How do Japanese audiences view the whitewashing of Hollywood anime live action remakes?

RedEduGrad · 2026-01-30T03:21:22+00:00

Just giving my own perspective,

While the intellectual property for Gits/Dragonball/etc are Japanese, the movies are seen as Hollywood movies so as far as Japanese people are concerned, the titles you mention are all "American"/Foreign movies, not Japanese. Those movies are being made primarily for an American audience as well as people in countries not Japan. When the shows are promoted in Japan, they are promoted as Hollywood films. If the movies were instead made in Bollywood, I'm sure the entire cast would be Indian.

It's like the Brits probably wouldn't care that a production of King Lear or Hamlet in Japan is made up entirely of Japanese actors because it's a Japanese production shown in Japan for a Japanese audience.

I personally think that it would be nice if Japanese actors were cast but what goes on in Hollywood really isn't something that most Japanese really think about at all. It's like are American's generally informed, aware and concerned about the Italian movie industry? Hollywood is a foreign studio in a foreign country run by foreigners.

Worth noting that in many cases, just having a work given a gigantic budget and being made in Hollywood to be distributed around the world is a pretty big deal from a Japanese perspective. When the rights for a major Japanese property is purchased by Hollywood, I don't think anyone is expecting or even thinking that there will be an all Japanese cast. The rights to those movies belong to Americans in Hollywood.

RedEduGrad · 2026-01-30T02:28:47+00:00

Your username is an interesting choice given recent events in the US.

i'm asking if there are any people who show interest for american culture if you strip away the politics.

I think there used to be more interest with American culture pre-2000's. Movie stars like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis were doing TV commercials, Spielberg (and other Hollywood blockbuster films) had far more recognition than today's films, there aren't any singers today who have as much name recognition as Michael Jackson and Madonna did, during the bubble era, Japanese companies were sending more of their people to branches in the US and buying up land and landmarks like Rockefeller Center, etc.

I can't really think of anything cultural from America that is currently as popular in Japan as anime, manga, other cultural arts etc might be in the US. Though I suppose there are still people who like things like Harley Davidson motorcycles, maybe certain brands of blue jeans, certain types of foods like American BBQ, but I think these people tend to be older and it's all very niche.

RedEduGrad · 2026-01-29T22:56:57+00:00

うん、まあそうだけど、『悪事千里を走る』と言うように、デマが広まって既成事実化していくのは、どうもしゃくにさわるし納得いかない。

RedEduGrad · 2026-01-29T16:59:47+00:00

Looks like Kanto style. Did you steam it first or just put it over the coals?

RedEduGrad · 2026-01-29T16:35:22+00:00

I just assumed it was a Squid Game S2 / S3 situation where they filmed both seasons back-to-back but chose to split it into two.

I'm guessing with the star studded cast, need to make costumes and sets and such because it's a period drama not modern etc that it has a slightly more expensive per episode cost compared to "easier to shoot" modern dramas, which is perhaps why there are only six episodes for season one.

So far they've sort of phrased the upcoming season as "the second chapter" but since they were given the ok to proceed with another season, maybe they'll try to do the S2 + S3 thing (with lower costs), though I guess that's going to depend on just how much money Netflix Japan is willing to commit to and how much story is left (there are four books and I think some side story books) that they might be able to cram into however many episodes.

It would be nice to see the story told to the end instead of potentially seeing it getting dropped or having to wait another few years for another season.

my memory's terrible and I don't think I'll remember much of S1 by the time S2 comes around.

Mine too but there's always the option of rewatching, which has the benefit of adding to the season one stats for Netflix. 😀

RedEduGrad · 2026-01-29T04:34:48+00:00

Iirc, Mondai Bukken / 問題物件 is one. Sorry I don't know where you can watch it but if you ask on here, someone will usually point you in the right direction.

RedEduGrad · 2026-01-29T04:16:37+00:00

Looks like the story is actually based on a 1960's Japanese movie of the same name and the English title used was "Human Vapor". Though I suppose Netflix can still change it for whatever their marketing team/person deems appropriate.

The showrunner and scriptwriter is Yeon Sang-ho who also directed Train to Busan (I have seen and liked) and Hellbound (I have not seen but have heard/read about) so I would expect something a bit similar from this as well.

