Danica Davidson
May 31, 2021 
A recent episode of the anime Super Cub stirred up some controversy in Japan because it shows an illegal activity. In the episode, it shows two characters riding together on a motorcycle, but one only recently received a motorcycle license. According to Japanese law, you can’t ride on a motorcycle with someone else if you’ve had that license less for than a year.
Kadokawa gave a lengthy response, basically pointing out: “It’s fiction.” Here is the actual statement:
“As the on-screen text in the anime states: This story is a work of fiction. Honda Motor Company provided its cooperation and supervision only for the designs in Super Cub.
Regarding the two characters riding together, the circumstances are explained thoroughly in the source material novel. This was shown a little bit in the anime in an abridged form, but in the aftermath there is a key scene. In this regard, the anime respects and preserved the flow of the source material’s story.
It was decided that it was necessary to go with this direction in order to develop the story in a way that respects the nature of the characters. Therefore, there is absolutely no intent to oppose the law or public morals. I hope you can enjoy it as an entertaining story (i.e. a work of fiction merely set in a dream world, and not reality).”
If you look at the novel that Super Cub is based on, it backs up what Kadokawa is saying, because it mentions the act being illegal and talks in more depth about what the character is thinking.
Source: ANN
____
Danica Davidson is the author of the bestselling Manga Art for Beginners with artist Melanie Westin, and its sequel, Manga Art for Intermediates, with professional Japanese mangaka Rena Saiya. Check out her other comics and books at www.danicadavidson.com.
