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Learning Shogi From Naruto - A Lesson In Cross-Cultural Psychology?
When Naruto said “BELIEVE IT!”, I didn’t think some folks will take it to heart.
News spread yesterday of a 20-year-old Polish college student by the name of Karolina Styczynska, who managed to beat a professional shogi (“Japanese chess”) player in a recent Japanese shogi tournament. Karolina is noted to be the first foreign amateur to do such a feat. The most interesting bit about her accomplishment stems from the fact that she learned how to play shogi from reading Naruto. Apparently, she followed Nara Shikamaru’s shogi games and took a deep interest since then.
Many of you may know that shogi is not a popular game outside of Asia. So what made Karolina take interest in such a game? One possible reason is that she probably had a general interest in chess from the beginning. Another reason is perhaps the fact that in shogi, you can use any fallen pieces that you have taken from your opponent and put them in play. This leads to a more interesting and intense style of play compared to regular chess.
Of course, Karolina could just be a huge Shikamaru fangirl. Shikamaru is quite the tactician and he has gotten a great fan following with his intelligence and maturity. As we all know, anime and manga characters are often very impressionable and many fans are moved by their traits, thoughts, and behaviors. A recent study even stated that identifying with a fictional character can affect your real life. Karolina looks like the type of person Shikamaru is. Well, sort of.
What’s amazing about manga and anime is that they both open up new worlds to young people. They often portray notable traits of Japanese culture and make them look very appealing. There’s also the fact that some folks tend to view “exotic” and “foreign” things/ideas with great wonder. That aura of mystery can get them curious to explore further. I do wonder if the otaku here in the United States have developed some interest in Japanese traditional culture through anime and manga.
The fact that Karolina learned about shogi through the Internet signifies a current truth: the world is getting even smaller by the minute. Face it, everything is cultural.
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Laughter’s The Best Medicine - Comedy Anime/Manga Series That Will Cure Your Blues
This May is once again Mental Health Month and recently, a blog on Psych Central called “Your Body, Your Mind” challenged readers to incorporate laughter into their daily lives. Laughter has so many benefits as it helps boost your immune system, relieve stress, and improve relationships with people. With that said, what are some anime/manga series that get you smiling and laughing through the day? Here are some favorites I would recommend to those who want to turn their frowns upside down.
Hayate the Combat Butler
An unlucky poor butler works for a spoiled rich otaku girl. Insert a great number of female characters and wacky situations and you have an quite humorous title with some added drama in-between.
Hayate the Combat Butler at Crunchyroll
Hayate the Combat Butler at VIZ Media
Excel Saga
The above picture does not capture the wackiness of this series. Oh, the life and trials of supervillains trying to live the villain life, while dealing with superheroes who just happen to be their neighbors. If you love weird and strange humor, Excel Saga is right up your alley.
Excel Saga at Hulu
Excel Saga at VIZ Media
Yotsuba&!
The funniest little girl in all of manga is in this series. Yotsuba Koiwai is the queen of the universe. There’s a reason why she would be the President of the University of Anime, if it ever existed. Besides being very funny, Yotsuba&! is ADORABLE. Funny and adorable = super, positive, happy feelings.
Daily Lives of High School Boys
Do you get a kick out of seeing teenage boys acting stupid as they usually are? This is your series. As the Otaku Journalist once said in her analysis of the series, I don’t understand how Nichibros was never picked up by Crunchyroll when previously, Nichijou (which is very similar to this series) got chosen.
Naruto Spin-Off: Rock Lee And His Ninja Pals
This is a series I really recommend to kids. All the jokes in this series are targeted towards that demographic to begin with. Plus, it’s NARUTO, the ninja that everyone likes. What makes this series even funnier is that the original voice actors from the Naruto anime also voice their respective characters in this spin-off. Will the Rock Lee spinoff manga be licensed next?
Naruto Spin-Off: Rock Lee And His Ninja Pals at Crunchyroll
Great Teacher Onizuka
When you have a teacher that’s perverted, dumb as bricks, and a former gang member teaching the most troublesome class in school, you can bet there will be no shortage of laughs when that happens. Onizuka Eikichi is probably the most immature teacher you will ever see and he will have you cracking up in no time. Despite his wackiness, Onizuka has a heart of gold that will shine bright in many fans’ eyes.
