Publisher to skip 2011 Tokyo animation fair in protest at ordinance-10/12/10

Publisher to skip 2011 Tokyo animation fair in protest at ordinance

Friday 10th December, 02:40 AM JST

TOKYO —

Kadokawa Shoten Publishing Co has canceled its plan to take part in the Tokyo International Anime Fair 2011 due to dissatisfaction with the Tokyo metropolitan government’s ‘‘stance toward cartoonists and animators,’’ company President Shinichiro Inoue said in a Twitter posting Wednesday.

The posting does not mention details but the statement comes as the Tokyo metropolitan assembly debates an ordinance drafted by the Tokyo government to restrict ‘‘extreme’ sexual expressions in cartoons and anime.

The draft amendment to the juvenile protection ordinance has already incurred protests from some cartoonists and publishing circles.

Kadokawa Shoten publishes the ‘‘Haruhi Suzumiya’’ juvenile novel series, which has been turned into a popular cartoon and TV animation series.

The fair, whose organizing committee is chaired by Tokyo Gov Shintaro Ishihara, will be held on March 24-27 at Tokyo Big Sight convention hall.

This year’s fair drew 244 participating companies and some 130,000 visitors.