Kadokawa CEO Takeshi Natsuno suggests new standards in manga in order to sell on google/apple digital stores.

[grapedApe]

Recently newly appointed (about 3 months ago) kadokawa CEO takeshi natsuno suggested during a discussion on teenage gravure idols that the content currently allowed in manga should be changed to be able to sell more on google and apple's digital stores since they reject lewd content (like the recent rockman x dive bs)

On Takahashi (fuck this guy for dmca'ing ehentai) believes the statement was just a distraction tactic from unrelated comments to the olympics that got people pissed at him.

Ken Akamatsu outlines the roadblocks to natsuno trying to get new "acceptable" standards forced on the entire industry but at the same time the sad possibility that kadokawa could still regulate itself and that shareholders would find appealing if it means more access to certain shitholes like australia.

Below a Deepl translation of Akamatsu's tweet on the matter.

KADOKAWA President Tsuyoshi Natsuno's theory on the regulation of sexual expression in Japanese manga (according to foreign platform standards).

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1419196162880335872

If the major publishers are going to come together to regulate online creative expression, the first place to start is with the Japan Book Publishers Association and the Japan Magazine Publishers Association.

For example, in 2014, when the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) proposed that manga should be regulated in the future, the DPJ held a hearing with the Cartoonists Association of Japan, the Japan Book Publishers Association, and the Japan Magazine Association. In one case, Mr. Edano summarized the party's policy to exclude the regulation of creative works such as pictures and animations.

As far as the broadcast is concerned, Mr. Natsuno does not seem to have the conviction to "persuade other major publishers to promote the regulation of manga expression. However, it is possible that Kadokawa alone will strengthen its own regulations. Unlike Kodansha and Shogakukan, KADOKAWA is a company listed on the first section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (and owned by the Keidanren) and belongs to its shareholders. Subordinating itself to foreign standards will appeal to shareholders.

This popping up right after I recently learned that Uran, the author behind Mujaki no Rakuen had his recent manga Ore wa Lolicon ja nai removed by amazon japan.

 

[NLDX]

"sell more on google and apple's digital stores"
Fxxk kadokawa CEO takeshi natsuno for being greedy af.

 

[Mandrake]

On Takahashi makes the most sense in this case, it looks like a distraction tactic.
Now will that have actual consequences, it all depends on how lenient the local mangakas and overall artists are to let that happen without a fight, or even welcome it.
Remember, for example concerning video games, what happened in the West is because the appeal of censorship infected many artists and people in the industry, so that's why it's so easy to implement. It's mostly self censorship advocated by people working on videogames themselves.
Compare that to the big "fuck you" the industry gave in the 90s when censorship was pushed to them back then, resulting in the push back of censoring violence in videogames...

 

[Narbray]

I think the CEO is smoking something weird
There are a lot of products especially in light novels that sell only for the lewd because their stories are pretty boring and would have disappeared if it weren't for the waifus and ecchi.

it is extremely unpleasant to see how the disgusting policies of a few like apple and google are affecting the whole world

hopefully and kawdokawa backfires if they do this nonsense

Anyway, I hope this makes more people understand that we have to stop supporting disgusting progre companies like Apple and Google.

and I hope this contributes to the market of independent publications on websites and the like, so with that and with the disappearance of the market for printed volumes, these idiots will end up celebrating.

I believe that as long as countries do not enforce laws against this there is still hope for the future

true

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1419399570048524288

 

[immahnoob]

I think the CEO is smoking something weird
There are a lot of products especially in light novels that sell only for the lewd because their stories are pretty boring and would have disappeared if it weren't for the waifus and ecchi.

it is extremely unpleasant to see how the disgusting policies of a few like apple and google are affecting the whole world

hopefully and kawdokawa backfires if they do this nonsense

Anyway, I hope this makes more people understand that we have to stop supporting disgusting progre companies like Apple and Google.

and I hope this contributes to the market of independent publications on websites and the like, so with that and with the disappearance of the market for printed volumes, these idiots will end up celebrating.

I believe that as long as countries do not enforce laws against this there is still hope for the future

true

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1419399570048524288

While it would be nice for this to be the case, always stay vigilant I'd say.

 

[PhantomXero1x]

I really hope these "new standards" are going to backfire really and i mean really badly if they do get implemented.

 

[FunsLeaf]

Kadokawa CEO deeply regrets his comments and retracts his statement, also took a pay cut.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1420208256035659778

English Article about the statement

 

[erobotan]

Kadokawa is not some indie company ... why don't they create their own global store???

 

[FunsLeaf]

Kadokawa is not some indie company ... why don't they create their own global store???

They do, its called Book Walker. This makes the ceo's statements even more retarded.

BOOK☆WALKER Global:BOOK☆WALKER Global Store - Digital Manga & Light Novels

BOOK☆WALKER is KADOKAWA 's official eBook store & app for Manga/Light Novel fans. Check out for free and exclusive eBooks, as well as special deals offered only on BOOK☆WALKER!

global.bookwalker.jp

 

[versvlees]

Remember when companies had to deal with censorship. They just released a censored version for a specific market but gave the rest of us the uncensored one.

Now this dumbass CEO want to censor their content for the Apple/Google store which is one thing but imposing it on everything is just outright retarded. As FunsLeaf pointed out Kadokawa has its own store. If Apple/Google imposed censorship which sucks. Fine I would give them censored versions but also shill the BOOK WALKER store pretty hard and tell people to get the real stuff. Yeah It would annoy people using the Apple/Google platforms but also outright tell them who was responsible for the censorship in the first place.

Yeah this dude backtracked his statements harder then the level progression of a metroid/castlevenia game. Doesn't change the fact he willingly shit the bed, soiling the sheets. You can clean the sheets all you want people are gonna sleep next to you with one eye open. The only good things to come out of this is the backlash from Japanese fans and made it harder for them to sneakily censor because people will be actively watching for it now.

 

[erobotan]

They do, its called Book Walker. This makes the ceo's statements even more retarded.

BOOK☆WALKER Global:BOOK☆WALKER Global Store - Digital Manga & Light Novels

BOOK☆WALKER is KADOKAWA 's official eBook store & app for Manga/Light Novel fans. Check out for free and exclusive eBooks, as well as special deals offered only on BOOK☆WALKER!

global.bookwalker.jp

oohh, smart company! how come they ended with a retard CEO .. i hope they retire him soon