GTO: 14 Days in Shonan at Vertical, Inc.
GTO: The Early Years at Vertical, Inc.
Crayon Shin-Chan!
A classic series in Japan and one that actually had quite an interesting English anime dub by Funimation. Shin-chan’s crude and vulgar, but hey, I’m sure we’ve met a kid like him once in our lives. The manga is being published again in North America as well.
Crayon Shin-Chan! at Funimation
Beelzebub
If the idea of a high school delinquent running around with a naked baby (who just happens to be the next great demon lord) doesn’t make you laugh, I don’t know what will. Beelzebub is a pretty funny series with over-the-top characters and gags. While the series does have a lot of action, Beelzebub is still a comedy at heart and that part is reinforced throughout its story.
Sket Dance
A series that I feel is underappreciated by many fans. This is a really funny look at high school extracurricular clubs and activities. All of the characters have some wacky quirk that makes them unique. It won the 55th Shogakukan Award for Best Shonen Manga in 2009.
Gintama
I can’t make a comedy anime/manga list without this gem. Gintama is probably THE current king of comedy anime/manga series to read/watch. Even the name of the series itself is somewhat of a joke (it’s a play off the word “kintama”, which means testicles in Japanese). What makes this series extremely hilarious are the character interactions and ridiculous banter. Be prepared for parodies, wacky references, and lots of dirty jokes.
Gintama at Crunchyroll
Gintama at VIZ Media
Genshiken
This is a title that’s definitely for all the otaku out there. It’s a humorous and yet realistic look at Japanese otaku culture. Genshiken still has some relevance today with the continued rise of the otaku.
Genshiken Omnibus 1 at Random House
Ouran High School Host Club
Yes, this series has cute boys, but more importantly, it pokes fun at many common cliches found in shoujo manga. Not only that, Ouran also parodies the views of female anime/manga fans. Take a look at this wonderful article about the main character, Haruhi Fujioka, and you’ll see what makes Ouran a joy to read/watch.
Ouran High School Host Club at Funimation
Ouran High School Host Club at VIZ Media
If you want to share any other interesting series that tickle your funny bone, feel free to post your comments below!
To quote the great Bob Hope,
“I have seen what a laugh can do. It can transform almost unbearable tears into something bearable, even hopeful.”
Let’s all find some funny anime/manga and laugh for the better, shall we?
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HOT! BLOODED! - The Rock Lee Story (Naruto)
“I want to show I can be a splendid ninja even if I don’t have ninjutsu or genjutsu. I want to prove it to the whole world!”
For those who believe that they have do not have the talents to achieve certain types of success, let me tell you an insightful tale. A tale where one enthusiastic young man must conquer multiple odds to reach his goal. It was a goal which required certain talents the young man did not possess. Despite his lack of talent, the young man presses on with nothing but unbridled enthusiasm and a passion to crush it. This is story of Naruto’s Rock Lee, a ninja who relies on his strong spirit to fight and more importantly, a stern reminder about keeping your passion going even through tough times.
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Another Issue For VIZ Media - What Can Replace Naruto and BLEACH?
Pop Quiz: What will happen when two of these iconic characters are eventually gone from the spotlight?
Wow, VIZ Media. They’ve been getting a lot of attention lately, huh? After reading Zach Logan’s editorial “The War On Manga”, I decided to browse the many comments on the entry. One excerpt from a comment stood out to me, especially given with how sales in the U.S. manga industry haven’t been looking so grand for quite some time. This is the excerpt:
Viz is now jointly owned by Shueisha, so the real strings are being pulled straight from the top. Naruto and Bleach will be ending within 2 years tops. What is their business plan when 2 of the Big 3 are no longer propping up house?
Given the fact that Naruto and BLEACH are ranked as the top 2 manga properties in the U.S. at the moment, are both appearing to finish up in the future, and have EXTREMELY huge fan communities, is Shueisha really doing anything to make sure that there will be a new holy trinity alongside One Piece? Yes, scanlations are a big issue, but another key issue is how to get a new generation of fans (and potential buyers) in the West to be interested in reading manga going forward, given that Shonen Jump material is still the starting point for a majority of new fans.
