Death Note Books Banned by Chinese Schools

ComiPress reports that parents and teachers in China are up in arms about the popularity of Death Note and students' use of notebooks inspired by the hit shonen manga series.

Produced by a Chinese toy manufacturer, the notebooks feature the Death Note logo, images of Light Yagami and Ryuk the Shinigami (characters from the manga), and instructions in English and Chinese on "how to kill people" by writing the intended victim's name in the book, just like in the comic. According to one student interviewed by the Shenyang Night Report,

"Many of my friends have Death Note. When they are tired of studying, they have fun by writing down the names of teachers they don't like."

Several schools in Shenzhen have banned the Death Note books, calling them "a poison that creates wicked hearts." However, some Chinese newspapers and psychologists have defended the book. They contend that parents and teachers are overreacting and stifling creativity. Even the school kids interviewed say that it's just for fun. "The whole killing thing is fake, everyone knows it's not real," said a student.

Is Death Note really a threat to students, or is it another case of adults fearing the ideas and images in manga? Check out our review of Death Note Volume 1 and our Death Note image gallery and judge for yourself.

Image: ©Shenzhen Daily