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[UbiSoftologist]

Source: Associated Press

TOKYO - A state in Japan has decided to ban a U.S. video game from being sold or rented to minors, after officials deemed it harmful and capable of inciting violence.

"Grand Theft Auto III," produced by U.S.-based Rockstar Games Inc., was introduced in Japan in September 2003 and has sold about 350,000 copies. It depicts random killing sprees in public places, cars being blown up and other acts of violence that officials fear teens might try to mimic, said Takahito Hayashi, a child welfare official.

The game will receive a "harmful" product label in Kanagawa prefecture, or state, where retailers will be barred from selling or renting the game to anyone under age 18. The game also will have to be displayed separately from other titles, he said

While other products have faced similar restrictions due to explicit sexual content, it is the first time Japan has placed such measures on game software because of violence, Hayashi said.

Osaka-based Capcom Co. Ltd., which distributes the game in Japan, refused to comment.

Kanagawa prefecture, just south of Tokyo, includes major cities like Yokohama and Kawasaki.

 

[Kon Tiki]

where retailers will be barred from selling or renting the game to anyone under age 18

So what is the big deal?

 

[NotMSRP]

Wonder if interests will soar cause of the press?

Took them over 1.5 years to ban this game?

 

[DarienA]

I was so tempted to use the well that... wraps... up... line for GTAIII. Then I realized it was receiving the Mature rating.

 

[UbiSoftologist]

So what is the big deal?

According to AP:

While other products have faced similar restrictions due to explicit sexual content, it is the first time Japan has placed such measures on game software because of violence, Hayashi said.

 

[Kon Tiki]

According to AP:

I thought Japan had a rating system. So it was not enforced? ok...

 

[Blackace]

Japan doesn't have states... this report sucks!

 

[DarienA]

Japan doesn't have states... this report sucks!

product label in Kanagawa prefecture, or state,

They use the word state to help dumb gaijin because they wouldn't know what a prefecture is.

 

[Scrow]

what's a prefecture?

 

[AndreasNystrom]

I remember this game i had on the C64 where you shoot colored people, and pregnant woman to earn score.

edit : i thought people found my word offensive.

 

[Xenon]

Has God of War been released there yet?

 

[DarienA]

what's a prefecture?

http://www.japan-101.com/geography/prefecture.htm

The term prefecture has been used to denote a self-governing body or area since the time of Constantine I, who divided the Roman Empire into 4 districts (each divided into dioceses). Much like a state or city, these were largely self-governed; however each owed allegiance to Rome. A prefect was the head of a prefecture.

In the Japanese system, the word prefecture is used for translating references to an administrative district, ken (&#30476, which is about the size of a county.

The local self-governing system of Japan consists of 2 classes: prefectures as the large area local governing units and municipalities the basic local governing units. In the Eastern sense, the administrative segregation of a unified nation is usually trifold: the nation, large area local governing units, and basic local governing units. Japan fits this pattern.

Japan is divided into 47 prefectures and each prefecture is further divided into municipalities. These prefectures and municipalities have no overlapping districts or uncovered areas. In short, all the residents in Japan are sure to belong to one prefecture and one municipality.

These prefectures and municipalites are not merely set up as the nation's administrative section, but also as corporate bodies independent from the country that possesses their own basic governing areas and local residents as their constituents. They hold administrative power within the districts in question. In Okinawa, Nagasaki and Hokkaido, subprefectures are used as special administrative unites because such regions are too large or remote to govern for a prefectural government.

The current prefecture system in Japan was settled in Meiji era after the new government abolished feudal clans or Han. That is called "Abolition of the Han system". See Meiji era in History of Japan for historical background of this event.

 

[duckroll]

You guys are forgetting that RE4 and Shadow of Rome were both censored in Japan. God of War most likely will not be seeing a release there, and if it does it'll be censored even more serverely.

 

[123rl]

What's the problem? They don't think kids should play it...they're right.

