Major Chinese e-commerce and social media platforms have removed content related to the Japanese anime Tokyo Ghoul following a report by state broadcaster CCTV highlighting concerns over its availability to minors.
The anime, known for its violent and dark themes, was officially banned across mainland China in 2015 due to its depiction of bloodshed, horror, and death. However, the report said content related to the series had continued to circulate online in various disguised forms.
According to CCTV, users on platforms such as Xiaohongshu, Douyin, and others were still able to find introductions and summaries of the series through keyword searches. Some creators were also found narrating the full storyline of the manga through voice-over videos.
In addition, listings for Tokyo Ghoul manga books, as well as related merchandise such as lighters and clothing, were reportedly available for purchase on major e-commerce platforms including Pinduoduo, Taobao, and JD.com.
Following the broadcast, searches for “Tokyo Ghoul” on platforms including Pinduoduo, JD.com, and Taobao reportedly returned no results, while related videos on Douyin, Xiaohongshu, and Bilibili also became inaccessible.
The swift removal reflects heightened scrutiny over online content distribution in China, particularly regarding materials deemed inappropriate for minors.