Once Naruto and BLEACH are done, what can VIZ turn to as their main titles (besides One Piece) for promoting Shonen Jump Alpha when it really takes off? The other Shonen Jump Alpha titles they have (Bakuman, Toriko, and Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan) look to be hitting it off with fans, but are they as special as those two titles? Do these titles really relate to teenagers and young adults as well as Naruto and BLEACH have? The closest popular title that can take a spot in the trinity is Hunter x Hunter, but the title is published irregularly and that just won’t do when it comes to generating sales.
As of right now, it feels like Shueisha will just keep on riding One Piece’s popularity going forward since it’s become a cultural symbol in Japan. That doesn’t seem to help VIZ at all, as One Piece isn’t super-popular in North America when compared to Japan. Perhaps a Shonen Jump Advanced online magazine featuring Blue Exorcist, Rosario + Vampire, and D.Gray Man could be in the makings.
I’m sure there has to be some aspiring artists who will rise and be inspired by the likes of Eiichiro Oda, Masashi Kishimoto, and Tite Kubo, like how Akira Toriyama was an inspiration to them. Though as Bakuman has hinted with the low birth rate these days in Japan (which decreases the chances of a super-popular mainstream manga), the hopes of that happening are dim.
Manga in the U.S. isn’t going to die immediately if Naruto and BLEACH end. However, it feels that there has to be some simple Shonen Jump battle manga (no disrespect to One Piece) that appeals to teenagers/young adults to get the ball rolling and spark interest in the wide world of manga itself. While some fans may find them boring, the success of extremely popular titles (i.e. “typical Shonen Jump” titles) helps to give non-popular titles a chance to breathe life. Back when I was a teen, Dragon Ball Z, one of the most popular Jump series of all-time, was the reason why I got into manga. I started buying many manga volumes and developed a taste for other series that have better stories as I got older. The U.S. manga industry NEEDS popular, teen-friendly Shonen Jump titles to sell, no matter how cliche or overrated they may be, in order to stay afloat since Shonen Jump is still the top manga imprint in America. For now, Blue Exorcist appears to be a good successor to Naruto/BLEACH for VIZ, even though it’s a JUMP Square title.
Then again, I wonder if Japanese publishers truly care about the West at all when it comes to promoting manga internationally. Here’s a tweet for thought.
Such is the life of one being involved with manga in the U.S. or west of Asia, is it not?
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Eiichiro Oda Makes 2 Billion Yen & NarutoxUNIQLO
It was reported that One Piece mangaka, Eiichiro Oda, made 2 billion yen ($24 million in U.S. money) this year. He earned about 740 million yen ($9 million) in royalties. Very impressive given the current status of the manga industry as a whole & the threat of scanlations. Oda is truly a genius & he is a reminder that creativity can still kick ass in bad times.
Source: Anime News Network
And in other news, Kishimoto Masashi’s NARUTO will be featured in a collaboration with UNIQLO starting January 1. There will be NARUTO t-shirts sold throughout Asia. Every purchase of a Naruto t-shirt will come with a special anime DVD (while supplies last) featuring a special rendition of the song, “Mayonaka x Orchestra” by J-rock band, Aqua Timez. This DVD will be coming in extremely limited quantities.
Source: Music Japan Plus
Is it safe to say that both of these series are protected from the dreaded “Bill 156”?
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Sasuke Uchiha - Naruto
I’m gonna start things off with a bang with a feature on one of Shonen Jump’s most popular characters, Uchiha Sasuke from Masashi Kishiomoto’s “Naruto”!
Where should I start when it comes to Sasuke? (WARNING: Massive spoilers ahead for those who aren’t up-to-date with the Naruto manga) Hmmm, let’s see: he’s angry, depressed, & somewhat antisocial. Sasuke is one of the last members of the Uchiha clan, a once-prominent ninja clan in the village of Konoha. He originally was a protagonist along with the main character, Uzumaki Naruto. As the story moves on, Sasuke eventually jumps over to the dark side by associating himself with terrorist ninjas to further his own ambitions. Along the way, he runs into his brother, Uchiha Itachi. Itachi is a runaway ninja who actually killed Sasuke’s parents at a young age and the ENTIRE Uchiha clan. In essence, he basically was the source of Sasuke’s rage. They eventually have a final confrontation, where Itachi ends up being killed by Sasuke himself. Sasuke then learns the truth about Itachi and the destruction of the Uchiha clan from Madara Uchiha, another survivor of the Uchiha clan & a major antagonist. After learning that Itachi actually loved him, Sasuke now focuses his goal on one thing & one thing only: the complete destruction of Konoha.
