XPost: rec.arts.anime.misc, rec.arts.comics.misc   
   From: blissNO@SPAMcalifornia.com   
      
   > Lee Ratner  writes:   
   >>       It sounds interesting. The reason why I find the topic of what   
   >> Japanese parents tolerate in manga and anime interesting is because the   
   >> tolerance is relevatively recent. During Japan's Imperial Era, there   
   >> was serious censorship in all media. Japanese censors did not allow any   
   >> romantic kissing in movies, both domestic and foreign, until after the   
   >> American occupation. Much of what is allowed in anime and manga now   
   >> would be impossible before 1945.   
   >   
   > In moving pictures, maybe, but Shunga (erotic pictures, mostly ukiyo-e,   
   > some kakemono-e) were widely drawn and sold across Japan since the Heian   
   > period.  The Tokugawas tried to shut it down several times, but didn't   
   > really manage it.  The only thing that apparently shut them down for   
   > good, according to Wikipedia, was the introduction of photography, which   
   > simply moved the problem to another medium. :)   
   >   
   > -=Eric   
      
   	During the Meji the forces of westernization destroyed a lot of   
   the old fertility cult symbols around the nation.  This was to gain   
   respect from the Christian-based Western nations.  These fertility   
   fetishes were largely phallic pillars, I believe.  Sexuality has always   
   been an important issue in Japanese culture.  Sexual tastes have been   
   secondary to reproductive success until recently.  Samurai who might   
   die at any moment might have a wife, another wife or mistress where ever   
   they might be stationed and a boyfriend for when they were campaigning.   
      
       later   
       bliss at california dot com   
      
   --   
   bobbie sellers - a former nurse in San Francisco   
      
       Ningen banji          Human beings do   
       Samazama no           Every single kind   
       Baka a suru           Of stupid thing   
           --- 117th edition of Haifu Yanagidaru published in 1832   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)