And how is this a ban? I read the title and thought "I wish it was banned over here too" and now I'm disappointed

 

[human5892]

"Bans" was a misleading word to use. In fact, aside from displaying the game seperately from others, this is no different than what is theoretically supposed to happen at every store that sells videogames in the U.S. (a warning on the box about explicit content, prohibiting the game's sale to minors).

 

[bishoptl]

They're just now getting around to slapping a label on GTA 3? Crack team of legislators over there - can't wait until 2011 when they get around to San Andreas. :lol MORANS

 

[maskrider]

You guys are forgetting that RE4 and Shadow of Rome were both censored in Japan. God of War most likely will not be seeing a release there, and if it does it'll be censored even more serverely.

Yeah, BH4 got no head cut-offs and much less breasts jiggling. :lol

I think mostly because it is on GC in Japan.

 

[JackFrost2012]

I just wanted to come in here to say:

JAPAN DOES NOT HAVE STATES

JESUS CHRIST

 

[NotMSRP]

Ironic cause JP is suppose to be all about jiggles.

 

[Rorschach]

I just wanted to come in here to say:

JAPAN DOES NOT HAVE STATES

JESUS CHRIST

I just came in here to say:

IT'S ALREADY BEEN COVERED

JESUS CHRIST

 

[JackFrost2012]

I just came in here to say:

IT'S ALREADY BEEN COVERED

JESUS CHRIST

Well you don't have to shout about it!

The real story here is, what is so goddamned difficult about the word "prefecture"? I swear, I'm going to start calling pizza "American okonomiyaki" if you all don't cut this shit out.

 

[Jonnyram]

I just wanted to come in here to say:

JAPAN DOES NOT HAVE STATES

JESUS CHRIST

Yeah and IT ISN'T EVEN BANNED IN THAT NON-STATE!!!
I didn't expect the AP to come up with such a glamourous press release.

 

[Pedigree Chum]

I CAN SCREAM TOOOOOOOO!

JESUS CHRIST

 

[NotMSRP]

ICE CREAM

 

[Guileless]

So if you raped people with alien tentacles in GTA then it would be cool right?

 

[bloke]

So if you raped people with alien tentacles in GTA then it would be cool right?

Sure, if you're over 18.

 

[Gantz]

Wow GTA bombed! :lol

 

[CO_Andy]

Ironic cause JP is suppose to be all about jiggles.

It's ironic that Japan has alot of sexual content in just about every part of its media.

 

[Blackace]

I live in Kanagawa.. it hasn't happened here yet.. it might be one of the laws that they pass but never, ever enforce.. like the fact that Pachinko (gambling) is 100% illegal by the word of the laws here...

another thing is where did they pull 18 from? 20 years old and you are a legal adult here...

 

[Jonnyram]

It's ironic that Japan has alot of sexual content in just about every part of its media.

It's not in trouble for sexual content, it's because of the violence. And before you talk of violence in animations, there's a stark difference between cartoon violence and the comparatively realistic violence in games.

 

[Blackace]

It's not in trouble for sexual content, it's because of the violence. And before you talk of violence in animations, there's a stark difference between cartoon violence and the comparatively realistic violence in games.

Also it has even more shock value to the parents because it is coming from a culture really alien to them...

 

[belgurdo]

It's not in trouble for sexual content, it's because of the violence. And before you talk of violence in animations, there's a stark difference between cartoon violence and the comparatively realistic violence in games.

Sup Shinobi, Ninja Gaiden, Silent Hill, any Fist of the North Star game, Mahou Shoujo Ai...(in terms of "graphic but fantasized" GTA-style violence)

 

[maskrider]

Sup Shinobi, Ninja Gaiden, Silent Hill, any Fist of the North Star game, Mahou Shoujo Ai...(in terms of "graphic but fantasized" GTA-style violence)

Silent Hill 2, 3 and 4 were CERO 15.

 

[Amakusa]

TOKYO - A state in Japan has decided to ban a U.S. video game from being sold or rented to minors, after officials deemed it harmful and capable of inciting violence.

I've seen Anime they show of TV more fucked up then GTA :lol