Support NeoGAF

[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami recently spoke out about game censorship in Japan. Namely, his dissatisfaction with Japan’s strict video game rating system- and how it can even cause games to be completely banned in the region- such as Dead Space and The Calistro Protocol.

The topic came up in a recent interview with Shinji Mikami and Goichi “Suda51” Suda on Game*Spark about the upcoming remaster of their game Shadows of the Damned (Shadow of the Damned: Hella Remastered) due to be released on multiple platforms in October, 2024. The conversation turned to how differences between Japan’s rating system and overseas meant that they had to censor parts of the game for the Japanese console releases (for both the 2011 original and the upcoming remaster), basically releasing two different versions.

To be launched on consoles in Japan, games must obtain a rating from Japan’s CERO (Computer Entertainment Rating Organization) board. Although download-only titles have the option of getting a classification from the IARC instead, all games with 18+ content in Japan must pass CERO’s regulations. On the other hand, PC releases on Steam in Japan usually end up being uncut, as they don’t have to pass through CERO.

“I think it’s an odd system because games end up being restricted due to rules made by people who don’t play games, blocking the enjoyment of those who want to play them,” Mikami explains.

Suda51 agreed, commenting, “We have no choice but to deal with imposed regional restrictions as part of our job, but I always wonder what the players will think. For example, it’s a bit sad if people go ‘I’ll buy the PC version on Steam because I want to play uncensored’, even though our game (Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered) is available on a variety of platforms. Who are these restrictions for? I feel like they are not for the customers who play the games.”

On the topic of games that fell afoul of CERO’s rules, Mikami mentions the original Dead Space (2008) “It could not be released in Japan due to (CERO’s) restrictions and those who wanted to play it had no choice but to track down an overseas copy.” At the time, Mikami got to talk to the game’s developers at EA Redwood Shores. “This left such an impression on me that I remember it even now – one of the people there was in tears, saying ‘We can’t sell the game in Japan even though we worked so hard…!’”

Japan’s CERO age rating has been criticized in the past for its “vague” review process and a lack of consistency in the games it denies ratings to. The Dead Space remake in 2023 was also refused classification for “depictions of cross-sections of severed body parts and internal organs,” however Stellar Blade was released uncensored with a CERO D (17+) rating for similar levels of gore in 2024.

Historically, CERO has been particularly tough on gory depictions of severed body parts, however they have also called for censorship or removal of sexual content for games to qualify for a CERO Z (18+) rating. Examples include the removal of sex scenes in the Japanese release of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Baldur’s Gate 3 (in which genitalia was also censored in rather amusing way).

Suda51 concluded that game censorship in Japan is a difficult issue: “It would be good if they could make a CERO X certificate that’s higher than CERO Z, so that overseas games could be released in Japan unaltered.” He also mentions the burden on developers. “For the remaster (of Shadows of the Damned), we had to make two versions… which had a huge impact in terms of workload and prolonged the development period.”

Shinji Mikami slams video game censorship in Japan: “The rules are made by people who don’t play games” - AUTOMATON WEST

Mikami recently spoke out about game censorship in Japan, in relation to Dead Space and the upcoming Shadows of the Damned Hella Remastered.

automaton-media.com

 

[NanaMiku]

So that's why almost all Japanese indie game trailers use IARC for the rating.

 

[Fabieter]

 

[Hookshot]

Sad to see Japan regressing. Do the Germans still have comically dumb censorships or have they gotten better these days?

 

[Porcile]

Japanese censorship is weird for sure. Mosaics on the hairy bush and cocks in the porn but but take a few steps outside the touristy areas in Tokyo and Osaka etc and you're inundated with bj bars, naked soapy "massages" no penetration allowed tho teehee , swingers bars, S&M clubs and hookers all advertising their services out in the open lol

 

[RaduN]

Sad to see Japan regressing. Do the Germans still have comically dumb censorships or have they gotten better these days?

What do you mean "regressing"?
The system is old as sin. It's been like that for some 20 years.
The word you might be searching for is "stagnating".

 

[Fabieter]

Sad to see Japan regressing. Do the Germans still have comically dumb censorships or have they gotten better these days?

We are almost there. Gaming even got the art treatment in germany so even games like wolfenstein can release without any censorship.

 

[Kadve]

Japanese censorship is weird for sure. Mosaics on the hairy bush and cocks in the porn but but take a few steps outside the touristy areas in Tokyo and Osaka etc and you're inundated with bj bars, naked soapy "massages" no penetration allowed tho teehee , swingers bars, S&M clubs and hookers all advertising their services out in the open lol

Question it and it becomes a problem. So as long as you don't question it its not a problem.

Is the way i understood Japanese culture when it comes to these things.

We are almost there. Gaming even got the art treatment in germany so even games like wolfenstein can release without any censorship.

Recently learned that Germany had something similar going on with games as mosaics in Japanese porn. You weren't allowed to advertise certain games deemed to violent but that only applied to the name itself. So you often had stuff like D**M and Q*ake.

 

[Draugoth]

I always found funny how Hentai isnt censored in Japan but AAA games are (law excuse is that games have realistic graphics)

 

[Cyberpunkd]

Examples include the removal of sex scenes in the Japanese release of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

 

[Moriarty1889]

Basically same as everywhere else lately. People of influence pushing their ideals on others in areas they have zero interest in participating in.

 

[Shake Your Rump]

The Dead Space remake in 2023 was also refused classification for “depictions of cross-sections of severed body parts and internal organs,” however Stellar Blade was released uncensored with a CERO D (17+) rating for similar levels of gore in 2024.

To me, this proves that someone does actually play the games. The gore in Callisto is magnitudes more gory and blatant than the incidental gore in Stellar Blade.

 

[ReyBrujo]

Japanese censorship is weird for sure. Mosaics on the hairy bush and cocks in the porn but but take a few steps outside the touristy areas in Tokyo and Osaka etc and you're inundated with bj bars, naked soapy "massages" no penetration allowed tho teehee , swingers bars, S&M clubs and hookers all advertising their services out in the open lol

I don't see anything weird there. If any of those bars or clubs were to show genitalia in advertisement it would be censored as well.

 

[Kasane89]

Finally a japanese dev speaking up on this topic! Otherwise i got the feeling theyre are rather like "whatever, i will censor it if i have to"

 

[SHA]

Basically same as everywhere else lately. People of influence pushing their ideals on others in areas they have zero interest in participating in.

I actually feel sorry for who think they're better than who play games, I'm sick of their attitude, they think they are better but in reality they live in a tiny bubble and actually think and perform worse if I'm not mistaken.

 

[Moriarty1889]

Yes they live in a bubble and are arrogant and very judgmental of everyone else. That is why this is happening because they can’t leave people alone. They feel compelled to push their agenda and feel they have the moral high ground on everything in life.