10 Banned Pokemon Episodes From Around The World (And Why)
8. A Fishing Connoisseur In A Fishy Competition!
Pokémon: Black & White - Episode 39
Plot:
Ash and his friends continue on their travels, which, after a chance meeting with their old friend Bianca, takes them to a fishing contest. However, the entire event is a Team Rocket rouse with the villains planning on taking back a swath of Pokémon for their boss.
Call For Censorship:
The episode was intended to air on 7th April 2011, however, it was struck by a temporary ban in Japan following the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami on 11th March 2011. The disaster resulted in 9,747 deaths, 6,242 injured, and 2,556 missing people. It is easy to see why the ban on such a water-heavy themed episode plot, that includes a scene where Ash falls in a river and almost drowns, along with battle scenes that take place in or around water.
Other commentators also drew comparisons between the episode's primary setting, Castelia City, which is surrounded entirely by water, and the effects of a tsunami engulfing a city. While the latter is more of an esoteric idea, it is unlikely that those affected by the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami wouldn't be disturbed so close to the tragedy.