U.S. Book Ban Takes a Swing at Shonen Jump, Forcing One Manga Off Shelves
The Assassination Classroom manga is currently in hot water—at least in the U.S. This 2012–2016 series, which originally ran in Weekly Shonen Jump before being adapted into a popular anime, has recently been targeted by a group called the Coalition of Conservatives in Action. This group compiled a list of about 100 books they believe should be removed from public school shelves.
According to New Mexico’s Las Cruces Sun-News, the first two volumes of Assassination Classroom, published in English by VIZ Media, are part of the list of banned titles. The Coalition argues that these volumes contain explicit content, making Assassination Classroom the only manga on their list. Other works on the list include The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami, The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, and Wicked by Gregory Maguire.
Assassination Classroom Is Caught in U.S. Book Ban Attempts
Debate Between Parents and Educators
Although VIZ Media rates Assassination Classroom as Teen Plus, the Coalition of Conservatives in Action has included it in their “Parent’s Guide to 95+ Explicit Books in Las Cruces Public Schools: How to Protect Your Children from Porn in NM School Libraries.” They argue the manga is pornographic, though if that were the case, it would have been rated 18+ or Mature instead of Teen Plus.
Sarah Smith, vice chair of the Las Cruces Coalition of Conservatives in Action, pulled the book list from one created by a former Moms for Liberty member, with help from other coalition members. “We focused on content parents might find inappropriate based on their kids’ age and maturity,” she said. Las Cruces High School librarian Karen Hanson-Sharp disagreed, stating, “Banning books hurts education. It limits critical thinking and won’t stop teens from learning about these topics—it just pushes them to less reliable sources.”
The Origins and Popularity of Assassination Classroom
Koro-sensei: The Unstoppable Teacher Tasked With Destruction
Assassination Classroom began as a manga by Yusei Matsui that ran in Weekly Shōnen Jump from July 2012 to March 2016, with all 21 volumes published by Shueisha. VIZ Media licensed the series for English publication in 2014, making it available worldwide. The manga’s popularity led to an anime adaptation that aired from 2015 to 2016. There was also a live-action movie released in 2015 and a sequel in 2016.
The story centers on a mysterious creature named Koro-sensei, who destroys 70% of the moon and declares that he will destroy Earth in one year. During this time, he becomes the homeroom teacher for Class 3-E at Kunugigaoka Junior High School, where the students are tasked with assassinating him by the end of the year. However, Koro-sensei has incredible abilities, and the students try various methods to take him down.
As Koro-sensei trains his students in the arts of killing, it becomes clear that, in fact, he is educating them on how to become good adults. It is an unusual and fun spin on the “tough teacher” trope that is so common not just in manga but in many forms of Japanese entertainment. Going beyond its exterior of comedy and action, Assassination Classroom is, in fact, one of the most emotional shonen manga in recent years, with a finale that is bound to elicit tears from even the toughest fans.
Manga Bans in U.S. Schools: A Growing Trend?
Will Assassination Classroom Spark a New Wave of Manga Bans?
Assassination Classroom is the latest manga to be banned or challenged in U.S. schools or libraries because of violence or mature themes. For example, Akira was criticized for its graphic violence, and Death Note faced bans in some areas for its dark themes. Naruto and One Piece were removed from some schools due to their fight scenes, while Gantz was banned for its explicit content. These bans often spark debates about what is appropriate for younger readers.
Related
Assassination Classroom celebrates its 10th anniversary with a new art tribute that features Koro-sensei and all of Class 3-E.
It’s unclear if Assassination Classroom will lead to a new wave of manga bans in the U.S. or if this is just an isolated incident. But only time will tell if it’s the start of a larger trend or merely a one-off.
Source: Otaku USA
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