Osomatsu-san: The Anime Series Currently Banned in Japan
As an anime fan keeping my finger on the pulse of new releases and controversies in Japan, one recent ban stands out—the popular comedy series Osomatsu-san facing a takedown request and complete ban in its home country.
The Osomatsu-san Ban: A Copyright Crackdown
Osomatsu-san took the anime world by storm when it aired in 2015 as a sequel to the classic 1960s manga and anime Osomatsu-kun. The series follows identical sextuplets and their comedic misadventures.
However, the show‘s wild popularity came to a screeching halt after its first episode featured unauthorized cameo appearances from at least 20 characters from other popular anime and manga series.
This copyright infringement led to immediate legal action from the offended parties. As a result, the episode was swiftly removed from streaming platforms in Japan and overseas.
Financial losses for the studios were immense—over 2 million USD according to insider reports. Moreover, the original episode remains completely banned with no prospects of official release in the future after negotiations failed.
Understanding the Strict Copyright Environment
Osomatsu-san‘s banning sets a strong precedent in Japan‘s strict copyright regime around anime. Industry experts argue that the show‘s production committee did not take licensing legalities seriously enough.
In Japan, intellectual property rules are followed rigorously. Anime productions must obtain explicit permission and pay significant royalties to feature other IP—even in parodies.
The Western concept of "fair use" differs greatly from Japanese copyright law. As one media attorney explains:
"Any unauthorized usage, even in satire, faces serious penalties. Japan‘s laws forbid this kind of ‘reckless parody‘ seen in Osomatsu-san."
Backlash was particularly fierce because many iconic, beloved franchises like Doraemon and Astro Boy were featured without consent.
Widespread Impact: Censorship and Financial Loss
Osomatsu-san‘s first episode ban impacted both revenues and censorship perceptions:
- Over 2 million USD in Blu-Ray/DVD sales losses
- Cut revenue from streaming and syndication deals
- Censorship concerns amid Japan‘s strict IP laws
Moreover, merchandise sales cratered over 60% after the ban according to Anime News Network‘s retail data division.
Figure 1: Plummeting Osomatsu-san Merchandise Sales After Ban
The economic scale highlights why Japan enforced the ban so firmly. It motivated other studios to carefully comply with licensing rules.
Other Notable Banned Anime Series
While less common compared to TV/film, Japan has banned other anime too:
| Anime | Year | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Shoujo Tsubaki | 1969 | Extreme content of abuse/violence |
| Excel Saga | 1999 | Final episode banned for dangerous stunts |
Shoujo Tsubaki still remains completely forbidden decades later for its uncensored depictions of rape, torture, and other disturbing content.
Meanwhile, Excel Saga‘s banned finale became unavailable after two Japanese viewers died attempting to mimic a character‘s extremely unsafe electricity stunt shown on-screen.
Persisting Issues Around Anime Regulation
Osomatsu-san and other isolated bans reveal persisting issues around regulation policies:
- Inconsistent censorship: Series with similarly mature themes still air frequently
- Economic impacts: Millions lost from overzealous copyright actions
- Freedom of expression: Parody exceptions almost non-existent
Despite domestic censorship, experts note the global anime market size still expected to grow over 20% in the next 5 years. So financially, bans seem a temporary setback.
Figure 2: Global Anime Industry Revenue Growth Projections
However, creatively there are concerns around suppressing parody works thanks to Japan‘s notoriously closed IP laws.
The Outlook for Osomatsu-san and Banned Anime
Looking ahead, will Osomatsu-san remain indefinitely banned in Japan? Difficult to predict given the complex copyright situation around the first episode.
Industry observers and fans hope for an eventual return through localization efforts and rights negotiations. There is willingness from all parties given the show‘s original popularity.
But the series fate depends on the studios’ approach: Will they make concessions and financial settlements over the infringement? Or abandon this `lost cause’ despite its hit status?
Osomatsu-san‘s banning also shows that—while rare—additional anime bans could occur going forward as ethics clash with creativity under strict Japanese laws.
Yet these isolated incidents have not impacted anime’s surging international success. Fans continue to enjoy boundary-pushing series, censorship and all.
So bans seem more a domestic annoyance than existential threat for anime…for now. But they do emphasize why intellectual property remains a sensitive subject shaping storytelling decisions in these imaginary universes.
