This meant that articles had to be rewritten in full, rather than merely submitting XXs for the offending phrases." This means, as Donald Keene observes, that for some producers of texts "the Occupation censorship was even more exasperating than Japanese military censorship had been because it insisted that all traces of censorship be concealed. Not only did Occupation censorship forbid criticism of the United States or other Allied nations, but the mention of censorship itself was forbidden. However, press censorship remained a reality in the post-war era, especially in matters of pornography, and in political matters deemed subversive by the American government during the occupation of Japan. See also: Occupation of Japan § Censorship, and Rape during the occupation of Japan § Censorship of Japanese mediaĪfter the surrender of Japan in 1945, the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers abolished all forms of censorship and controls on freedom of speech, which was also integrated into Article 21 of the 1947 Constitution of Japan. The following year revision of the National Mobilization Law ( 国家総動員法, Kokka Sōdōin Hō) eliminated freedom of the press entirely, doing things such as forcing papers in each prefecture to either merge into one paper or cease publication, with all articles by the paper having to be screened by government censors before they could be published. The new Bureau had complete control over all news, advertising and public events.
This continued, eventually to the Information and Propaganda Department ( 情報部, Jōhōbu) being elevated to the Information Bureau ( 情報局, Jōhō Kyoku) in 1940, which consolidated the previously separate information departments from the Army, Navy and Foreign Ministry under the aegis of the Home Ministry. In 1930, the death penalty was added to the list of punishments deemed acceptable for certain violations. Censorship of materials increased from this point, often using ongoing wars to increase police penalties. See also: Censorship in the Empire of JapanĪfter the Meiji Restoration in 1868, which marked a major political shift in Japan, the government began heavy censorship of Western ideas, pornography and any political writings critical of the Emperor of Japan and government, wanting to control the spread of information. These new laws resulted in the rise of male actors who would specialize in female roles called onnagata. The shogunate prohibited women and children from appearing in plays however, this law was often ignored by theater houses. In addition to literature, the Shogunate also placed limitations on kabuki theater actors. An edict for publications guidelines were issued on Kyoho 7(1722)/11 with an outline of themes that were banned. They were noting an increase in civil disobedience and satirical criticism using literature and theater coming from ordinary people. As military and political instability settled, the shogunate turned their gaze on social unrest. Their early bans focused on Christian books, military books (gunsho), mainly as a way to restrict regional Daimyo, feudal lord, from using Christianity as a political ideology and challenge the Bakufu's new rule while imposing their moral authority.
Under the Tempō Reforms, printing blocks of erotic literature, as well as the novels of Tamenaga Shunsui and Tanehiko Ryūtei were among those seized. With the Kansei Reforms, any material deemed to be disturbing the traditional way of life, as well as luxury publications, came under scrutiny. Initial targets included Christianity, criticism of the shogunate, and information on the activities of the Tokugawa clan. During this period, the shogunate, or military government, had a constant policy to censor anything deemed as indecent by the government. History Tokugawa/Edo Period Īs publishing became more popular in the Edo Period, the Tokugawa shogunate began to turn to censorship.