6th July 2011

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Gintama vs. the Tokyo Youth Ordinance Bill

(Source: Pandemonium-San)

For those who’ve seen Gintama Episode 215 (or read Chapters 310-311, Volume 36 of the manga), you may have noticed that there was a little jab at the Tokyo Youth Ordinance Bill that went into full effect on July 1, 2011. What’s interesting was the commentary said by the character Takechi Henpeita.

“We oppose the Greater Edo Youth Ordinance Bill! Before you try to regulate free speech, you should learn to regulate your own heart! Pedophilia predates manga & anime! Is it not our goal to foster a culture of acceptance?!”

Although the character in question saying all this is a pedophile himself (or feminist as Takechi calls himself), it does make you wonder how power drives people to do things that they feel are right. This also is not the first time the mangaka, Hideaki Sorachi, has made a crack at the bill. He makes another reference to the bill being passed earlier this year in Chapter 337, Volume 39 of the manga. An English translation of the dialogue in that specific chapter can be read here.

It comes to show that even if you come into power with good intentions, chances are you can be swayed into doing things that are unpopular. Even though Tokyo governor Shintaro Ishihara made the bill, the Tokyo government could’ve prevented it from happening. But, they didn’t. There’s also the non-assertiveness that the Japanese culture tends to be fond of. As noted by John of the AnimeNation blog, Japanese people traditionally don’t like to say “No”. Another issue to address is how it is supposed to be alright to have real child pornography in Japan, but not animated/drawn depictions of child pornography. (Disgusting, right?)

I also believe that Sorachi’s commentary is not just a reflection of the issue of freedom of expression in manga/anime, but what’s happening around us. We have governments trying to ban Internet usage & ban streaming video on the Internet. People of power seem to fear what they don’t understand. Or are they afraid of regular folks gaining knowledge & possibly be smarter than them? Is it a play to protect their own interests per say?

You can argue the main issue lies with those who have reached a high status and are able to dictate things however they please. However, it’s more of the work environment. If the environment is insanely corrupt, then that person will be corrupted too because they will do what it takes to stay in a high position. This is possibly why people need to “regulate their hearts”. They have to face themselves & ponder what is it they really want.

Gintama is perhaps the only Shonen Jump title that could be targeted heavily by Bill 156 because of its constant dirty humor. However, it represents something that some Japanese people do not have: courage. Think about it. The title is a play off the word “Kintama” (Japanese for “testicles”). Hell, the pronunciation even comes off as that to some people! Sorachi has the balls (no pun intended) to create a title that pokes fun at many things in Japanese culture & promotes a feeling that you don’t need government to dictate how you should live.

Let’s hope the rest of Japan follows up on Sorachi’s words towards the Tokyo government.

Tagged: Bill 156GintamaHideaki SorachiJapanJapanese pop cultureTakechi HenpeitaTokyo governmentYouth Ordinance Billsocial commentary

18th June 2011

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Why Girls Are Liking Shonen Manga

Hey, girls like battles as much as boys do.

According to the “wonderful” site that is Sankaku Complex, more and more girls in Japan are interested in reading shonen manga than shoujo manga. This relates to what I discussed in an interview by Fanboy.com.

I spoke about how there are series like Katekyo Hitman Reborn! & Kuroshitsuji filled with very attractive-looking male characters. There’s also the fact that shonen manga seems to have a fair share of teenage characters that appeal to a wide audience. Another supposed reason for girls reading shonen manga are that they are less concerned about being feminine when compared to boys trying to be manly.

Though it could just come down to this: shonen plots are just plain better than shoujo plots. Most shojou manga these days typically seems to be all the same: high school girls trying to date a guy they like & the emotional drama that ensues. Shonen plots can be pretty diverse compared to shoujo plots. At times, there may be TOO MUCH fighting in shonen manga, but they’re usually more exciting to most fans. Look at a series like BLEACH, which has a huge number of both male & female fans. Shoujo JUMP, here we come!

To female shonen readers, why do you read shonen manga?

Tagged: BLEACHJapanJapanese cultureJapanese newsKatekyo Hitman RebornKuroshitsujiboys and girlsmangaotakushonen mangashoujo manga

8th June 2011

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What’s Next For Square Enix

(Possibly the title that will dictate the future of SE. The E3 trailer can be viewed here.)

It is safe to say that the one video game third-party software company that is usually first mentioned among anime/manga fans is none other than Square Enix. The Final Fantasy series (and its respective spinoffs) has generated many sales, fans, and cosplay all over the world. The Dragon Quest series (from the Enix side) has also been well-received in Japan. However, things haven’t been so great as of late as their shares fell after reducing their operating profit estimate. After much criticism of Final Fantasy XIII and the questioning of the need for a FFXIII sequel, what can Square Enix do to gain the respect of those who’ve lost faith in the company as a whole?

