My Japanese Book Banned In Communist China?
We have more important things to think about regarding food security, food safety, energy issues and - what Japanese people like to call "plus alpha" i e a lot of other issues that are also significant and vital and means a lot to all of us.
Do not ban books.
Why would communist China ban a book about food safety issues, published here in Japan, as the writer is from Sweden...?
Links:
The Mainichi:
Publishing of Japan-related books banned in Beijing
The order, issued Sept. 14, is seen as a retaliatory step against Japan's nationalization of the Senkaku Islands claimed by China, the sources said.
In addition to books penned by Japanese authors, the publishers have been asked not to bring out books related to Japan by Chinese writers or organize cultural and promotional events, the sources said. (...)
The Bookseller:
Books by Japanese authors and titles about Japanese topics have been removed from bookshops in Beijing, and authorities are pressuring Chinese publishers not to translate and publish Japanese content as tensions escalate between the two countries over a territorial dispute.
On 14th September Japan renewed claims to the Senkaku islands, known as the Diaoyus in China. Shortly after, officials at the Beijing Municipal Press and Publications Bureau—the body that oversees publishing in the capital—told Chinese publishers to “refrain from releasing and selling books related to Japan”. The body has also demanded a halt to any books written by Japanese authors—as well as books related to Japan—planned to be published in China.
On 21st September, Japanese-themed titles were removed from the shelves at Wangfujing Bookstore, one of Beijing’s biggest bookshops, including Haruki Murakami’s 1Q84, a bestseller in China. Chinese publishing sources say many bookshops in Beijing have followed suit.
Thus far, the book ban includes books published or imported to the Beijing district, but some Japanese publishers have reported that the banning of content has spread to outside of the Chinese capital.
Terrie Lloyd, an Australian/New Zealand dual national who has lived in Japan for 29 years and is c.e.o. of publisher Metropolitan KK, said he expects the ban to spread, claiming his company had already seen censorship: “On Friday [21st September] our sister company Metropolis tried to post in Chinese on a major blogging site an article about ancient fossils in Gifu, only to have the posting removed a mere 10 minutes later by the hosting firm itself.”
The countries are bitterly embroiled over ownership of a string of small islands off China’s eastern coast following Tokyo’s decision to nationalise the islands. The decision sparked huge protest in China—some violent—directed at Japanese citizens, property and even Japanese diplomatic offices.
China has previously banned several Japanese publications and restricts some internet access to servers in Japan. Earlier this year, a Japanese manga series created by writer Tsugumi Ohba and artist Takeshi Obata was banned in several Chinese cities because the stories could ruin the “physical and mental health” of the young, authorities said.
Are Japan-related books being banned in China?
By James Griffiths
See, this is why we can't have nice things. The Japan Times reports that Japanese publishers in Beijing are being warned of an "apparent ban on book publishing in Beijing" of Japan-related materials.
See, this is why we can't have nice things. The Japan Times reports that Japanese publishers in Beijing are being warned of an "apparent ban on book publishing in Beijing" of Japan-related materials.
The sources said several Chinese publishers in Beijing were notified by authorities Friday that they must halt the planned publication of books written by Japanese or protected by Japanese copyrights, and books related to Japan that are being written by Chinese authors.The Chengdu Business Daily reported as early as Sept 14 that such an order had indeed been given out by the Beijing Press and Publications Bureau.
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