In Taiwan they wanted to cancel Koe no Katachi

Members of a forum in Japan have recalled a situation that caused great controversy in 2017 with the premiere of the animated film "Koe no Katachi" in Taiwan. This film, known in English as "A Silent Voice", was the subject of debate due to its theme focused on people with hearing disabilities. At that time, voices emerged that opposed the screening of the film in the country, arguing that the work "commodified people with hearing disabilities."

The controversy became public when a group filed a petition on the Taiwanese government's online public participation platform, asking that the film not be shown in the country. They argued that the film, which also deals with topics such as suicide and bullying, could "disrupt children's identities" and have a negative impact on young audiences.

The opposition group said such a work should not be screened in Taiwan, with the slogan "a film that commodifies the hearing impaired has no place in our country." This call to ban the film generated a strong reaction in both Taiwan and Japan.

However, the Taiwanese government administration, after receiving the request and assessing the situation, decided to reject the proposal. They argued that the film had previously gone through the Ministry of Culture's age rating review and complied with all the regulations stipulated in the Film Law, thus allowing it to be screened in movie theaters as planned.

"Koe no Katachi" was distributed in Taiwan as part of a collaborative campaign with Japan's Ministry of Education aimed at promoting understanding and support for children with disabilities. In the face of the controversy, the Taiwanese distributor expressed its disappointment through a statement on its Facebook page, regretting that "there were extremists in Taiwan who considered this work to be harmful to children and sought to prevent its screening."

"Koe no Katachi" is a film based on the manga of the same name, written and drawn by Yoshitoki Ooima. The story follows Shoya Ishida, a young man who bullies a hearing-impaired classmate, Shoko Nishimiya, during her childhood. Years later, regretting his actions, he tries to redeem himself and establish a friendship with her. The play has been widely praised for its sensitive treatment of difficult issues, such as disability, bullying, and redemption.

Despite the controversy, "Koe no Katachi" was a hit in Taiwan, attracting a significant audience and receiving praise for its emotional narrative and message of inclusion and understanding. The initial controversy faded over time, but the situation has recently been revived on Japanese forums, where users have discussed the impact and reactions the film generated both in Japan and abroad.

Source: Yaraon!