US school book bans surge, targeting popular Japanese manga titles
A recent survey shows a sharp rise in book bans across U.S. public schools, with Japanese manga such as "Attack on Titan" among the works removed.
According to PEN America, U.S. public schools logged 11,982 instances of book bans during the academic year from July 2025 to June 2026, a significant jump from the prior year. The surge is especially pronounced in Texas, where a new law giving district boards control over library selections took effect in September 2025, and in Florida. Banned works are often labeled for containing violence, sexual depictions, LGBTQ+ content, or minority viewpoints, and some decisions were made using artificial-intelligence screening.
Among the censored titles are several Japanese manga that enjoy wide popularity in the United States, including Atsushi Ohkubo's "Fire Force," Hajime Isayama's "Attack on Titan" and Rumiko Takahashi's "Inuyasha." PEN America condemned the trend, saying it curtails students' right to encounter a broad range of ideas and voices.
Why it matters
The expanding bans limit students' exposure to diverse literature and raise concerns about censorship in education.
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