Ask John: Why is Anime so Focused on Genetics and Reproduction?

Question:
Why are Japanese people very focused on genetics and reproduction, especially with a person’s blood type? In anime, for example, in the original 12 episode Guyver series there was a subgroup of villians referred to as “The Lost Unit” who were considered useless and had no purpose other than being cannon fodder and/or being used for experimentation simply because they could not reproduce.

Answer:
Based almost entirely on speculation rather than carefully researched fact, I suspect that anime, and Japanese culture, have a particular fascination with genetics, heredity, lineage, and blood type because of traditional Japanese cultural values. The Japanese fascination with blood type is a modern equivalent to Western astrology. According to Japanese superstition, blood type reveals and influences personality in the same way that astrology suggests that the month of one’s birth has an influence on personality. But the Japanese fascination with genetics, heredity and lineage may be modern evolutions of ancient Japanese societal values.

American culture doesn’t place much intangible value in lineage and genetics specifically because America was established in opposition to such beliefs. America rebelled against the European hierarchical class and royalty system. In the British culture from which America spawned, royalty is in the blood. American culture values the right of all individuals to advance socially through determination and hard work. In America, a pauper can become rich, famous, and powerful. On the other hand, Japanese culture has always placed a heavy emphasis on class and lineage. People born into noble or royal families are automatically nobles or royals. People born into samurai families are automatically of a higher social class than common families. Furthermore, unlike American culture which values the opportunity of each individual to achieve happiness, fame, and fortune, Japanese culture prioritizes the health and well being of the community. So in American culture, non-productive citizens are simply those who don’t excel, while in Japanese culture non-productive citizens are a burden; unproductive citizens don’t contribute to the common good.

Anime including Maburaho and DNA² concentrate on the value and impact of hereditary genes because strong genes can influence population and descendants. Your example from Guyver, of villains who are considered expendable because of their inability to reproduce, implies a slightly different perspective on genetics. Those who can’t influence society or create descendants who will contribute to society don’t make a contribution to society; therefore, they’re useless and expendable. Of course, this example is extreme and primarily applies only to anime, and not actual real life Japanese society. But I do think that there’s more attention paid to genetics and heredity in Japanese fantasy and fiction than in American comics and pop culture entertainment because Japan has a tradition of respecting family lineage and the effect of individuals within a community, unlike American culture which doesn’t have as strong of a traditional regard for lineage and social responsibility.