As book and manga banning across the US continues to be an issue, Canada is unfortunately jumping on board the trend, with some classic manga (among many other notable novels) facing the axe in a key school region. 2024 was a bad year for manga in school libraries in the US, with the likes of Jujutsu Kaisen, My Hero Academia, Attack on Titan, Akiraand Hunter x Hunter all being put up for review, and several being banned outright in certain states. As Canada now aims to “protect the children” from evil illustrations, one of the most acclaimed manga of all time is being blacklisted.
Per CTVpublic school libraries in Edmonton may have to remove some acclaimed books and manga, including Kentaro Miura’s seminal Berserk. New legislation imposed by the Ministry of Education and Childcare could see some of the most prolific and important novels ever written removed from shelves. The aforementioned Berserkas well as Black Bird by Kanoko Sakurakoji, and Trigun maximum by Yashuhiro Nightow, were all named. It should be noted that only select volumes are being removed. In the case of Berserkit lists Volume 3which contains the ending of The Guardians of Desire arc, and the first chapter of the Golden Age arc.
Some of the Biggest Manga Titles Have Already Been Banned
Book banning (and eventually burning) has been an unfortunate part of human history for as long as books have been printed. But manga banning has become a more recent phenomenon in schools. Admittedly, there are probably some more adult titles you don’t want your kids reading, but the idea of large-scale banning is incredibly concerning.
2024 saw many hit shonen titles removed from school library shelves across various states in the US. November 2024 was an especially bad month to be a young manga fan. Unfortunately, with the recent news from Edmonton, the trend shows no sign of slowing down.
The (Obvious) Danger of Book Banning
Aside from the obvious answer that banning books and literature is a limitation of free speech, which ignores the operative word in free speech: “free,” book banning has a more troubling and real impact. The beauty of literature is that it teaches us about the world outside of our own viewpoint. Sure, Blood Demon arts and Cursed Techniques might not be real, but the emotional issues and the problems the characters in stories face are.
The recent banning also includes novels like The Handmaid’s Tale and Brave New World. Speaking to CTV about the banning, former Edmonton Public School Board trustee Bridget Stirling explained why book banning is so dangerous. “They’re books that allow youth an insight into the worlds of other people,” she began. “We want kids to be reading voices from a whole range of perspectives in schools, and it’s troubling to see who’s now going to be left out.”
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H/T: CTV
