Japan is holding an election for half of the seats in its upper house, the House of Councillors, on July 20. The House of Councillors is less important than the lower house, the House of Representatives, but the results of this election could be a good barometer for how the next lower house election is going to go.
An aspect of the manifesto of the right-wing populist party Sanseitō has garnered attention from fans of Japan's entertainment industry who are worried about the wording of one of the party's commitments in this area (thanks, Automaton). Sanseitō calls the entertainment industry (games, manga, anime) a "core industry" that has become an important tool for Japan's "cultural diplomacy and international influence." As such, Sanseitō has plans for 'supporting' the industry.
Some of these supports are beneficial, such as improving human resources and conditions for workers. However, the troubling part of their manifesto reads, "Delegating authority to the Agency for Cultural Affairs to ensure the wholesome development of manga, anime, and games as culture, rather than judging their value based on economic rationale."
The ambiguity of this plan is worrying to fans in the entertainment industry, who view it as a threat...
