with adult female nudity or whose central theme is sex, should not be viewed by children. However, I do not find rear ends of small boys or genetals of male babies offensive. I do not think it's inappropriate for children to see this type of nudity. It does not have a sexually theme to it. I think Amercans are paranoid when it comes to nudity and associate all nudity with porn. Not all nudity is pornography, only sexually enticing nudity is pornography. While Americans consider the nudity shown on shows such as Dragon Ball, explicit, the Japanese view this as cute and funny toilet humor. An American parent, upon seeing this would say, "Oh, that is sick. Son, I don't want you watching this." A Japanese parent, on the other hand would say (if they said anything at all), "Oh, that's cute," and sort of chuckle.

To wrap up this editorial, I'll say that America as a society needs to lighten up on the issue of censorship. At least they're doing it to Dragon Ball Z on Cartoon Network. People who advocate TV censorship, especially that of Japanese Animation need to find something else to do with their lives. Instead of complaining to the networks, educate your child about the differences between TV and real life. Then, Dragon Ball and most other anime should not be a problem. Though I doubt, that our society will change very much, one can always go to Japan, I guess.

Contact: brad101@dragonball-gt.zzn.com