Ask John: Is Hetalia Too Controversial for America?

Question:
What’s your personal opinion of Hetalia? Do you think it’s too controversial to be published in the US (either the manga or anime)? Do you think the controversy is justified?

Answer:
I’m not familiar with Hidekazu Himaruya’s Hetalia ~Axis Powers~ manga series, but I have watched the first 15 episodes of its anime adaptation, which I assume is representative of the original comic. This past January the planned television broadcast for the anime adaptation was canceled, and the series relegated to online and cel phone distribution only, in response to protests from over 16.000 Korean citizens that considered the series’ depiction of Korea offensive. I can’t directly comment on that subject because the character “Korea” appears only in the manga. Judging from the depictions of other nations in the Hetalia series, the satirical criticism of Korea is probably mild and playful, but the objections of Korean citizens may be appreciable when considered instance of a trend of Korean defamation within Japanese society. Sharin Yamano’s Manga Kenkanryu (Manga: The Anti-Korean Wave) became an instant Japanese best-seller upon its commercial publication in 2005, leading to the 2006 publication of a second volume. On a side note, 2005 also saw the Japanese publication of George Akiyama’s Manga Chugoku Nyumon: Yakkai na Rinjin no Kenkyu (An Introduction to China: A Study of Our Bothersome Neighbors), which also became a major hit among Japanese consumers.

The Hetalia anime seems to be good natured parody, and is evidently being received that way. There’s been no major controversy surrounding the series since its public premiere, and it’s evidently been successful enough to earn the development of a second season, due later this year. The series may be credited for not playing favorites. Japan gets as much, if not more, lighthearted criticism as any nation depicted within the anime. Characterizations such as Germany being fastidious, France being obsessed with appearances, and Japan having a tendency to answer every question with “No,” are, of course, stereotypical generalizations, but they’re not ones invented by Hetalia. They’re universally recognized stereotypes that Hetalia simply draws attention to. Japan has a traditional sense of strong nationalism and even isolationism (and I’m sure that there are countless Japanese nationals who will take offense to that assertion), but not an especially strong trend of self criticism. Influential Japanese nationalism proponents including Kanji Nishio have even tried to get references to Japanese war atrocities removed from Japanese junior high school textbooks. America also has very patriotic sensibilities. But at the same time, American pop culture has never hesitated to criticize or condemn perceived American flaws. So I don’t think that the Hetalia franchise is too controversial or offensive for a potential American release. However, I do wonder exactly how viable it is for American release. European history is not my strongest suit, but I’m not entirely ignorant, either. While I am familiar with the political alliances of WWII, I do think that I’d comprehend more of Hetalia if I was more familiar with the historical events and political relationships it refers to. And I suspect that I’m representative of most average American anime viewers and manga readers in that respect.

I’d also like to propose a theory that Japanese manga critics have already introduced, that titles like Hetalia may be representative of a new social consciousness within contemporary Japanese manga and anime. While modern anime series including Gasaraki and Final Approach have touched upon real life physical social circumstances within Japan – particularly a growing immigrant population and Japan’s decreasing birth rate, respectively – Hetalia and Higashi no Eden include incisive observation and subtle criticism of modern Japanese social psychology. Hetalia playfully points out Japan’s feelings of inferiority in comparison to Western nations, tentative receptiveness to foreign concepts, devotion to its sense of shame, and tendency toward negativity disguised as polite ambiguity. Higashi no Eden overtly refers to modern Japanese society’s prevalent sense of ambivalence and acquiescence.

I respect the possibility that some observers may find Hetalia offensive, but I personally think that the series is too broad and soft with its satire to take seriously. Hetalia is obviously first and foremost a comedy – one that relies upon well known stereotypes just as much as it emphasizes their ridiculousness. I anticipate Hetalia remaining a Japanese exclusive title, not due to international controversy, but merely because the title is likely to have a small audience outside of Japan. I’d also be excited if shows like Hetalia are the forefront of an emerging strain of political and social consciousness within anime and manga. I’ll admit that I don’t want to see all anime turn into “serious” analysis of Japanese zeitgeist, but periodic titles that reflect upon the social, political, and psychological nuances of modern Japanese society provide an interesting and informative view into Japanese culture for foreign viewers.