For a moment I panicked, because it looked that things got so nasty that they were going to cancel the series???!
Gintama' supervisor Shinji Takamatsu returned to his Twitter account on Friday to clarify that TV Tokyo acted on its own when the broadcaster asked the anime channel AT-X to not show Gintama' episode 232. He emphasized that several individuals and organizations did not complain or protest to TV Tokyo.
He added that the decision on whether to release the episode on DVD has yet to be made. AT-X announced last Friday that its showings of Gintama' episode 232 were cancelled at the request of TV Tokyo. The episode had already aired on TV Tokyo on October 31, and the episode is still streaming overseas on the Crunchyroll service.
Among other items, the episode had parodies of the public service announcements from the Advertising Council Japan (AC Japan) and a politician named "Renhō." Renhō Murata, the current Minister for Government Revitalisation, goes simply by her given name "Renhō" when campaigning. However, Takamatsu stated on Friday that AC Japan, outspoken Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara, and singer Tokiko Kato (Porco Rosso) all did not complain about the episode.
He also noted that Minister Renhō's representative said, "It is not true that we objected." Takamatsu added, "So, please do not attack specific individuals with your presumptions. Please. Excuse me for Tweeting 'more than necessary.'" He continued, "I believe that I am not telling a 'lie,' so, please think over 'the meaning of the sentences.'"
According to Takamatsu, whether or not episode 232 will be released on DVD with parts edited, or "sealed" away entirely, depends on what develops in the future. Takamatsu had posted on October 26 that the episode was initially rejected and indicated that it was because of its jokes. He said that if the time came that the anime could not do material in the spirit of Gintama, then he thinks the television anime should stop — rather than airing "something that isn't Gintama."
However, he added that he thinks that day will not come. On November 14, he announced that he is taking a break from Twitter. The TV Tokyo representative in charge of Gintama' had cited "various circumstances" for why the station requested AT-X to cancel its reruns of episode 232. The representative explained that the station made the request "because there were depictions reminiscent of specific individual(s)." When asked if the individual was Minister Renhō, the representative repeatedly responded, "We cannot answer that."
He added that the decision on whether to release the episode on DVD has yet to be made. AT-X announced last Friday that its showings of Gintama' episode 232 were cancelled at the request of TV Tokyo. The episode had already aired on TV Tokyo on October 31, and the episode is still streaming overseas on the Crunchyroll service.
Among other items, the episode had parodies of the public service announcements from the Advertising Council Japan (AC Japan) and a politician named "Renhō." Renhō Murata, the current Minister for Government Revitalisation, goes simply by her given name "Renhō" when campaigning. However, Takamatsu stated on Friday that AC Japan, outspoken Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara, and singer Tokiko Kato (Porco Rosso) all did not complain about the episode.
He also noted that Minister Renhō's representative said, "It is not true that we objected." Takamatsu added, "So, please do not attack specific individuals with your presumptions. Please. Excuse me for Tweeting 'more than necessary.'" He continued, "I believe that I am not telling a 'lie,' so, please think over 'the meaning of the sentences.'"
According to Takamatsu, whether or not episode 232 will be released on DVD with parts edited, or "sealed" away entirely, depends on what develops in the future. Takamatsu had posted on October 26 that the episode was initially rejected and indicated that it was because of its jokes. He said that if the time came that the anime could not do material in the spirit of Gintama, then he thinks the television anime should stop — rather than airing "something that isn't Gintama."
However, he added that he thinks that day will not come. On November 14, he announced that he is taking a break from Twitter. The TV Tokyo representative in charge of Gintama' had cited "various circumstances" for why the station requested AT-X to cancel its reruns of episode 232. The representative explained that the station made the request "because there were depictions reminiscent of specific individual(s)." When asked if the individual was Minister Renhō, the representative repeatedly responded, "We cannot answer that."