エロゲ.FYI
Adult Game Regulations Wiki
"Compendium of legal regulations pertaining to adult games in & outside Japan."
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Thank you for visiting eroge.fyi (エロゲ.FYI) ** - the Adult Game Regulations Wiki.**
PLEASE NOTE: This website has been renamed to "eroge.fyi" to avoid confusion with unaffiliated websites.
Click here to get the Fast Facts.
In Japanese, エロゲ (eroge) is a slang term meaning "erotic game", a medium which includes what are commonly known in the west as visual novels, as well as interactive videos, role playing games, and more. While there are "all-ages" games which have no explicit content, the medium as a whole is undeniably built on the backs of adult-oriented games, eroge.These are games which feature sexual content. Eroge are historically important to the development of otaku culture, and artistic expression broadly, in Japan, and they have gained an growing international following over the last decade or so. Several companies exist which license these games for offical localization to be sold to western markets, and Japanese eroge companies themselves sometimes reach out overseas. When globalization is concerned, its natural to worry about how these sexually explicit depictions are regulated, especially as they relate to content which some viewers might find 'objectionable'.There is a stereotype that in Japan, 'perverse' media fluorishes, where depictions are created with no regulation. Some say "it's just a different culture." This could not be further from the truth, as Japan is a society very concerned with social norms and acceptable behavior. Japan is as harsh on sexual misconduct as anywhere, and the general attitude toward pornography is roughly the same as any other culture. In light of concerns shared domestically and abroad, rigid regulatory codes are responsible for making sure these depictions are socially acceptable.For example, did you know that the Ethics Organization of Computer Software also known as Sofurin (ソフ倫) or the EOCS is a Japanese ratings board similar to CERO or the ESRB which rates PC games, and that they require all characters depicted in sexual activity must be 18 years old or older, even in Japan?To find out more, I hope you will take the time to read this wiki with an open mind. As an eroge fan and concerned citizen, I feel that it is important to share this knowledge with fans and others. I believe that the most valuable tools for making informed decisions are education, prudence, and best judgment.This website is for personal/educational purposes only, and should not be used as legal adviceIf you have expertise and would like to be a contributor, please contact us.
News
Expiry of eroge.fyi domain ・ 2023/08/11Sorry, I'm really poor and my carrd pro plan expired, so the site is at erogefyi.carrd.co for the time being. I apologize for any inconvenience!Currently Available Pages ・ 2023/03/10
Site contents are still under construction, I'm sorry! The following pages are planned and will be added soon.
Attached is a note aboutthe information contained in each.
Within Japan
Other Eroge Ratings Boards (Have no or unreliable publicly available information)DLsite (Has a detailed "Compliance Policy - will be added soon)DMM (Fanza) (States only that all content on their site confirms with the ethics boards they deal with and that no performers are under age 18.)
International
JAST USA (California based website. Declined request for comment - pending)NUTAKU (Luxembourg based, has USC 2257 and CFR 75 notices with contact information for records)More information on JAST USA can be found in Evaluating International Retailers for now.
Fast Facts
Production in Japan
In Japan, the main safeguard against illegal/objectional depictions in erotic games from being produced in the first place is the Ethics Organization of Computer Software, abbreviated "EOCS" and commonly known as Sofurin (ソフ倫), is a legally incorporated ratings board for computer games in Japan, similar to CERO or the ESRB for computer games.[8]They regulate software for general audiences according to appropriate age groups, and adult-only software. Adult-only software is prohibited from being sold to persons under age 18 and feature sexually explicit content. This is commonly abbreviated as １８禁 (R18) software.[2]The most important thing the EOCS does is regulate content within games according to certain guidelines defined in the Sofurin Code of Ethics, and games are screened for this purpose.[2]Notably, the EOCS prohibits sexually explicit depictions of characters which are or appear to be minors, and has a range of standards for determining and enforcing this.[2][3][4][5]Most jurisdictions in Japan require a board rating to be sold in stores, and the EOCS urges retailers not to carry unrated games, so most reputable commercial eroge are rated.[4]However, some self-published (doujin) games, such as those sold on online-only retailers like DLsite, are not regulated (and may only be subject to such sites' potentially less-stringent content policies).Therefore, caution should be exercised to make sure a game is rated by the EOCS, as a rating is proof that a game abides by their standards.
Identifying EOCS Rated Games
EOCS rated games are given an identification code as proof of their rating. This code is not always provided, but it is usually on Japanese store pages for the game.
e.g.: 1900183D (Alpha Nighthawk, Liar-Soft)
All physical releases of games with the round, metallic EOCS R18 sticker on the packaging are rated. (As well as those with the rectangular metallic General Audience rating stickers.)[8]It is usually stated within the Japanese software that a game is EOCS rated.
※On rare occasions, this is stated in the English release too.
The website moepedia.net (Wikipedia article in Chinese only) was opened by the EOCS in 2022 to list all games which have undergone review from the Japan Contents Review Center, and the Ethics Organization of Computer Software.[9] (website contains R18 contents).
※However, moepedia.net may not distinguish beteen JCRC and EOCS ratings.
The EOCS R18 seal present on adult games. This metallic sticker has surface-hologram counterfeit protection features. most often 25mm in diameter, but can be smaller, & printed with this design.
EOCS Regulations
The EOCS prohibits the following for R18 software:[2]
・Real, existing human beings under the age of 18 from appearing (performing) in the work.・Depictions of characters that are minors in sexually explicit activity in the following ways:
・Descriptions (like words or statements) that imply or identify human beings or human-like characters depicted in sexual activity or erotic nudity as being under 18 years of age cannot be used.・Underage characters are prohibited from appearing in sexually explicit CG even if they are not participants in sex acts.・Characters which unequivocally appear to be toddlers or babies (pre-school age children) are strictly banned no matter what.・Characters which clearly visually appear to be children (子供 / kodomo) by difference in stature when compared next to adult (大人 / otona) characters in the same work must be changed.・Any characters featured in print material must additionally not measure less than 5 heads tall.・Certain visual expressions like ransel and elementary uniforms are also banned no matter stated age of characters and characters with these are automatically deemed minors.
・"Depictions of rape, gang rape, and other forms of aggravated violence that shockingly offend public morals concerning human rights violations against women and girls, and feel senselessly cruel"・Libel or works which incite violence. ("This is a work of fiction, all appearing people, etc. have no relationship to reality" and "Do not imitate the crimes depicted" are stated for this reason.)・Depictions of genitalia or human waste without mosaic concealment・All legally obscene materials (according to Japanese law)
In addition, the following are strongly cautioned against:[2]
・Direct naming of genitalia in audio or text.・"Endorsing" of the sex trade, "frivilous" depictions of childbirth, "gratuitous" depictions of incest, beastiality, or necrophilia・"Works that frivolously depict gratuitous sex and lack elements such as story, theme, development, and game-like driving forces," and notes that "appropriate settings" and "necessity" and overall balance of sex scenes should be considered, and that games should have a genuine artistic purpose with "originality and ingenuity."・Works which violate the human rights of socially disadvantaged groups.・Content which fails to "respect the law, social order, and morality" etc., or "undermines family values."
When a game passes inspection, it satisfies these conditions in a meaningful way.