The bill is not specifically anti-porn, but rather anti-Anything-the-unregulated-censorship-board-thinks-is-harmful-to-children.

The bill also does not target only [depictions of sexual or pseudo-sexual acts between] individuals who cannot legally apply for marriage (specifically), but also any sexual or pseudo-sexual acts that can be considered illegal. Since Governor Ishihara is somewhat of an outspoken homophobe, there is already speculation that the vagueness and subjectivity of the bill may be used to target works that contain any sort of homosexual themes.

The outcry in response to the bill is due in part to the fact that when earlier versions of the bill (which first called for censorship of only pornographic works which featured child-like characters, then was broadened to include most pornographic works) were rejected, committee members promised to work with mangaka and members in publishing to work out a version of the bill that would protect mangaka’s creative expression. Those discussions evidently never took place, and the bill passed without much of a second thought to its effect on mangaka.

Already, many mangaka have been instructed by their publishers to stop using specific themes in their works (eg: no more school seifuku, or school settings), for fear that their publications will be labeled “inappropriate for children”.

Comiket may also be affected, and may also decide to hold its events in a different prefecture (which will no doubt be a devastating change for the tens of thousands of people who attend).