Keep Anime International

We, the undersigned, are asking that you, the congress of the United States of America, reconsider the banning of Japan animation and visual novels otherwise known as anime and manga in the US.

Anime is special to more people than you would probably be able to guess. Sure, it may just be "cartoons", but it is an amazing part of the Japanese culture. Anime, nowadays, is what defines that continent. It has inspired so many people to draw, voice act, sing, and study in and about Japan. It would be such a tragedy to lose such an amazing piece of entertainment and value. In all honesty, it would be like banning all cartoons from children. Or music, or any other kind of entertainment.

Anime is just as important to people as cartoons for kids, or cooking shows for aspiring chefs and bakers. Anime is our life, and has given us an entire world of opportunity. Conventions, meet-and-greets with voice actors, merchandise ranging from buttons and hats to plushies and posters. And so much more.

This generation deserves to keep Japan's best features alive. The US would be nothing without the spread of Japan's beautiful culture, whether it's anime or manga, or food and clothing styles.

If you take away anime and manga, it is like you are banning Japan as a whole.

I have always dreamed of visiting Japan one day. And to try out voice acting and singing Japanese. I have learned to speak a bit of Japanese because I have watched so much anime, and taught myself to sing in that beautiful language. Without anime or manga, my dream - and many others' out there - would be ultimately crushed.

I know that one of the main reasons you are probably considering this ban is because of the hentai, or pornographic expression in anime. The child pornography part is understandable, but you have to understand, it is simply animation. They are not illiciting real children. Yes, this probably "promotes" the pedophiles out there to take action, but that doesn't mean everyone who watches it is a pedophile.

That is like banning pornography because it's "naughty and wrong." Yet, if you think about it, hentai is a lot safer than real pornography. It is all animated, none of it involves real people. Hentai is a form of expression and entertainment, just like pornography. Isn't it better that people act out their fantasies through animation than reality?

With the aspect of suggestiveness in anime, such as blood, pantyshots, and the like, it shouldn't be another issue added to the consideration of banning anime. That, to me, would be like banning the same things from regular television. Blood, action, romance, anything that even just slightly promotes something suggestive and wrong.

America is a place where freedom of speech and expression should be allowed. Take that into mind before you take action against this.

I hope that you understand our reasoning for this petition against the banning of Japanese animation, rather, our definition of the entire culture, from the United States.

Thank you for your time. It is much appreciated.