Interest
Light Novel Author Takes on Twitter HQ After Cover is Banned
posted on by Lynzee Loveridge
A light novel author is taking their complaint all the way to the top after Twitter censored the cover image of one of their novels. Mahiro Kisaragi writes The Decision of Isoko Yamamoto (Yamamoto Isoko no Ketsudan) novels with art by Coffee Neko. The second volume is set for release on February 20 but when Kisaragi paid to promote a tweet about the book featuring its cover art, they found that it was banned for "advertising adult content or services" on Twitter, despite the fact that Kisaragi's novel cover contains no nudity and the novel itself is designated as an all-ages title by its publisher, Kadokawa Fantasia Bunko.
Kisaragi posted that the image was banned by Twitter on February 12. Furthermore, Kisaragi added that Twitter had already withdrawn payment from their credit card for promoting the Tweet about the novel, a total of 45,266 yen (US$426). Incensed, Kisaragi decided to head to Twitter Japan's headquarters the very next day. The author sent a number of tweets directed at Twitter but lacking a response, they headed directly to the headquarters.
Boarding the Ginza line trainおはようございます。
— 如月真弘@「山本五十子の決断2」2/20発売! (@mahirokisaragi) February 13, 2018
予告通り、今日はtwitter日本本社の入る東京スクエアガーデンがある京橋にやって参りました。
コンクリート剥き出しの銀座線京橋駅ホーム、文明崩壊後のような風情が。 pic.twitter.com/h5usiGM2yU
Outside the Twitter Japan headquarters in Tokyo東京スクエアガーデン。
— 如月真弘@「山本五十子の決断2」2/20発売! (@mahirokisaragi) February 13, 2018
此処にTwitterJAPAN本社が。入ります。 pic.twitter.com/2L0QIfhqUZ
The escalator up to the office. Kisaragi comments that these are the stairs scaled by other warriors who met a similar fate and " who climbed here with sadness, anger, and little hope."TwitterJAPAN本社が入るオフィスへのエレベーター。今日までアカウントを不当凍結されたり身に覚えのない規制を受けたりした幾多の同胞が、悲しみと怒りと、そして僅かな希望を胸にここを登った、戦士の階段です。私も続きます! pic.twitter.com/bSTbQkMbL6
— 如月真弘@「山本五十子の決断2」2/20発売! (@mahirokisaragi) February 13, 2018
The office lobbyオフィスロビー。Twitter社への抗議に訪れた人は皆ここで待たされてきました。ブログやYouTubeで見た通りの光景が広がります。受付でTwitter社に用があるというと、アポはとってあるのかと。どうやってとるのかと失笑しました。 pic.twitter.com/dcBLXP1eM9
— 如月真弘@「山本五十子の決断2」2/20発売! (@mahirokisaragi) February 13, 2018
Kisaragi found little respite from his journey. After reaching the lobby, they filed an opposition letter that was forwarded on to Twitter corporate within the United States. Kisaragi added that it was the most they could do outside of a lawsuit, so they're going to move on from their horrible advertising experience. On the plus side, their short-lived fight against Twitter helped gain some attention for the book. Both The Decision of Isoko Yamamoto books broke into the top 10 light novel list on Amazon, even beating out Record of Grancrest War 5.
[Via Hachima Kikō]
this article has been modified since it was originally posted; see change history