Part 6/13:
This strategic move by Japan's government follows broader industry observations: content from Japan is surging in popularity globally. Anime and manga are booming markets, and studios are aware that their core audiences value authenticity. As such, some Japanese creators and executives are tired of Western activism influencing how their stories are told and translated. They are asserting more control to prevent cultural "watering down."
A key aspect of the new guidelines is reassurance to creators that their freedom of expression will be protected. The government emphasizes that support for the industry does not mean interference—an important message to combat concerns about censorship and politically motivated edits that have become common in recent years.