Ask John: Why do Enemies Become Allies in Many Anime?

Question:
What is the significance of friend/foe relationships between protagonists and other characters in some series? Take for instance Ranma and Ryoga or Goku and Piccolo. Why is it a popular theme?

Answer:
The concept of enemies that become tentative allies appeals to Japanese sensibilities much more so than Western ideas. The theme of enemies that become friends or partners is rooted in Japanese samurai tradition. Enemies that become friends and partners, among them Yusuke and Kuwabara of Yu Yu Hakusho; Himura Kenshin, Sannosuke Sagara and Hajime Saito of Rurouni Kenshin; Goemon and Lupin of Lupin the 3rd; Son Goku, Piccolo and Vegeta of Dragonball Z; Ryo Saeba and Umibozu of City Hunter, and many other pairs are often warriors or fighters, and even when they’re not, they are people with the same goal.

The tradition of the samurai is founded on respect for the code of Bushido, an ethical system of respect, loyalty, honor and personal responsibility. What distinguishes a samurai is not clothing or a sword, but how strictly the man lives his life by the moral rules of Bushido. Warriors and fighters and adventurers in anime are the contemporary samurai. They don’t wear armor or carry swords any longer, but they still live by a high moral standard of ethical responsibility and duty. Regardless of their personality, their loyalty to their personal ideals never sways. Opposing characters in anime that team up do so because they recognize their similarity. They may not like each other’s personalities or opinions, but they respect each other’s determination and discipline. Superficially they may be different, but spiritually they are kindred souls.

An intrinsic part of the Bushido lifestyle is a devotion to the common good. A samurai is willing to give up his life in defense of his principles, and in service to his lord based on the belief that his lord works to benefit his subjects. This concern with the common good is also a characteristic that connects many anime antagonists. Especially with partnerships such as those seen in Dragonball Z, City Hunter, and Lupin III, enemies work together to defeat a common foe who threatens them both and the world as they know it. America, with its emphasis on individuality and the lone cowboy tradition, is much more comfortable and familiar with the singular larger than life hero. Japan, with its traditional emphasis on community and teamwork, is more familiar with the idea of partners, teams and groups of heroes committed to a single task.