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

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Posted in: Animation, Anime Inspired, Culture, News, Translation

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.

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

Doctor Allen September 26th, 2007 at 12:07 am

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.)

orly? September 29th, 2007 at 8:51 am

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.

leo November 3rd, 2007 at 6:44 pm

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

leo November 3rd, 2007 at 6:47 pm

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

Lance44 November 4th, 2007 at 9:06 am

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

AnimeFanWiki November 19th, 2007 at 8:08 am

This Anime is very cute <3

TV in Japan Best of the Fall 2007 » TV in Japan November 19th, 2007 at 10:07 pm

[...] 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 [...]

Trinity School December 18th, 2007 at 3:34 pm

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.

My comment January 17th, 2008 at 5:57 am

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…

stesma February 19th, 2008 at 9:02 am

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

anime videos March 27th, 2008 at 3:20 am

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

seo guru March 29th, 2008 at 5:11 pm

this is ridiculous, i dont personally prefer action games

megu^^ March 30th, 2008 at 1:54 pm

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 ^^

koleo March 30th, 2008 at 4:23 pm

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

Anime & Bishoujo Game Reviews April 4th, 2008 at 12:34 pm

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

juan April 16th, 2008 at 7:09 pm

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.

death note « theabyss June 4th, 2008 at 11:00 am

[...] 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.  [...]

Kyaroru October 23rd, 2008 at 4:31 pm

I had also heard that they pulled an episode of Higurashi no Naku koro ni after the murder.

“As the result of a murder case in September 2007 in Japan involving the murder of a police chief by his sixteen-year-old daughter with a hatchet, as well as the Japanese media relating the case to anime such as Higurashi, the latest episode screenings of both Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai and another anime, School Days, were canceled by a number of Japanese TV stations.”

Chinito October 28th, 2008 at 10:47 am

Well i’m form america and this anime is amazing..i watched the whole 12 episodes in one day because i found it intersting. i couldn’t imagine the whole story would unravel lke that. afer finishing it; i felt so angy. i don’t know why but i was mad because what happened to katura was unfair. it was not fair because she was the only good girl and she didn’t deserve that. it sad she went crazy.

one of the best drama anime ive seen!!!

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