Although it is often said that the current season was “pretty weak,” there are one or another adaptation that managed to stay relevant since its premiere (whether for good or bad things). One of them was “Hokkaido Gals Are Super Adorable! (Dosanko Gal wa Namara Menkoi)”, the adaptation of a romantic comedy with an unbearable protagonist who, despite everything, knew how to stay on the radar especially for its high ecchi content in each of its episodes.
But the recent episode did not become a trend because of this, but because of a scene that readers of the original manga already expected. It turns out that Minami Fuyuki, the protagonist of the franchise, will be out of the scene for a while because she is leaving Japan to go abroad to attend beauty school. Minami reveals this to Tsubasa, the protagonist, when he was about to declare his love for her.
- «Tsubasa, I’m going to study abroad.».
Believe it or not, it wasn’t this moment that drew attention on the comment forums either. If we look at the original manga, this scene was taken from “Chapter 31.1”, but there Minami makes it quite clear that she is going to South Korea.
- «Tsubasa, I’m going to a beauty school in South Korea».
Why omit the mention of South Korea in the anime adaptation? It is certainly not the first time that something like this has happened, and possibly derives from the historical conflict that exists between these two nations. The conflict between Korean and Japanese nationalists has deep historical and political roots dating back decades. Here are some key reasons behind this mutual hatred:
- Japanese colonization of Korea: Japan colonized Korea from 1910 to 1945. During this period, Koreans suffered oppression, exploitation, and discrimination by the Japanese colonial authorities. This left deep scars on the collective Korean psyche and generated resentment toward Japan.
- Historical memory: Japan’s actions during World War II, including the sexual slavery of Korean women (known as “comfort women”) and other war crimes, continue to be a source of tension and controversy between the two countries. The refusal of some Japanese sectors to fully acknowledge and apologize for these crimes further aggravates bilateral relations.
- Territorial disputes: Japan and South Korea also have territorial disputes, especially around the Dokdo/Takeshima islands in the Sea of Japan. These disputes fuel nationalism and hostility between both countries.
- Cultural and political differences: In addition to historical issues, there are cultural and political differences that contribute to the animosity between Koreans and Japanese. Tensions over issues such as history education, diplomacy, and territorial conflicts can exacerbate nationalist sentiments on both sides.
It’s not that the animators of “Hokkaido Gals Are Super Adorable! “be Japanese nationalists”but possibly the production committee or project director gave the order to omit the mention of South Korea within the story, simply to prevent Japanese nationalists from using this as a reason for criticism. But of course, the information immediately became known and attracted comments:
- «But of course, the mention of South Korea has been omitted so as not to offend sensitivities.».
- «wow shit».
- «Did they alter history?».
- «Are these kinds of modifications to the original content allowed?».
- «As we well know, any mention or inclusion of South Korean material is taboo within anime.».
- «Well, I guess it can’t be helped, but the context of the girl’s exit from the scene is not understood.».
- «It seems that studies believe that all otakus hate South Korea, but in reality only the oldest and craziest ones do so nowadays».
- «Are there still people who hate South Korea? Even now in 2024?».
Fountain: Otakomu