Part of the circumstances that led to Sasuke’s personality is primarily because of society enforcing their wills among people. In a sense, certain countries/families/groups have those guidelines too. That you have to do this, you have to do that. Honor is prized above anything else. The Uchiha clan was known to be a powerful clan. You had to do well in everything, though Konoha also enforced the same ideals. Kids go through that pressure a lot in certain societies. It is tough for a child to be bred in an strict environment at times. Sasuke was the “strongest ninja” in the beginning, but as the story went on, Naruto began to outclass him in every way. He began to be obsessed with becoming strong because of the pressure of being a Uchiha. You can compare that to when a parent compares you to another child. You get sad and feel as if you really disappointed them. As a result, you become desperate to live up to their standards.
Itachi decided to kill the entire Uchiha clan in order to prevent an all-out war between Madara & Konoha. He did not kill Sasuke however, due to the fact that he couldn’t bring himself to kill him. Itachi told Sasuke to hate him & despise him and by that way, he can become stronger. As a result, Sasuke begun to develop feelings of doubt and insecurity. He probably wondered “Why me?”, “How could this have happened?”, etc. That led to Sasuke living completely the opposite of how he wanted to live. Instead of being driven by happiness, he became driven by hate. Sasuke began to ignore the people around him, including Naruto, Sakura (a female classmate), and Kakashi (his original ninja master). You can say he was probably scared of losing them the same way he lost his parents. The fear of attachment can bring people down and can cause them to be outcasts.
Unfortunately now, he’s become a complete lunatic, placing destruction over his own life. Who can you blame for his new outlook? Itachi? Well, he was under orders. But he didn’t give the best motivational advice in the world. There are other ways to become strong. Madara, for manipulating Sasuke to the point that blind revenge is the answer? It’s hard to say that Sasuke can’t blame himself in this situation due to the circumstances. However, there is one thing I do like to note.
In the beginning, Sasuke began to like being around Naruto, Sakura, and Kakashi. He began to develop feelings of friendship before slowly plunging himself into darkness. In the most recent chapter of Naruto, Sasuke sees a vision of his former Konoha classmates laughing. He makes note of this saying, “THEY’RE LAUGHING BECAUSE THEY KNOW NOTHING!” It’s a frustration that a lot of depressed people go through. They tend to interpret most positive situations into negative situations for unknown reasons. I mean, Itachi WANTED Sasuke to kill him because he knew he was such a terrible brother & person for what he did. When he learned the truth about Itachi, Sasuke should’ve realized that a huge weight was lift off his shoulders, but instead, he focused his rage at somewhere else instead of really thinking things through. Thanks to Madara, he was manipulated even further. Sasuke earlier had doubts about Itachi’s motives, so why didn’t he question Madara’s motives (even Madara directly told Sasuke that Itachi did not want Madara & Sasuke to get in contact with each other)? Simple. It’s easier to blame the entire source behind it all: Konoha. Sasuke’s hot-headed pride allowed Madara to get into his mind and manipulate him ever further.
Being hot-headed is a common flaw that we human beings sometimes have. We tend to let rage get the best of us. Sasuke’s the best example of it. It has made him make bad decisions and bad alliances with people he shouldn’t be hanging around with. Did anyone really comfort him after the whole Clan died? No one took initiative whatsoever. It highlights the harsh reality of the ninja world. Their cruel & harsh standards have created a monster. The real world today, we can create monsters out of people through what what we perceive as normal and righteous. People want to be noticed while forgetting about others and leaving them to dry. In return, those who are neglected go through a spiral of chaos that they may never recover from.
Well, I hope you like my first entry. Feel free to comment with CONSTRUCTIVE criticism. Seriously, no weeaboo/otaku talk. I want this to be as serious. Feel free to point out anything I may have missed or any other observations about Sasuke. SEE YA!