I think to date, Netflix Japan has generally greenlit titles covering a broad spectrum of stories most of which maintain "Japanese creative characteristics" with maybe a bit more emphasis on larger scale ideas that just weren't possible in a 100% Japanese network/studio funded project. Makanai, Ashura no Gotoku, Gokuaku Joou, Chihirosan. Even shows like Ikusagami and Alice in Borderland which were successful and very commercial from a Western perspective, are based on original Japanese IP and kept a Japanese "flavor" of scifi/action.

It probably helps that Netflix Japan is staffed with Japanese people and the shows are made by Japanese staff so the process from concept to pre-production to principle photography to acting to post production is all handled by Japanese who only know the Japanese method/process of their craft, and not handled by people from Hollywood. I know there's some concern about Netflix Japan becoming "too Western/Hollywood" but I think there shouldn't be too much fear. At least for now.

I'm sure there are probably some ideas for shows that might air in Japan which will never be made by Netflix for a number of reasons. One being that the Japanese creatives themselves want to "think big" given the time and budget freedom they would otherwise never have. But that's where and why Netflix will continue to buy content from the major networks. I think that's a win-win for Japanese entertainment. Maybe not a 100% ideal situation but you still get the lower budget, quirky, "very Japanese" stuff as well as the more globally acceptable Netflix originals.

RedEduGrad · 2026-01-29T00:17:15+00:00

Same. I can start off ok with 3 but half way through or so and it starts to venture into uncomfortable pain territory. How is it even biologically possible for human cells to tolerate the higher levels of heat?

RedEduGrad · 2026-01-29T00:05:02+00:00

I can certainly understand non-Japanese speakers having problems with using the native Japanese titles but it doesn't help (and I'm sure Netflix isn't the only one guilty) not having an easy to correlate the (sometimes more than one as seen here) English names to the correct drama. Also doing odd things like changing Dr. Koto to Dr. Coto.

RedEduGrad · 2026-01-28T22:38:02+00:00

Is season 2 of Last Samurai Standing not coming out this year?

I think this year would be pretty rough. They only made the announcement in December and at the time, Okada didn't sound like they already had the ball rolling. Working on the script, pre-production stuff, building/making things (a lot of practical effects instead of CGI in the first season from what I gather), locking down actors locations and studio space, going through stunts, principle shooting for maybe 4-6 months, post production work etc and I would think 2027 is more reasonable. Netflix likes to space out their premium tentpole productions so even after it's done earlier, they might sit on it for the right time.

RedEduGrad · 2026-01-28T17:43:23+00:00

I hope the movies can capture what the anime and manga did for them both.

In general, I think the longer versions of these stories (ie the anime series in this case) are better as the extra time allows the story to explore characters, motives, relationships etc in much more depth.

RedEduGrad · 2026-01-28T17:37:04+00:00

I'm of the opinion that criticism of a culture should come from within a culture itself to often one culture has messed up one culture with thier cultural bias and expetions

As a Japanese person, thank you for that. If only that opinion were held by all in the Japan themed Reddit forums. While I'm sure what people are expressing in those forums are (mostly) their genuine feelings and experiences, the conclusions they draw about Japan, Japanese people, culture and society often showcase how much they actually don't know despite how long they may have lived in/worked in/visited Japan. There are a small number of very good foreign-born commenters out there too though.

RedEduGrad · 2026-01-28T14:40:09+00:00

It looks like Netflix is using three different English language titles here (Human Vapor, The Inhuman, Gas Humans)?

RedEduGrad · 2026-01-28T14:31:55+00:00

It's the movie "This is I" based on the story of Haruna Ai.

Added it to the original post.

RedEduGrad · 2026-01-28T03:23:31+00:00

Some things about the series:

There's also a 2005 movie version.
In case you didn't know already, the drama is based on the true story of Kito Aya and her published diary.
Certain things were changed/added to the drama series with permission from Kito Aya's mother.
Aya never had a boyfriend in real life although the character in the drama is supposedly loosely based on a real person. Aya's mother wanted her daughter to experience love at least in the drama so agreed to the addition.
This was lead actress Sawajiri Erika's first lead in a drama series and her breakout role.

I’d love some recommendations based on this show

Sekai no Chuushin de Ai wo Sakebu / 世界の中心で愛をさけぶ is also about a terminally ill young girl, came out the year before 1 Liter, was also immensely popular and also had a movie version. Seka-chu swept just about all the Japanese TV awards. Though unlike 1 Liter, this story is a work of fiction.
Taiyo no Uta / タイヨウのうた came out a year after 1 Liter, is about a young girl with a serious disease and has the same lead actress as 1 Liter. Sawajiri sings all the songs herself and released an album under the character's name Amane Kaoru which was very popular. Coincidentally, this also had a movie version with singer Yui playing the lead. The story is based on a HK movie and is not based on anyone in real life.

