Ask John: Is Japanese Pop Culture Aware of Religious Sensitivity?

Question:
I am aware that the Japanese would use religious themes as long as they have pomp or circumstance, find aesthetically appealing, or like the sounds of the terms. However, are they aware that incorporating these religious themes would offend people? For example, I recalled that Nintendo removed references to an Islamic chant in Legend of Zelda: Octarina of Time because of protests by Muslims. Similar things happened to a fighting game and an upcoming game for the Nintendo Wiil (where a character exclaimed “God is great” in Arabic).

Answer:
To provide an example drawn directly from anime rather than from video gaming, in 2002, the release of the Space Pirate Captain Harlock: The Endless Odyssey anime series was delayed after Harlock creator Leiji Matsumoto learned that the production intended to depict villain characters using weapons featuring Star of David imagery. Matsumoto considered the idea insensitive and offensive, and demanded that the anime be changed before it was released.

I’m not trying to characterize Japanese society as inconsiderate or unenlightened, but from an American perspective, one of Japan’s shortcomings is the limited scope of its civil progressiveness. Sexual equality in Japan is not at the level it’s attained in America. Smoking in public and in public establishments hasn’t been restricted as much in Japan as it has been in America. Environmental consciousness seems to be less prominent in Japan than in many Western countries. Ultimately, I think, Japanese society has a tendency to think within its own borders. Probably largely due to the hegemony of Japanese religion and ethnicity, I suspect that Japanese society has a tendency to not think about the reaction that using religious iconography may create among minorities within Japan or within the international community. It’s also important to realize that Japanese society doesn’t place as much weight on religious iconography as religions like Christianity, Judaism, and Islam do.

I don’t believe that Japanese anime and manga artists are consciously or intentionally inconsiderate of foreign religious or social conventions and beliefs. Rather, I suspect that cultural consideration simply doesn’t come to mind at all. Japanese artists may deem a Star of David an interesting and symbolic design and choose to use it without ever thinking about how Jewish viewers percieve the use.

I’m not trying to imply that American culture is innately superior or more enlightened than Japanese society. Every society has its unique strengths and problems. I’m also neither trying to condemn nor praise the use of religious or cultural references and symbols within a vaccuum mentality. I’m only aiming to explain that I believe Japanese artists have a tendency to adopt international cultural and religious references and utilize them within an exclusively isolated Japanese perspective.

Article revised on October 26, 2007.