US Store Stops Selling Bishojo Mags
The American branches of the Japanese shop Kinokuniya Bookstores has announced that all seven of their US-based stores have stopped carrying various anime bishoujo pinup magazines, due to "illegal and inappropriate content." The five magazines- Megami, Megami Deluxe, Nyantype, Dengeki Hime, & Dengeki Moeoh- are best known for containing ecchi & fan-service posters of various anime girls. Kinokuniya claims however that these magazines are on the same level as child pornography, given that they have inappropriate & sexual content involving young looking characters.
In Japan of course, these magazines are not considered adult publications, & none of them really contain nudity. Back in years past, Megami did have nudity in some of its posters & had a section in the back that covered hentai OVAs & games with little censorship. But due to an (unfortunate) policy change, this hasn't been the case for a number of years now. Same goes for all the others, though Nyantype somehow gets away with occasional nudity in its manga section. That doesn't change the fact that these mags are NOT child pornography. Kinokuniya may be overreacting to the nonexistent youth bill in Japan, or the Chris Handley case in the US. The company had sent out the following letter to its subscribers:
Dear Subscriber,
Thank you very much for using the Kinokuniya magazine subscription services.
We are writing this letter to inform you that we no longer handle subscriptions to Megami magazine since it has recently come to our attention that the magazine may contain inappropriate contents which may not comply with applicable local, state, and/or federal regulations.
It is our policy to take a cautious approach in conducting our business in full compliance with any applicable local, state, and/or federal regulations. In keeping with this policy, we will cancel your subscription to this publication.
Please accept the enclosed refund check for the portion of the subscription remaining.
Thanks again for your continuous patronage to our business.
Should you have any questions or concern regarding this matter, please contact me below.
Source: http://www.sankakucomplex.com/2010/07/27/kinokuniya-dumps-anime-pin-ups-they-are-child-porn