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Anime adaptation of popular novel canceled after offensive tweets

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Mine offered a "deep" apology on Twitter on Tuesday, saying there were "inappropriate" words in the tweets that made many people feel very uncomfortable and that some depictions in the novel were similarly offensive.

Uncomfortable? Understatement of the century. Folks were pissed off and looking for blood!

9 ( +10 / -1 )

Good moves on the part of the actors, producers, and publishing company.

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The original is a fantasy novel in which a Japanese protagonist who killed over 3,000 people with a sword during fighting in mainland China and died at 94

How was this going to be turned into an anime in the first place?

10 ( +10 / -0 )

Nobody was ever told "That was a great tweet, Joe. I am promoting you." But many get fired from tweets.

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Kharma and Justice. He’s deeply sorry for losing that contract.

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a Japanese protagonist who killed over 3,000 people with a sword during fighting in mainland China

Well, from this synopsis it kinda sounded a little bit anti-Chinese in the first place, so are these Tweets really that surprising...?

6 ( +7 / -1 )

a popular graphic-style novel

The original is a fantasy novel in which a Japanese protagonist who killed over 3,000 people with a sword during fighting in mainland China

So, a manga about a colonialist mass-murderer and war criminal was a big hit in Japan? That says a lot about the state of this country and some of the people in it.

10 ( +13 / -3 )

Half my students don't even know that Japan was once a colonial power at one point. The setting of this manga would have baffled them. (What do they teach these kids in school?!?)

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So, a manga about a colonialist mass-murderer and war criminal was a big hit in Japan?

Well, a solider who had killed many enemies. What were the war crimes though, I hadn't read that part of the synopsis.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

What’s the problem?

Free speech is a right in Japan and since the Japanese don’t have any laws on discrimination then there isn’t a problem, is there?

-7 ( +2 / -9 )

Twitter is a cesspit. Not surprised it attracts people of this "calibre".

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Lost on many, as per usual, is the producer who canceled the program, as well as Japanese actors who resigned their roles in light of the offensive statements.

Yup, Japanese citizens showed disgust at racist statements made by their fellow Japanese citizens and acted accordingly.

Yet, the usual naysayers here will conveniently ignore this and other Japanese who have acted against hatred and racism, because it does not fit their narrative that 'all' Japanese are ignorant xenophobes who whitewash their history.

Can some of you give it a break?

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

kurisupisuToday  08:47 am JST

What’s the problem?

Free speech is a right in Japan and since the Japanese don’t have any laws on discrimination then there isn’t a problem, is there?

Japan also doesn't have a law requiring big studios to give your little project a contract if they decide your free speech shows you to be a horrible person. So Mine's tweets are legal, as is the loss of business in response to it.

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In other words, the show has been Roseanned!

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How could China access the twitters since they censor all there social media sites?? I know they could have a VPN to use.......But stil???

0 ( +2 / -2 )

How could China access the twitters since they censor all there social media sites?? I know they could have a VPN to use

You asked the question, then answered it.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Another one bites the dust courtesy of their tweets. Bryan Colangelo didn't even write the tweets he got canned for yesterday. One app that will never get installed by yours truly.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Japan's very own Roseanne Barr.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

What is Mine's first name? Not reported in the story.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Be careful of what you tweet, especially when making negative comments on China, Korea and GLBT.l

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

Good! Glad this bigot is being called out, and I hope he never gets another job in the industry or in public life in any role again, save as maybe a garbage collector. There should be no tolerance of anything of the sort in any industry, and I'm glad this guy is being held somewhat accountable for his words.

"Mine offered a "deep" apology on Twitter on Tuesday, saying there were "inappropriate" words in the tweets that made many people feel very uncomfortable and that some depictions in the novel were similarly offensive."

Yeah, the usual "moushiwakenai". We know he's sorry he got busted and lost a job because of it, but not at all sorry, nor is he apologetic, for his thinking and what he said.

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oldman13: "Yet, the usual naysayers here will conveniently ignore this and other Japanese who have acted against hatred and racism, because it does not fit their narrative that 'all' Japanese are ignorant xenophobes who whitewash their history."

Who's doing that? So far you only see the people who DO whitewash (or buy into) talking about how the author has a right to say what he said under freedom of speech. But since you're jumping the gun, whom on this thread has done what you've said? We know you generally like to draw conclusions first and look for evidence later, but I'm calling you out this time on it.

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Here is the synopsis, before it disappears:

 When death tapped Kunugi Renya on the shoulder, he smiled and went willingly. After enjoying a nice, long life of 94 years, he was looking forward to shutting his eyes for the last time. He was, therefore, understandably upset when he woke up again in an empty space, devoid of memories, with a young girl in a tunic rambling on and on about how she's God. So, he did what any reasonable person would have done under those circumstances: he sent the girl flying with a kick to the face. It turned out that the girl was indeed God, and she was in a pinch. She urgently needed someone to do some interdimensional Resource smuggling, and Renya fit the bill. His mission: cross the boundary into another world, then chill for a few decades. God would handle the rest. To sweeten the deal, she offered him an eighteen-year-old body and a whole laundry list of ludicrously powerful skills, yet he remained hesitant. Then, she mentioned the food - an exotic world comes with exotic delicacies - and this sealed the deal. The next thing he knew, he was standing in a foreign land, younger, stronger, and more clueless than ever. Will he survive this world? And more importantly, will the world survive him?

https://anidb.net/perl-bin/animedb.pl?show=anime&aid=14093

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I recall a JapanToday article commenting on light novels in Japan. The genre has been taken over by one-hit wonder writers whose books usually turn into anime. Why? The market seems to be saturated with stories like this. Ones that turn into harem anime stories.

It’s pretty cool. You could become the next hit creator! But... from what this story was all about... nah.

[https://japantoday.com/category/features/lifestyle/editor-claims-many-of-japan’s-light-novel-authors-can’t-write-aren’t-the-ones-creating-their-books]

And. I mean. It’s cool they backed out because of the tweets. But they were sure on board before them!

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It seems like after 1 or 2 good series (Re:Zero is good, Konosuba is hilarious) , then a tidal wave of similar thing regardless if it is any good or not hit the air.

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... but producers decided Wednesday to cancel it.... The novel's publisher Hobby Japan Co also said Thursday it decided to halt shipment of the book.

Good.

What’s the problem?

Free speech is a right in Japan

No political authority involved forcing anybody. Only a dumb speech and a wise business decision.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

It seems like after 1 or 2 good series (Re:Zero is good, Konosuba is hilarious) , then a tidal wave of similar thing regardless if it is any good or not hit the air.

I'd say that's the trend in Japanese popular culture for the past roughly 20 years anyway. Kamen Rider, Pokemon, Precure, Gundam, all been on for 15-30 years and are just recycling old tropes. Johnny's and the other idol 'groups' that are nothing more than cookie cutters of each other.

And of course you have the copycats. Honestly, I have yet to see an honest to goodness original thought out of Japanese 'culture' in a decade.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Another one bites the dust courtesy of their tweets. Bryan Colangelo didn't even write the tweets he got canned for yesterday.

Allegedly

He absolutely threw his wife under the bus, lol

But that could just be the plan

His wife could just be the fall-guy so that he can possibly still get another job in the sport

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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