Japan Autism Society releases statement on Mii-chan and Ms. Yamada comics – Interest

The Autism Society of Japan (ASJ) issued a statement Adzuki Bean Ning Ningcomic series Mei and Miss Yamada and an animated adaptation planned for Wednesday. The association noted that while the manga did not explicitly state that protagonist Mii-chan had a disability, her description and the creator’s comments led to the interpretation that Mii-chan had an intellectual or developmental disability. ASJ said it had received a request for comment because it is a disability advocacy group and the term “Mii-chan” has been used to disparage children with disabilities, particularly girls.

ASJ first addressed the issue of bullying and contempt for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It reiterated that “Mii-chan” was used as a derogatory nickname, pointing to comments from Zenkoku Te o Tsunagu Ikuseikai Rengōkai (National Hand-in-Hand Education Association) on 19 August. The ASJ added that it had received reports of siblings diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder who feared being teased at school. The ASJ said disabled people and their families who read comics experienced discomfort and anxiety. It added that while Xiaodou and the publisher Kodansha While ASJ may not have intended to cause discrimination, “the fact that these incidents have occurred cannot be ignored.”

The ASJ statement then examined issues within the comic, specifically how its depictions of the real-life struggles of sex workers, poor people and disabled people were exploited for commercial profit. ASJ stated that Mii-chan’s “lighthearted” description led to the term “Mii-chan” being used as a derogatory nickname.

ASJ also discussed a now-deleted edited video Kodanshaof youth magazine Discuss comics. ASJ noted that the on-screen text in the film uses phrases such as “The manga makes you want to see Mii-chan suffer,” “The manga makes you want to see the darkest depths of the world,” and “Mii-chan is a character who makes you want to see someone fall.” The ASJ said the footage casts doubt on the idea that the story is a tribute to Mii-chan’s character, Yamada, and instead suggests it’s a story that uses Mii-chan’s tragedy as entertainment.

ASJ stated that the depiction of Yamada visiting Mei’s grave every year in the manga could be interpreted as Azuki expressing sympathy for Mei through Yamada. However, the association stated that due to KodanshaBased on the attitude of Xiaodou and Xiaodou, the manga can be seen as a story that turns the pain of the vulnerable into entertainment and brings discomfort to the disabled.

ASJ also noted that the comic was originally published online before being published in print. It said the publisher’s editorial oversight and risk mitigation policies provided for traditional print editions should apply to the comic. The association added that extra caution should be taken with the manga, especially considering it is Azuki’s debut. ASJ therefore recommends that publishers update their oversight and risk mitigation policies for the online publishing era.

ASJ concluded its statement by recommending Mei and Miss Yamada Should not be adapted into an anime: “We believe that an anime adaptation is inappropriate, even if it has an age limit or limits free-to-air television.” The association added that it was concerned about the production of an anime adaptation “given the mentality of manga participants.”

ASJ also requires that works that may belittle people with disabilities or their families, as well as those that depict poverty or the struggles of people with disabilities, must not be used for commercial profit or mocking entertainment, but rather as a way to promote better understanding and connect people to support systems.

this Mei and Miss Yamada comics run in Kodanshaonline services magazine bag From September 2024 to August 2026. Kodansha The seventh and final volume of the manga ships on September 9th. Flag Pictures announced the animated adaptation on July 26. The announcement of the anime sparked criticism and backlash, Kodansha A statement was issued on July 27 in response to the criticism. As of press time, the animation is still in production.

Source: Japan Autism AssociationZenkoku Te wo Tsunagu Ikuseikai Rengōkai of website, Mei and Miss Yamada exist magazine bag through Noriko Yashima