Japanese TV Stations Pull “School Days” Anime In Response To Murder By Japanese Teenager

Japanese TV station Television Kanagawa decided to pull the final episode of the popular anime ‘School Days’ from its scheduled airing last night due to an alleged murder committed by a sixteen year-old Japanese student against her police officer father.

The anime is based on a popular adventure game which has been criticized for its violent endings to each episode which range from graphic suicide to murder.

This article from the Mainichi Daily News doesn’t say whether or not there was a direct connection between the murder of the girl’s father and the anime series but clearly states that the broadcasters felt there was too much of a connection to allow the final episode to air.

It’s always surprising to me to see violence associated with popular entertainment and, now as a father, often very disturbing. That said, I usually come down on the side of the entertainment and, in general, tend not to blame the creators for the actions of their audience. In this case, I feel like I don’t have enough of the details to make a clear decision as to what happened here.

If you’re in Japan or know more about the story, feel free to hop on over to the forums and fill me in more. I’ve created a special post to discuss this and am curious to hear what you think.

Below is an episode of the anime in question from YouTube. Take a look at it and let me know what you think.

WARNING: There are some adult themes in this anime. Just don’t show it to your PG kids.

Part #1 of Episode #11 (The Episode aired before the removed one):

Part #2

Part #3

This entry was posted on Thursday, September 20th, 2007 at 7:29 am and is filed under Animation, Anime Inspired, Culture, News, Translation. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

18 Responses to “Japanese TV Stations Pull “School Days” Anime In Response To Murder By Japanese Teenager”

  1. Doctor Allen says:

    Japan gets more like America every day. This is truly sad.

    (Not the murder. I couldn’t give a shit about that. I mean the media reaction.)

  2. orly? says:

    I saw the final episode jsut now, on fansub, and the ending is really, really guesome. I Almost ridiculously so. Also, I’d like to point out that the girl who murdered her father did it by taking a saw to his neck. something very similar happens in episode 12.

  3. leo says:

    I don;t care MAkoto is doing it with everyony of his friend

  4. leo says:

    Makoto is cheating on every one like:Katura the idiot, kiriyo,otome,and the pigtail girl that nasty what is problem stay with Sekai
    for once! :P

  5. Lance44 says:

    es increible…peor en fin no se por que el personaje de Makoto lo odio..se ha metido hasta con la hermana peor el drama es buena y el final inesperado sobre todo del juego de PC tipo H

  6. AnimeFanWiki says:

    This Anime is very cute <3

  7. TV in Japan Best of the Fall 2007 » TV in Japan says:

    [...] Game Show Two Handicapped Kung Fu Action Stars Team Up For Super Kung Fu Handicapped Action! Japanese TV Stations Pull “School Days” Anime In Response To Murder By Japanese Teenager World’s Greatest Pringles Flavor - Funky Soy Sauce Take the Tablecloth Challenge: Japanese Table [...]

  8. Trinity School says:

    I love that quote…

    “[…] Game Show Two Handicapped Kung Fu Action Stars Team Up For Super Kung Fu Handicapped Action! Japanese TV Stations Pull “School Days” Anime In Response To Murder By Japanese Teenager World’s Greatest Pringles Flavor - Funky Soy Sauce Take the Tablecloth Challenge: Japanese Table […]”

    It is so true, is the most important aspect of creating a long term asset.

  9. My comment says:

    During the first few eps, School Days was fine…more towards harem. What I don’t get is why Sekai is sooooooo STUPID! She should have taken precautions.

    Katsura is so simple minded plus extremely stupid. She should have murdered Makoto earlier (when he cheated on her with Sekai) to save us from watching another young girl from ending up preggo.

    Then again, if it did happen, then there won’t b anymore story continuation ne…

  10. stesma says:

    greetings all anime fans out there..
    feel free to visit my web to
    tq

  11. anime videos says:

    THis is such a great story, thanks to post this to everyone.

  12. 8 » Blog Archive says:

    [...] Sample Site: PR4 http://tvinjapan.com/blog/2007/09/20…nese-teenager/ [...]

  13. seo guru says:

    this is ridiculous, i dont personally prefer action games

  14. megu^^ says:

    i could never have guessed that they would all go crazy and homocidal but my belief is that the anime is a crime of passion and shows the msjor extremity of what could happen, so kids don’t have sex “for practice” is the moral ^^

  15. koleo says:

    I live in America, me and all my frends loved this anime. we even showed it at a club meting every one enjoyed that series

  16. Anime & Bishoujo Game Reviews says:

    Anime is not dangerous in anyway. It is entertainment and thats it!

  17. juan says:

    WOW i just saw the ending. All i can say is what an ending. Mokoto was an idiot for being influeced so much from his enviroment. I can’t really blame him he did; what I think i would have done. I would have taken all those girls home. I would have freaked out about getting a girl preg. The mind of a teenager looks only moments from the present. As an adult now its easy to critize people. Put yourself in that situation.

    PS: What a great show. I have never been so moved show as much as this one did. It really made me think. And I do think this should be seen by teenagers. Teens think they now everything at least I did. Great way to send a message. LOL.

  18. death note « theabyss says:

    [...] I never though something silly like a notebook from the anime series Death Note will reincarnate into the real-life with the purpose of, either having it for fun or to express frustration or anger to somebody else. I loved the anime very much and also watched both of the live action movies and I don’t see any reason why certain individuals should exaggerate the usage of the notebook itself. Anime fans should already known what happened to the School Days anime in Japan, why it’s final episode was pulled out from the TV broadcasting. Those who dont have any clue about this case, can get a glimpse HERE.  [...]

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