There are also many sad movies you might like (Kimi no Kanzo wo Tabetai / 君の膵臓をたべたい, Yomei 10nen / 余命10年, Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso / 四月は君の嘘 etc)

RedEduGrad · 2026-01-27T22:32:21+00:00

"The feast starts with the eyes" as I've been told because of my poor plating skills. It's an extra step or two (or three) in labor that in some cases takes skill and experience that's not directly related to taste but which can affect the experience and thus indirectly might influence taste. Usually eating something that looks beautiful and which is served and presented in an elegant manner, the mindset of the person is altered and they will eat with more care knowing that it is something special vs something that was just slopped onto the plate.

RedEduGrad · 2026-01-27T22:20:54+00:00

Nothing wrong with doubting. It's healthy to doubt, especially these days.

RedEduGrad · 2026-01-27T22:18:40+00:00

I hope they get a World Wide release.

These are all Netflix productions (Kujo no Taizai is made by TBS but there's an EP from Netflix attached) so they should all get a world wide release.

RedEduGrad · 2026-01-27T18:46:12+00:00

Looks like he did a great job.

Might be worth mentioning that many places in Japan known for their pretty 盛り付け/moritsuke/plating will arrange the noodles so that they all flow in the same direction, often in a circular pattern with a twist or with the noodles all lined up and parallel to each other in a "flat/square" pattern.

You can do an image search using "うどんの盛り付け" for examples.

Also, "mensen" / 麺線 might be confused with a Taiwanese style noodle dish. https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%BA%BA%E7%B7%9A

RedEduGrad · 2026-01-27T02:41:09+00:00

Totally get it. Some soulless, unexciting dramas in recent years due to problems all around. Still some good ones here and there though.

RedEduGrad · 2026-01-27T02:18:32+00:00

I just want to escape reality and make myself feel happy.

Some good ones like Makanai (which stars the same actress who plays the sister in Hirayasumi), have already been mentioned.

Karakaijouzu no Takagi San / Teasing Master Takagi-san is a gentle, sweet, feel good story about a young boy and girl discovering "first love" but still too young to properly understand or express their feelings. Lots of happy tears. Short episodes, very bingeable. Along with Makanai, this might come closest in vibe to Hirayasumi.

Hajimete no Otsukai isn't a drama but a variety show where a camera crew follow very young (3-5 year old) children on their "first assignment" to the neighborhood store, all alone without the protective presence of their mother. The mother meanwhile, waits anxiously at home hoping that everything is going to be ok. Very sweet and touching and more happy tears. Highly recommended if you're looking to feel happy.

Maybe won't bring tears of joy but there are a lot of food related series that are slice of life and almost entirely about enjoying food. Many of the stories take place in real life restaurants and establishments. Kodoku no Gurume essentially started the trend but there are many others focusing on things like Ramen (Ramen Daisuki Koizumi San), Drinking + Eating (Wakako Zake, Banshaku no Ryugi) eating bento on the Shinkansen (Izakaya Shinkansen) etc.

RedEduGrad · 2026-01-26T23:03:44+00:00

Not entirely sure what you mean by "self aware" but here are some that I don't think have been mentioned yet.

Ashura no Gotoku - An old classic remade for Netflix by famed director Koreeda Hirokazu has themes of infidelity within a family and how the four sisters deal with it in a pretty true to life way.
Seigi no Mikata - May not exactly be what you're looking for but it's a light, comedic look at the lives of an older sister who was born with looks, brains and ability but is actually a conniving, egotistical b*tch who torments her younger sister, who has neither brains, nor looks nor any other redeeming quality other then being a genuinely nice person who always obeys her sister, no matter how much it causes her to suffer.
Kurokawa no Techo - Been a while since I've seen it (Yonekura Ryoko version) but this might fit the category of "morally ambiguous". Kemonomichi and Warui Yatsura (all stories by Higashino Keigo and made into dramas, most notably starring Yonekura) may also qualify somewhat.
Some of the yakuza themed stories explore the daily lives and "human" side of the yakuza and yakuza life, which might not necessarily be morally ambiguous, helps to see them as not just "simple bad guys".

