xenophobia

[Bowser]

I'v been looking up a bunch of suff on manga and its history/influences abd have come up against several sources on racism/xenophobia in manga.

now we all know that Japan is pretty much right wing, that there have been many issues about propoganda in schools and racism in the streets. But I havnt noticed till up to now how much of this is present in manga...even the recent ones.
This has been manifesting itselft in stereotypes. Now I know that in Japan, stereotyping is a great form of comidy (like the Kansais being money obsessesed), but what I'v learnt is that a casual stereotyping is dangerous. Are all Westerners either French or American, blond, blue eyed and big chested? Is this what the Japanese realy think? And why is it that every "foreigner" who is a main character, is actualy half japanese? Is it because they fear having a full blood foreigners living in Japan? Is it a way to have an unusual character without alienating him/her from readers? Is it a national identaty crisis (such as Chad from Bleach or Tina Foster from Ai Yori Aoshi, who cant fit in Japan simply because she is white)? Or is it a clever way to actualy ease Japanese sociaty into accepting multi-culturalism?
I dont actualy know the answer to all this...but it is worrying to see actual foreign characters being played as crazy (Su from love Hina) or as rude snobs (the French guy in Lilim Kiss).
Now maybe the manga-kas dont realise all of this, but what is worrying is those manga-kas who do, and are actualy spreading hate messages about the Chinese and Koreans (which Japan has major racial issues about) in such books as "Hating the Korean Wave".

a good article to read:
http://forums.spacecast.com/forums/181437/ShowPost.aspx
Now I dont realy know what was the point of me doing such a post and writing all this, but I would like to know what many of you think about this and if you have anything at all to add.
Please discuss:

[eisenmeteor]

It actually an intressting point that I've never thought about. I don't know but Im guessing it's kind of like the western world. You know how most holloywood films take place in the usa and such. It's kind of the same thing only they're doing it with characters so that they get a homie kind of feeling. And I don't really know much about how it is over there about rasism and such, but stero typs exist all over. Thinking about pretty much eveytime I've seen someone play a swedish person they're blond blue eyes and a silly name like Olga or something, then again I think Olga is more german sterotyp... don't remember what they were called most of the time.
And Su is kind of hard to call crazy considering the fact she's from a make belive country. If we look at Mahou Sensei Negima also from the same mangaka who made Love Hina, then you have a main character from England... or was it Wales. They also got one in Ichigo Mashimaro she's blue eyed and blond and from England, flat chested but that is to be excpected considering she's a child, she was raised in Japan however so she's kind of Japanised they do however mention the fact that because of her last name Copula or something she might have it abit harder to find jobs and that they made fun of it in her last school I think or something like that. Also L from Death Note wasn't from Japan from what I know but he was a bit odd but he was a wonder child.
I also think it depends on the genre of the manga in question for example Love Hina no one there is excatly 100% normal they have their quirks and such. Ok some are more ok but most of them are abit nutty or strange at least. If it's more serious manga however like I''s or something else and they have wacky people from other countrys then it's another thing.
But stereo typs are used for a reson because it is recognised by others. Not related to manga but if you've played the game God of War they had problems with the design of the main character. They wanted a greek kind of warrior but when they actually made him look like a greek warrior looked like in those times no one recognised it to be greek so that's kind of funny.
In the end I just don't have a clue maybe your right like I said I don't know.

[tpg0007]

The racial tension amongst Japan, China, Korea etc. is a rather complicated issue that goes back centuries, and won't go away any time soon, just like it won't in America or Europe. However there has been much cross-cultural pollination going on, especially in popular media. Anime is very influential all over the world, but Korean dramas and Chinese movies are also received very favorably in Japan.

Japan being a much more homogeneous country than the US naturally tends to exhibit a more visible bias against outsiders, which is invaribly reflected in popular media. But I wouldn't say that it's extreme. For one thing, a lot of characters sport hair colors that's genetically impossible in the Japanese. A trivial example I know but it goes to show that in terms of characterization, and depending on the setting the art of anime and manga are being internationalized too.

Xenophobia is a natural human tendency. However we are constantly changing and evolving, and struggling against our baser instincts.

[Eroschilles]

Japan and China have hated each other for a while. I believe there is a mutual amount of racism for the other. They were both isolationist countries at one point and that doesn't leave the culture easily.

And not all manga-kas feel that way about other Asian countries. A series called Qwan by Aki Shimizu is about ancient China and doesn't use stereotypes and I didn't detect any sublime racism. Of course, it did take place in ancient China and the Japanese might think the Chinese from that day were alright. China did help provide some culture for Japan.

But it is disturbing to see those kinds of sales for an obviously racist book. I've also heard from certain people that the Japanese don't feel comfortable near any sort of foriegner, even Westerners which they are supposed to emulate.

But American entertainment also has hints of stereotyping/racism.

Like movies, they take place in America and foriegners play villians alot (or at least an actor with a funny accent). Like the Pink Panther movies. They have that french inspecter is clueless and stupid. With an outrageously fake accent. All the other actors had normal American accents (except for the other crazy ones). It had sublime racism.

And video games made in America. Like the Grand Theft Auto series. The had a bunch of foriegners being mobsters or gangsters. And sometimes, not very good ones. It had typical stereotyping as well.

And even mainstream American culture has done things that could be consindered racism. Like changing the name of french fries to freedom fries because of a sudden dislike of french people and anything French. I've spoken to people who "hate the French more than anything else on this earth, including taxes."

So, the Japanese aren't the only ones who have mainstream racism that should be delt with. And I don't think the Japanese government will do anything about a couple of comic books.

But it is irritating that people feel the need to try to change the past and/or rewrite to make them feel better. People who are so concerned with their image that they fret over what people will think about an event or more than one event that occured more than 50 years ago. I'm refering to the article the link was connected.

[Bowser]

I agree with everyone when they say steretyping and mild racism dosnt only happen in Japan and that the USA is a prime example of propoganda films and bad steretyping (the South Africans in Lethal Weapon for example).

eise> I sppose I should of used a better example than Su, but I did notice Keitaro saying "crazy foreigner" on several occasions(and this isnt a rare phrase to hear in Japan).

tpg0007> I never thought of the funny hair colours, but I guess thats just a way of bringging fantasy into reality. I know that there are many who can tell the difference between reality and stereotyping, but one of the issues is that in Japan, perticuarly among the younger and older generations, they seem to think that this is hw many foreigners or Korean/Chinese ppl realy are like. I will admit that many Westerners who go to Japan may act as idiots (holidays and all) and that they have given somwhat of a bad image at times (like cleaning themselves in the onsen instead of having a shower and then going in). But as you said, being bias towards some foreigners more than others is only natural, but I still think that overall Japan has big issues concerning racism and that not a lot is bieng done about it (from what I read in the news).

Eroschilles> I am aware that not all managa-kas do this and that that link I provided is more of an exception than the rule. I have seen some manga that makes fun of Japan (Yakitate JaPan and Keroro Gunso [sgt frog]). Keroro Gunso is odd because it has the main character, who is for all entence and purpouses, a foreigner who offten pokes fun at Japan (thought wether this is put in by the creator or Tokyopop I am not sure).
And Japan has had much problems from the UN that their school text books, museums and some documentaries lied about many events in history (often portryaying the Japanese as being tricked into wars).

But as I said, I dont mind stereotyping too much, its used in every form of media, even the classics, its a good form of comidy. Its just worrying when its being mistaken for actual fact or when racism is s open.

P.S: nice to see some answers that arnt one liners. ^_^