Read the comments above. I believe that it will address to much, if not all your concerns.

The first paragraph is probably just a brief introduction to go in tune with the lengthy one you sent them. So to me it reads like an exchange of business cards between two companies. I know I’ve received some replies from MangaGamer before, and they do take the time to read the mails, cuz I’ve never had the opening paragraph state the same thing. If anything, they probably just don’t have the spare time to compose long passages like you guys did.

And yeah, I’m sure their decision to decensor the games WAS influenced by the fans, but is that a bad thing? They listened. MangaGamer is still a small company who hasn’t even been around for two years yet. Hell, at Otakon 2009 they mentioned that they were still trying to break even with their releases.

They make it a point to thank you and encourage your support several times so I don’t see how you would think they didn’t want to work with you. The “cannot afford” is probably exactly what it says: They probably don’t have the time, money or other resources to support your group on the political field. If anything, I’d bet they’re trying to lay low and avoid being noticed by groups that would try to overturn their decision. Unlike JAST USA MangaGamer probably doesn’t have the established community or funds to fight a legal battle.

Unlike Yes to Freedom, they run the risk of suffering severe losses if their support attracts attention to them.

I’m sure most of the employees DO support Yes for Freedom on a personal level, but as that e-mail says, I bet they “cannot afford” to support you as a company giving their current status and the current political climate.

Well, I certainly did not expect that. I appreciate that you took some time to reply.

Yes, there is a difference between “cannot” and “refuses to”. However, this is not a matter of actual incapacity, but rather of refusal for a number of reasons that are, doubtless, amply sufficient. Do not get me wrong, I can understand that very well.

As for the first paragraph, we wouldn’t have written to you unless we had extensive knowledge of what MangaGamer is/does, right >.< Still, sorry if my reply was insulting – I did cringe a bit myself reading that part of your email though…

Regardless of the above, I am very happy to read that "there are more people in Manga Gamer that support your cause than that email leaves you to believe". Indeed, that email didn't leave place for much support within the company. I thank you for these encouraging words.

@ Star,

Reading Sacchinftw’s reply, I can believe that. And I did understand that aspect as I first read the email. But this kind of widespread attitude in businesses and the like – namely that of low-risk choices – is exactly what allows censorship to thrive, which does not help to make me any less hostile.

tl;dr
The entire point of that email was to say that there was no political motivation in making the decision. The people who didn’t want to censor are quite avid supporters of your cause but as a company, at best, all that can be done is to watch from the sidelines.

There can be no engagements between Manga Gamer and those that may seek to do bad things to you. Manga Gamer is an international organization and although the products might be legal in one country, it’s illegal in another. In the end, all of this comes back to the Japanese managers and shareholders, if any substantial negative press comes back to Manga Gamer…well, you saw just how eagerly the Japanese companies were willing to fold over Rapelay…

As someone who helped draft that response, but isn’t a Manga Gamer employee, over this medium I can openly say that there are more people in Manga Gamer that support your cause than that email leaves you to believe.