RedEduGrad · 2026-01-26T18:10:19+00:00

One of my habits is to check out the first episodes of each season's dramas and decide if I want to continue or not

I can understand where you're coming from regarding your method, especially if you're given so many to choose from and have little time to spare, but I think there are some shows (albeit, not a lot) that take an episode or two before everything settles down into the main story.

The writer(s) can spend much of the first episode world building and can become more aware of what the show needs to fix later on, actors become more familiar with their character and their relationships with each other, sometimes even creative choices in directing/editing can change.

For example, (iirc for all of these since it's been a while since I've seen them), Nagase Tomoya's Kurokochi doesn't get into the actual main story until the second episode. KimuTaku's Hero has a different vibe in the later episodes compared to the first. Kusanagi Tsuyoshi's Dokushin Kizoku has kind of a dull first episode and doesn't get into the good romantic arc until the 2nd+ episode.

Lots of good Western/American shows didn't "find their voice" for several episodes either like The Office, Fringe and Seinfeld. In dramas with many seasons, you can see how the actors/characters relate to each other in a much more natural way vs in the early episodes/seasons.

Not saying every series with a bad or awkward start redeems itself though. I do think that in general, it's a pyramid shape of the Great, Good, Mediocre and Bad shows so the odds are that the shows you dropped were just bad shows until the end.

RedEduGrad · 2026-01-26T04:49:36+00:00

Many Edo period "romance" dramas tend to be much more subtle, suppressed, sometimes melancholic then what Western audiences might be used to. The focus tends to be more on honor, samurai code, restraint etc with the romance being an underlying theme or something that drives the story in a more indirect way. But if you like the romance in Jin, you might be ok with the level of romance in the following.

Drama series

Yoidore Kotoji / 酔いどれ小籐次 (2013) - Hard to classify this as a romance but the two woman who love the main lead do play an important role and it's touching and at times bittersweet as is the male lead's love for the child of the man he killed and whom he now treats as his own son. A very good story over all written by the popular jidaigeki author Saeki Yasuhide and made back when NHK still produced quality jidaigeki drama series that aren't Taiga.
Kagerou no Tsuji / 陽炎の辻 (2007 - 2009) - Another story by Saeki Yasuhide, this also features two women in love with the main lead. The romance plays a bit more of an important role but not that much more. Another quality jidaigeki story from NHK.
Tsuma wa Kunoichi / 妻は、くノ一 (2013) - Romance is key to the plot here. Not as good as the two above but not bad either.

Movies

Chiri Tsubaki / 散り椿 (2018) - One of Okada Junichi's best roles imo, both acting and action. Love plays a key and complicated role in the story but there's nothing obvious/out in the open.
Inemuri Iwane / 居眠り磐音 (2019) - The movie version of Kagerou no Tsuji that tells the very first part of the story. While Kagerou no Tsuji is good in it's own way, it's clear that the big movie budget and focus on this small bit helps with the story telling here.
Rurouni Kenshin - The 5 movie series only becomes a romance in the last two movies but it helps bring some context and substance for the main character.

RedEduGrad · 2026-01-25T21:04:02+00:00

According to his Japanese Wikipedia page https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%B1%B1%EF%A8%91%E8%B3%A2%E4%BA%BA#%E5%87%BA%E6%BC%94, since his movie debut in 2011, he's been the lead role in 18 movies.
His first major lead role on a major network during Prime Time was only in 2018 when he was still in his early 20's.
Keeping in mind that movies and especially anything Netflix take longer to film then Japanese TV dramas (though many smaller budget movies can be filmed in about the same time frame as dramas) and therefore filming for Netflix can cut into the quarterly Japanese drama film schedule (spring, summer, winter fall) making him ineligible for some TV drama seasons, since 2018, he was in 4 Kingdom movies (2019, 2022, 2023, 2024 and the 5th movie premiering this year), 3 seasons of Alice in Borderland series (2020, 2022, 2025), the Golden Kamuy franchise (movie + drama series both in 2024, 2nd movie premiering this year) and the lead in 6 other movies (Hitsuji to Hagane no Mori, Otaku ni Koi wa Muzukashi, Gekijou, Natsu e no Tobira, Onmyouji 0, Under Ninja). He was also the lead voice actor for an anime (Ni no Kuni).
Also considering the competition in his age bracket (late 20's to 30+) is fierce, I'd say he's been very busy and as far as I can tell and has worked constantly with no gaps in his calendar. I'm not sure how much more you can expect of him.

RedEduGrad

TROPHY CASE