They seem to be trying to do what's right, so I'm not really angry but... I can't help thinking that this may be a double-edged sword.
Anime thrives on hype. Even if westerners couldn't get their hands on translated shows immediately, if they're able to see it online first and talk to fans, they'd be interested and into it enough buy merchandise, and this helps with the industry. Later, when the original translated version is out, they could buy the books and DVD's. But as is, hype is what generates current revenue too, and this is worldwide.
By shutting it off, while it's commendable that they're trying to remove something illegal, there wouldn't be enough hype and a lot of people wouldn't even know about a series. They'd miss out on quite a number of people ordering merchandise like collectible figurines, and will probably have to wait until these same people could get their hands on the DVD's when they're out.... if they bother to get them at all when the time comes. Not everyone wants to be the laggard in entertainment.
I'm a bit on the fence with this. It might be a good chance to grow out of anime and manga. I mean, I really love it, but if it gets a little too hard or bothersome to be in the loop, I'd just have to shrug and move on to other things I can just as easily as before enjoy with my time and money, right?
I don't think the Japanese government really understands that anime became popular and widespread thanks to its availability [on the Internet], and it's become a global industry thanks to that demand. If it does die off due to too many restrictions, it's nobody's fault but their own. I'd just chalk it up to poor business decisions. If it survives and actually thrives because more people would just subscribe and keep the revenue coming in sufficient, well, that's a good move on their part. Could go either way. Japanese consumption alone is enough for them to earn enough money, anyway... wait, maybe not. Not enough young people/children in Japan anymore lol.
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