Eirin
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Eirin (映倫) is the abbreviated name for Eiga Rinri Kanri Iinkai (映画倫理管理委員会), Japan's movie regulator. Eirin was established on the model of the American Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America's Production Code Administration in June, 1949, on the instructions of the US occupation force. The original name, Eiga Rinri Kitei Kanri Iinkai (Motion Picture Code of Ethics Committee), was condensed after independence, during reorganizations in 1956, to Eirin Kanri Iinkai, but was already colloquially known as Eirin.[1]
Eirin is analogous to the Motion Picture Association of America in the United States, and the British Board of Film Classification in the United Kingdom; it classifies films depending on their suitability for minors, depending on whether they contain sexual or violent material. Such classification has been described as censorship by some[who?], since a film that is denied certification by Eirin is effectively unreleaseable. In practice, films are nonetheless released, with "offending items" fogged or digitally tiled. This is the source of some bemusement in Japan, which has traditionally been liberal in this area.
Just as with equivalent organisations in other countries, Eirin's defenders argue that its independence shields film makers from the more draconian alternative, political censorship by government. In the case of the controversial film Battle Royale, director Kinji Fukasaku seemed to accept this view, when he withdrew an objection to Eirin's R-15 rating of his film, to support Eirin against threats from politicians over the film.
Eirin has in the past denied the release of certain films to theaters entirely, such as Kei Fujiwara's grotesque horror film Organ, which was released directly to video amidst protests from family watchdog groups.
During the opening credits (or in some cases, on the copyright screen immediately following the ending credits) of an Eirin-approved film, the Eirin logo is displayed prominently underneath the movie's title.
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[edit] Ratings
On May 1, 1998 [1] four rating categories were introduced:
[edit] Unrestricted
- G: General Audiences. All ages admitted. Most films from the Disney catalog and the Doraemon, Detective Conan, Pokémon, One Piece, Pretty Cure, Ultraman, and Harry Potter franchises, as well as the individual film Terminator Salvation are rated G.
- PG12 (PG-12): Parental Guidance Requested. Some material may be unsuitable for children under 12. Accompanying parent or adult guardian is desirable. Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works, Fist of the North Star: The Legends of the True Savior, Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni, Crows Zero, Gantz, Tales from Earthsea, Princess Mononoke, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines Sex and the City, Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem, Shutter Island, and most Resident Evil, Pirates of the Caribbean, Lupin III, and Godzilla films are rated PG-12.
[edit] Restricted
- R15+ (R-15): Restricted to mature audiences 15 years and over. No one younger than 15 admitted. Battle Royale series, the Saw film series, Sweeney Todd, The Descent, South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut, 300, Kill Bill, The Terminator, Terminator 2: Judgment Day and Doomsday are rated R-15.
- R18+ (R-18): Restricted to adults 18 years and over. No one younger than 18 admitted. Lust, Caution, Ai no Corrida, Crank: High Voltage, Eastern Promises, Eyes Wide Shut, Jackass: The Movie, Bully, and films of the pinku eiga genre are rated R-18.
[edit] See also
- Computer Entertainment Rating Organization – The Japanese rating system for video games
- Motion picture rating system
[edit] Notes
- ^ Martin, Alex, "EIRIN: All movies subject to rating, even cuts, Independent body screens, and censors, flicks", The Japan Times, March 2, 2010, p. 3.
