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Japan gets even weirder
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 4:03 pm
by Sionnach Glic
Seriously, Japan, what the hell?
Cartoon cat joins Japan's government
* Story Highlights
* Japan creates government post to promote animation, appoints robot cat
* Blue and white "Doraemon" character named "anime ambassador"
* Foreign ministry to show "Doraemon" films at Japanese diplomatic missions
TOKYO, Japan (AP) -- Japan has created an unusual government post to promote animation, and named a perfect figure Wednesday to the position: Doraemon.
Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura appointed the popular cartoon robot cat as "anime ambassador," handing a human-sized Doraemon doll an official certificate at an inauguration ceremony, along with dozens of "dorayaki" red bean pancakes -- his favorite dessert -- piled on a huge plate.
Komura told the doll, with an unidentified person inside, that he hoped he would widely promote Japanese animated cartoons, or "anime."
"Doraemon, I hope you will travel around the world as an anime ambassador to deepen people's understanding of Japan so they will become friends with Japan," Komura told the blue-and-white cat.
The appointment is part of Japan's recent effort to harness the power of pop culture in diplomacy. Japan also created an International Manga Award last year under comic enthusiast former Foreign Minister Taro Aso, who likened it to a "Nobel Prize" for an artist working abroad.
Manga, the name used for Japanese-syle comic books, often combine complex stories with drawing styles that differ from their overseas superhero counterparts, particularly in their emphasis on cuteness.
This year, the ministry plans to arrange showings of a Doraemon film in Singapore, China, Spain, France, and at other Japanese diplomatic missions around the world.
Doraemon, through voice actress Wasabi Mizuta, promised Komura that "Through my cartoons, I hope to convey to people abroad what ordinary Japanese people think, our lifestyles and what kind of future we want to build."
Created by cartoonist Fujiko F. Fujio, Doraemon is a Japanese cultural icon and is popular around the world, especially in Asia. The robotic cat travels back in time from the 22nd century and uses gadgets such as a "time machine" and an "anywhere door" that come out of a fourth-dimensional pocket on his stomach to help his friends, allowing them to travel anywhere and to any time they wish.
Astro Boy, another cartoon icon, was named last November as ambassador for overseas safety.
Source
Is it just me, or is Japan
trying to be weird?
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 4:26 pm
by Reliant121
for heavens sake...I want a pint of whatever they are drinkin!
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 8:20 pm
by shran
Sake is what it is called. It is rumoured to be pretty strong. the tea they drink is even stronger. By blend, that is, not by alcohol.
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 8:21 pm
by Deepcrush
Those people make the hicks look semi-normal and that bothers me.
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 8:26 pm
by Sionnach Glic
Hell, even Bush hasn't gone as far as placing a cartoon character in a government position.
You know things are bad when President George the Second looks normal by comparison.
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 8:33 pm
by Blackstar the Chakat
And you guys were trying to say Anime wasn't mainstream. I don't see your cartoons having government positions.
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 8:46 pm
by RK_Striker_JK_5
ChakatBlackstar wrote:And you guys were trying to say Anime wasn't mainstream. I don't see your cartoons having government positions.
Ah... there's a reason why General Hawk isn't Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, or Perceptor Secretary of Education. This is a beyond-ridiculous move that somehow circles back into semi-pausible before
shootingback into moronic territory.
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 8:51 pm
by Aaron
Great just what the world needs, a bigger boost to anime. I'm not generally in favour of censorship but I'd ban that crap in a heartbeat.
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 9:04 pm
by colmquinn
Wolverine for Secretatry of defence 8)
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 9:12 pm
by Sionnach Glic
I don't see your cartoons having government positions.
You see, that's because
our leaders are sane.
Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 2:21 am
by Mikey
#1 - We meant mainstream in the Western world - you know, the one we inhabit?
#2 - We HAVE a cartoon character in office; his name is George Bush.
#3 - It ain't sake. Crystal meth ain't enough to make that happen.
Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 2:32 am
by mwhittington
Bush would put Spongebob Squarepants in charge of Homeland Security if he could!
Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 9:27 am
by Reliant121
Well...Strange people. I don't get why Anime should be banned, personally. It hasn't made our country demented. It's just f***ed up Japan. And they made it so they kinda did it to themselves.
Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 9:35 am
by Tsukiyumi
Most anime isn't a bunch of depraved, disgusting sex. ...Though I do know a girl who has a bunch that are. Adults should (for the most part) be able to choose what they watch. As long as the material features consenting adults, I don't see how anyone has any business trying to ban it. Anything depicting underage individuals having sex (even animated ones), however, should be outlawed.
Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 11:54 am
by Blackstar the Chakat
Cpl Kendall wrote:Great just what the world needs, a bigger boost to anime. I'm not generally in favour of censorship but I'd ban that crap in a heartbeat.
Anime isn't that bad. I admit a few series have sucked, but isn't that true of any style of writing and/or animation? What series have you seen that is that bad that you want to ban it?