A Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly panel voted down on Monday a controversial proposal to toughen regulations on pornographic depictions of children in comic books and animation, in line with the ruling Democratic Party of Japan's wishes.
Using the concept of "nonexistent minors" for characters in "manga" and "anime" that appear to be under the age of 18, the proposal would have urged bookstores and other vendors not to sell content depicting minors engaged in sexual intercourse to children.