Square has noted that they want to focus on three things: globalization, being more network-centric, and strengthening their own IPs.

However, there seems to be a divide being choosing to be a follower and choosing to be an innovator. Some fans have criticized Japanese game companies for not being “innovative for the Western audience” with their games, while some have argued that the Japanese game industry is being misunderstood and that they don’t need to change. Is Western influence running rampant all over Japanese game companies? Japanese gamers seem to prefer structured, linear worlds compared to the open-worlds of Western games. You can say video games here promote “self-expression”, while video games in Japan promote “self-escapism”.

With regards to Square Enix, perhaps they really need to look back into what makes role-playing games “role-playing games”. There is still a market for Japanese role-playing games & innovative games here in the United States. Also, gameplay is just as important as presentation. Keeping things simple is fine, but too simple with little incentives equals a bad game. All the old Japanese RPGS from Squaresoft & Enix were very well-received and focused more on gameplay than anything.

Perhaps we should blame today’s visual culture for so much focus on presentation. What do you guys think?

Tagged: Final FantasyJapanese pop cultureSquare Enixvideo gamesJapanWestern gamingFinal Fantasy XIIIRPGsrole-playing games

9th May 2011

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Natsume Ono Appearance Tomorrow at Kinokuniya

As a reminder, famous mangaka Natsume Ono (of Ristorante Paradiso & House of Five Leaves) will be appearing at Kinokuniya Bookstore in Bryant Park, NYC tomorrow, May 10, from 6pm to 8pm.

I will be at the event assisting Samurai Beat Radio and also live-tweeting (if possible) as well. For those who are able to attend, stop on by and say hello.

Also, expect a look at “House of Five Leaves” later this week!

Tagged: Natsume OnoanimemangamangakaKinokuniya BookstoreeventsNew YorkJapanHouse of Five Leaves

29th April 2011

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A Step In The Right Direction For Video Games? (L.A. Noire)

For those who’ve seen the commercials for Rockstar Games’ upcoming mystery/noir game, L.A. Noire, you may have noticed that it was picked to be shown at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival in New York. A few days ago, the game made its debut at the festival and won people over with its combination of expository narrative & open-ended gameplay. Not even Japanese game companies have had any of their games appear in a film festival, so can we say that video games are slowly becoming a legit form of art?

Perhaps video games can only be truly considered art if they were more based on real-life situations & events (like L.A. Noire). After all, most adults tend to enjoy learning & reading about history than waste their time playing “children’s games”. Video games always has a stigma attached to them, where first impressions matter more than anything. If you show anything violent/sexual, people won’t look beyond that and assume it’s just that. Not all video games are like that (though there are exceptions like Mortal Kombat). Let me bring up one notable game, Okami by Capcom.

Now that game WAS art. Hell, you actually used a paintbrush to combat monsters, create plant life, and help people. Want more games that can be considered art? Read this list by Cracked Magazine.

So, how do we get past that stigma going forward? It is up to the creators & game companies for the most part. The video game community also has a role, but I believe it’s most important that creators themselves continue to innovate & come up with unique ideas. Companies should do their part as well, as constantly oversaturating the market with the same titles (I’m looking at you, Activision & Call of Duty) will ultimately lead to failure.

Japan should take some notes on Rockstar Games, because L.A. Noire is another indication of why Western games are treated as more appealing than Japanese games. Does anyone believe Japan (besides Hideo Kojima & Keiji Inafune) should take more inspiration from the West? What do you guys think?

L.A. Noire has the makings of another Rockstar hit. Will this lead to more sophisticated-theme video games that are mainstream? The future looks to gearing towards that way & we may have a new view on video games in years to come.

Tagged: video gamesL.A. NoireRockstar GamesartTribeca Film FestivalJapanUnited States

15th April 2011

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R.I.P. Tokyopop

If you haven’t heard, then read here.

Now can we blame either Stu Levy and/or possibly Borders for this? If there was better leadership & management on both sides, could this have been prevented? Maybe.

Is manga officially dead in the U.S.? It’s not over yet since we still have VIZ Media, Kodansha Comics, Dark Horse Comics, Yen Press, Vertical Inc., and others to carry on. However, Tokyopop revolutionized manga in the U.S. They were the ones who introduced the “right-to-left” format and also the 5 by 7.5 inch trim size that most American manga titles have. With no publisher that can provide some added “oomph” & “wow” (Kodansha could be a exception) and the fact that manga titles work differently than American comic books, can we expect the following publishers listed above to provide a new jolt of energy? Very difficult to say.

Overall, it’s a sad day since many American manga readers grew up with Tokyopop. GTO (Great Teacher Onizuka) was one of the first English-translated manga I ever read.

So….where do we go from here?

Tagged: mangaTokyopopJapanJapanese culturepublishing