Paul J Chi (paulchi@ACSU.BUFFALO.EDU)
Fri, 5 Mar 1999 20:23:12 -0500
X-Sender: X-Sender: paulchi@128.205.7.40 Message-ID: <l03130300b30631935286@[128.205.245.64]> Date: Fri, 5 Mar 1999 20:23:12 -0500 From: Paul J Chi <paulchi@ACSU.BUFFALO.EDU> Subject: Re: Nippon no Otoko
I don't want to speak for anybody, but I think the cause of the
annoyance is the anachronism more than anything else. "Nihon" and "Nippon"
may be interchangeable now, but they certainly weren't during the time of
Sakura Taisen. Of course, they didn't have koubu back in 1912 either, so
maybe the use of "Nippon" falls along those lines as well.
>>> 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