Manga Sasaki to Miyano Banned from School in the USA
Last year, the Florida Senate in the United States passed a law giving schools the authority to ban books they deem inappropriate, and in recent days, a school in Brevard decided to ban three new books, one of which is the manga Sasaki to Miyano.
However, what we want to highlight here is the reason behind the banning of the manga Sasaki to Miyano by the school. But before discussing the main reason, it’s worth noting that one of the individuals who voted for the manga’s ban said they “didn’t understand why the manga’s translation from Japanese was being read from right to left.”
Manga Sasaki to Miyano Banned from School in the USA
Recently, after a meeting with the Florida Book Review Committee, the Brevard County School Board voted to remove several books from school libraries, including the manga Sasaki and Miyano. The decision was based on the LGBTQ+ themes in the manga, which portrays a relationship between two male teenagers.
The vote ended 3-2 in favor of the removal, despite the committee’s recommendation against it. Jennifer Jenkins, a Board member who voted against the ban, openly criticized the decision, even pointing out that one of the members did not understand the right-to-left reading of Japanese manga.
“Sasaki and Miyano,” released in 2016, depicts the romance between two high school classmates. Although it does not contain explicit material, the manga became controversial with the School Board, which deemed it “offensive” and potentially harmful to students for addressing sexual orientation. One board member also stated that homosexuality should not be discussed in schools and that sexual orientation should only be addressed at home. The removal of the manga has sparked criticism, with one board member warning that these bans are escalating.
The removal of “Sasaki and Miyano” adds to a growing number of manga bans in the USA. Unlike other restrictions based on graphic content, this title does not contain explicit material, being removed for reasons of “potential offense.” Other books, such as “Damsel” and “People Kill People,” were also banned due to themes deemed inappropriate.
Interestingly, the Board offered alternatives like “Sailor Moon” and “Chainsaw Man,” both of which contain elements that could also be considered controversial, such as lesbian romance and graphic violence. The manga Sasaki to Miyano is published by Yen Press, and you can purchase the volumes here.
via Você Sabia Anime