Japan’s Broadcasting Ethics Watchdog Probes Chainsmoker Cat Anime Over Drug Use Portrayals

Chainsmoker Cat, known as Yani Neko in Japan, is an anime from Bibury Animation Studios that centers on a cat girl with a penchant for smoking. Recently, it became a hot topic during the 292nd Youth Committee meeting of Japan’s Broadcasting Ethics & Program Improvement Organization (BPO) due to its portrayal of “illegal drug use” in a scene featuring “self-injection.”

When the adaptation of NyanNyanFactory’s 2023 manga Chainsmoker Cat was first announced, fans were understandably apprehensive about potential censorship, given the manga’s exploration of various addictions and other mature themes. However, upon the release of the first episode on July 3, it became clear why fans were concerned about the adaptation in the first place.

The anime included nudity, drug references, and other adult content, mostly presented without censorship. As noted by Automaton, rather than stripping the series of its essence, the inclusion of these elements sparked a different wave of criticism. On July 28, the BPO discussed the show’s content after gathering “opinions from viewers.”

While the BPO did not explicitly name Chainsmoker Cat during the meeting, they described it as “a late-night weekday anime set in a society where humans and ‘beastmen’ (characters that personify cats) coexist.” Given the timing and description, it was clear which show was under scrutiny.

Viewers expressed concerns about scenes depicting what appeared to be illegal drug use, with one BPO member highlighting “a scene of self-injection.” This likely refers to the second episode, where the protagonist’s friend, Yakuko, is shown injecting a needle into their arm. When discovered, a visibly high Yakuko hurriedly claims, “This is a vaccine!”

In the manga, Yakuko is a regular drug user, though the anime does not explicitly label the substance as “heroin.” The BPO did not reach a consensus on the portrayal of drug use in Chainsmoker Cat, but the committee member leading the discussion suggested that the scene in question “is within acceptable limits in terms of freedom of expression,” noting that the anime airs late at night when children are unlikely to be watching.