The Legend of Koizumi
I was just given YouTube links to what may possibly be the most incredible videos I have ever seen. I realize that this is a claim that I often make, but this time it’s different. Really.
Videos are embedded after the break.
Episode 1
Episode 2
Episode 3
The short OVAs were made based on a manga called ムダヅモ無き改革 (Mudazumo Naki Kaikaku), the details of which can be better explained by Wikipedia. The gist is that it’s a comedy where caricatures of world leaders resolve political disputes by playing Japanese-style mahjong. It also happens to star Junichiro Koizumi, the former Prime Minister of Japan, as a bad ass son of a bitch who wins every game with his “Rising Sun” move, which is basically a rebranded 十三么 (Thirteen Terminal) or 国士無双 hand. The parody works because it is so incredibly over the top that you really have no choice but to laugh.
It’s interesting how Japanese anime and manga (well manga in particular due to the lower barrier of entry) have a unique way of intentionally stepping on political land mines without batting an eyelid. For example, I really just can’t imagine any other country in the world produce a mainstream title like Hetalia: Axis Power. It’s just unthinkable, except maybe as a fan-fiction on 4chan.
Perhaps this no-sacred-cow attitude towards political parody is a backlash against the highly rigid and conformist social order, or perhaps people in Japan simply do not find politics to be something that has to be taken seriously. Whatever the reason is, I think it’s an awesome subculture. There’s just something about our obsession with political correctness that makes me uncomfortable at times. I guess this is why I actually find shows like South Park and Harold and Kumar can be rather meaningful beyond the toilet humour or George Bush on a Segway.
From a Chinese perspective, I can easily see how such parodies could be construed by outsiders as nationalistic propaganda, and I understand why. But really, it’s all a matter of perception. The nature of the show’s presentation is really no different from, say, Team America. People are easily offended and I don’t think that creators should try too hard to appease them, ala Nice boat.
To conclude, the Internet is an awesome place.
P.S. Anime Yulia Tymoshenko collecting protection money is adorable.
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JapanSocAugust 31st, 2010 at 10:43 pm
The Legend of Koizumi Anime Series…
Probably the best collection of youtube anime videos that combine past prime ministers of Japan, other heads of state, and mahjong. They’re short vinnettes, but worth the ~7 min of your time to see so……
August 31st, 2010 at 11:24 pm
This show had GAR and awesome written all over it and I thought I was late to the party.
But yeah, they seem to have no problem indeed stepping on political toes. Still, it probably made this show all the more awesome.
September 1st, 2010 at 4:11 am
This OVA is quite awesome.
September 1st, 2010 at 8:57 pm
My college Professor showed #1 to us in class. It was so ridiculously awesome that it blew my mind
September 1st, 2010 at 10:10 pm
Haha wow, Japanese patriotism and excessive racial stereotypes to the max huh?
September 1st, 2010 at 10:11 pm
If you watched Durarara before, this would also be to your interest.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNFYthqPVnA
Welcome to the bandwagon, hop aboard.
September 2nd, 2010 at 2:46 am
The manga gets even better.
September 2nd, 2010 at 9:53 am
@pad, koizumi made that missle blow up louder
that whole video was glorious. favorited it
September 3rd, 2010 at 1:39 am
LMAO at Chairman Mao being an evil Dark Lord being sealed away for eternity that was accidentally awoken.
To the eyes of most Japanese, Koizumi is one awesome Japanese PM, and rightly so for managing to last so long and being maverick enough to differentiate himself from the boredoms that were his predecessors and successors. (Whether he has substance to match his style is another debate altogether)
To the eyes of most people outside Japan, his biggest blemish will forever be his constant visits to Yasukuni, winding the war victims up (as well as giving the bigwigs in China and North Korea plenty of jingoistic ammo to feed their people with to distract them from the true woes of their respective countries).
To these people, Koizumi can and should have been an awesome Japanese PM, so it’s a pity he had to resort to pandering to the nationalistic sentiments of his electorate when he really didn’t have to.
Anyway, here ends my rant. I now go back to feeling moe for Tymoshenko of all people (her being voiced by Sato Rina (Biribiri) helps somewhat).
September 6th, 2010 at 10:39 am
I hunted this shit down when I was in Japan for C78 this year.
Even though I couldn’t read anything in the bookstores to save my life, still found the volumes after 2-3 hours of looking.