Richard E. Rae (76174.1410@COMPUSERVE.COM)
Fri, 5 Mar 1999 19:32:40 -0500
X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express Macintosh Edition - 4.5 (0410) Message-ID: <199903060033.TAA01405@dub-img-ims-5.compuserve.com> Date: Fri, 5 Mar 1999 19:32:40 -0500 From: "Richard E. Rae" <76174.1410@COMPUSERVE.COM> Subject: Nippon no Otoko
>> don't think I have one) but it's mighty impressive. One thing that
>> bothers me every time I play Sakura Taisen though is that one scene
>> calls Japan "Nippon." It probably has to do with some WWII treaty, but
>> for historical accuracy, it really bugs me.
I wonder why this bugs you so much; "Nihon" and "Nippon" are interchangeable
and correct. Of course our lovely, contrite Japanese-Italian Orihime is
going to be stereotyped as a foreigner (frankly, I find her Japanese laden
with an Italian accent to be a hoot and a half), and most foreigners- even
in 1912- would likely use the form they were most familiar with hearing. And
since she's calling Oogami "Nippon no Otoko"- Japanese Man- derisively (for
reasons made clear in her focal episode) that underscores it.
Sakura Taisen and Sakura Taisen 2 both have a lot of stress on Japanese
national pride and the Imperial roots and power. The Kamikaze-style attack
that Yoneda leads on Satan's weapon towards the end of Sakura 1 also
reflects this history, and it's a very "nationalistic" story in its own
right.
It's improper, and incorrect (IMHO), to expect a Japanese product and story
to conform to Western culture and a Western idea of "Political Correctness".
--Richard