Filing complaints to authorities because an adult series has adult themes is a modern classic in Japan. The Broadcast Content Improvement and Ethics Organization (known as the BPO) recently released its latest report on massive complaints against the animated adaptation of Yani Neko (Chainsmoker Cat), the original manga created by Nyannyan Factory. To many’s surprise, despite intense online backlash over scenes simulating illegal drug use, the committee decided to wash its hands and let the cat girl continue her bad habits on screen.

This unusual comedy follows a 21-year-old beast girl whose life revolves around heavy smoking, evading rent, and surviving on low-paying part-time jobs. What truly scandalized a conservative audience wasn’t the protagonist’s extreme smoking, but a scene where a secondary character injects a suspicious substance. Though never explicitly called an “illegal drug” on screen, the visual implications were enough for sensitive viewers to demand government intervention.

During a late-July meeting, the ethics committee analyzed these scenes’ impact. The conclusion was a huge relief for the anime industry: airing in a late-night block, it’s clear the production knows its work isn’t for children. A board member noted that since the injected substance wasn’t explicitly labeled illegal, the scene falls entirely within freedom of expression. Citing this, the organization closed the case on August 6 without issuing any official sanctions or censorship recommendations.

With Japanese authorities pardoning this controversial scene due to the technical lack of specifics about the syringe’s contents, do you think animation studios will continue using legal loopholes to depict taboo themes without facing TV censorship?