TOKYO—Several Japanese websites specializing in adult-oriented manga, anime and illustrations report facing restrictions on credit card transactions, according to the English edition of The Asahi Shimbun. Owners of the website claim concerns about potential impacts on freedom of expression within Japan's digital space.
According to the report, Manga Library Z, known for publishing out-of-print comics and sharing profits with original authors, ceased operations in Nov. 2024 after a payment agency demanded the removal of content associated with certain keywords like "rape" and "torture."
Despite compliance efforts, the agency terminated its services, leading to the site's shutdown due to reliance on credit card payments. Similarly, platforms like DLsite, Fanza Doujin and Melonbooks have also experienced suspensions of Visa and Mastercard payments without clear explanations.
These actions are part of an international trend where credit card companies, aiming to uphold corporate responsibility, are closely monitoring and restricting transactions related to explicit content, especially adult entertainment platforms based in the United States and Canada.
The lack of transparency in these decisions has left many operators uncertain about compliance standards, fueling fears of censorship through financial blocks.
Yoko Shida, a professor of constitutional law at Musashino Art University, told the outlet, "It is also possible that de facto restrictions not only on sexual expressions but also on various forms of expression will become widespread without due process of law."
Read the full report here.
