Ask John: Has Any Anime Ever Created Religious Controversy?

Question:
Comedian deities in Dragon Ball Z. An evil alien Buddha in Gantz. Is there any anime that shocked religious groups in Japan or was religiously controversial?

Answer:
To the best of my recollection, I can’t think of any anime releases that have sparked religious controversy or protest from Japanese religious groups. This may be due to the fact that Japanese society has always perceived religion as a guideline more so than strict doctrine. There have been small and brief instances of religious controversy related to entertainment in Japan, but these objections are typically resolved quickly.

For example, in 2002 Captain Harlock creator Leiji Matsumoto objected to the way the Star of David emblem was being used by the animation staff of the Space Pirate Captain Harlock: The Endless Odyssey anime. Matsumoto felt that the depiction may be offensive to those of Jewish faith. As a result, the animation was altered before it was ever released to the public.

Although not directly related to anime or manga, I think it’s still relevant to mention that in the fall of 2007 Japanese Shinto organizations protested the image of a dead man’s body hanging from a torii gate used in promotions for the live action film Sukiyaki Western Django. Shintoists argued that the imagery violated the sanctity of a sacred Shinto symbol. Sony Pictures, the distributors of the movie, quickly removed or altered the image in the movie’s promotional posters and trailers. However, the image remained intact in the film.

Religious symbolism appears frequently in manga, anime, and other Japanese entertainment but rarely causes controversy or offense among Japanese observers. It’s not that Japanese society is insensitive or atheistic. Japanese society simply maintains a more liberal and practical perspective on religion and religious practice than countries that stress relatively strict dogma.