Beijing has ordered officials to seize copies of books and comics considered terrifying publications from shops and street vendors. A particular target of the campaign is a popular Japanese comic book series, Death Note, which features a notebook that can kill people whose names are written in it.

Wang Song, an official of the National Anti-piracy and Anti-pornography Working Committee, was quoted by the China Daily as saying the story ‘misleads innocent children and distorts their mind and spirit.’ The book, written by Takeshi Obata, originates in Japan and there are six volumes of the comic book in English available on Amazon. The word ‘comic’ here only applies to the art work. Not the content.

What would be made of the appalling stories of the Grimm Brothers which scared generations of European children witless is not known. But there is little doubt that such books can scare children. And have lasting effects.

Authorities are ordered to seize ‘illegal terrifying publications’ from vendors ahead of China’s Children’s Day.
Source: ABC News