Mr. Osomatsu really can’t catch a break, can he?
Earlier today, the official Osomatsu-san anime website revealed that the show’s third episode will receive a second round of alterations. The episode’s Blu-Ray and DVD releases, as well as streaming editions will be edited due to a decision by the show’s production committee.
The website names the following segments for the new release:
- Space
- OSO
- Kirakira Name
- Pachinko Police
- Please Let Me Sleep
- Poaching
- October 31
- Public Bath Quiz
- Newly-produced Footage
Notably missing is Dekapan Man, which was a series of shorts that parodied popular children’s show Anpanman.
The news comes in the wake of a recent announcement by the show’s production committee. Earlier this month, the Osomatsu-san website announced that the show’s first episode would be pulled from circulation entirely, and that episodes 2 & 3 would be reworked for release.
On October 29, TV Tokyo’s Yūichi Takahashi apologized for Mr. Osomatsu‘s third episode, which contained a lewd parody of children’s character Anpanman, in a press conference.
Japanese copyright law, unlike US copyright law, lacks a specific parody provision, meaning that spoofs and satire of copyrighted works are not protected speech. Rather, creators have three moral rights: Divulgence, Authorship, and Integrity. Because of this, parodic works are seen as copyright infringement due to violation of Japan’s Integrity clause.
Mr. Osomatsu is based on the late Fujio Akatsuka’s manga of the same name. The series is being directed by Yoichi Fujita at Studio Pierrot. Naoyuki Asano is providing character designs, while Shū Matsubara handles series composition. The show kicked off on October 5, as a celebration of what would be Akatsuka’s 80th birthday.
Source: Osomatsu-san Website
