Members of a forum in Japan recalled a situation that caused great controversy in 2017 with the premiere of the animated film “Koe no Katachi” in Taiwan. This film, known in English as “A Silent Voice,” was the subject of debate due to its theme aimed at people with hearing impairments. At that time, voices emerged against the film's screening in the country, arguing that the work “commodified people with hearing impairments.”

The controversy became public when a group filed a petition on the Taiwanese government's online public participation platform, asking that the film not be shown in the country. They argued that the film, which also addresses themes such as suicide and bullying, could “disrupt children’s identities” and have a negative impact on young audiences.

The opposition group stated that a work of this nature should not be shown in Taiwan, with the slogan “A film that commercializes people with hearing impairments has no place in our country.“This call to ban the film generated a strong reaction in both Taiwan and Japan.

However, the Taiwanese government administration, after receiving the request and evaluating the situation, decided to reject the proposal. They argued that the film had already passed the Ministry of Culture's age rating and complied with all the rules stipulated in the Cinema Law, thus allowing it to be shown in movie theaters as planned.

“Koe no Katachi” was distributed in Taiwan as part of a collaborative campaign with the Japanese Ministry of Education aimed at promoting understanding and support for children with disabilities. Faced with the controversy, the Taiwanese distributor expressed its disappointment through a statement on its Facebook page, lamenting that “There were extremists in Taiwan who considered this work harmful to children and sought to prevent its screening.“.

"Koe no Katachi" is a film based on the manga of the same name, written and drawn by Yoshitoki Ooima. The story follows Shoya Ishida, a young man who bullies a hearing-impaired classmate, Shoko Nishimiya, during his childhood. Years later, regretting his actions, he tries to make amends and establish a friendship with her. The play was widely praised for its sensitive treatment of difficult themes such as disability, bullying, and redemption.

Despite the controversy, “Koe no Katachi” was a success in Taiwan, attracting a significant audience and receiving praise for its emotional narrative and message of inclusion and understanding. The initial controversy faded over time, but the situation was recently revived on Japanese forums, where users discussed the impact and reactions the film generated both in Japan and abroad.

Source: Yaraon!