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[NipplesAndToes23]

......................
Which Japanese game protagonists was white again ?

You mean are, but here you go:

Mario,
Luigi,
Princess Peach
Samus Aran
Bayonetta
Chris Redfield
Claire Redfield
Leon Kennedy
Jill Valentine
Barry
The Guy from Nioh
Ness
Jeff
Paula
Snake
Link
Arthur
Castlevania protagonists
Dylan Morton
Regina
Frank West
Chuck Greene
Mike Haggar
Cody
The guy from Urban Reign
Nina Williams in Death by Degrees

I could go on.

 

[Ratrat]

I wonder how many people arguing in here are Japanese!

 

[karasu]

But isn't it vastly uncommon? And isn't the act of dying hair red or bleaching hair blonde or wearing blue contacts an act of appropriating prominently white features? Not that it's a bad thing or should even matter in a fantasy universe. I just think it's a matter of "blonde hair may not have been artistically portrayed if it wasn't conceivable in the first place." That's along the lines of Plato's concepts on reality in general; but, I guess evidence would exist in older, more ancient Japanese art, where, as far as I can tell, everyone had the same color of hair.

Do Geisha paint their faces white in order to look like Caucasian women? Nope.

 

[Darryl M R]

woops wrong thread BUT there are a good amount of Japanese games with white protags. I don't know how you can argue otherwise.

 

[Izuna]

You mean are, but here you go:

Mario,
Luigi,
Princess Peach
Samus Aran
Bayonetta
Chris Redfield
Claire Redfield
Leon Kennedy
Jill Valentine
Barry
The Guy from Nioh
Ness
Jeff
Paula
Snake
Link
Arthur
Castlevania protagonists
Dylan Morton
Regina
Frank West
Chuck Greene
Mike Haggar
Cody
The guy from Urban Reign
Nina Williams in Death by Degrees

I could go on.

You could go on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and onnnnnnn

 

[capitalCORN]

But isn't it vastly uncommon? And isn't the act of dying hair red or bleaching hair blonde or wearing blue contacts an act of appropriating prominently white features? Not that it's a bad thing or should even matter in a fantasy universe. I just think it's a matter of "blonde hair may not have been artistically portrayed if it wasn't conceivable in the first place." That's along the lines of Plato's concepts on reality in general; but, I guess evidence would exist in older, more ancient Japanese art, where, as far as I can tell, everyone had the same color of hair.

The cosmetic art of bleaching hair and coloured contacts is rather contemporary in Asian culture. First time I saw it was around middle school/high school when the fobs would streak their hair. In Renaissance paintings, Italian women were portrayed with blonde hair, which has apparently possible by 'bleaching' their hair in urine.

 

[Apt101]

Shit, from the Pinoy side of my family this ain't the case. Then again we are kind of considered the blacks of Asia.

 

[AnathemicOne]

Let me iterate once again: People's opinions outside of the US are irrelevant when talking about media being made in the US for the US.

 

[MoonsaultSlayer]

It's fucking crazy how complexions have changed in Japan the last twenty years. You go back and watch live action shows from Japan 20-30 years ago and you'd think they weren't the same people today. Back then they looked closer to how Okinawans look today.

Japan and Korea have whitening creams and treatments that would put that Beyonce bleach fake commercial to shame.

?

I have Godzilla films in my collection that span nearly 65 years... what?

 

[dlauv]

Do Geisha paint their faces white in order to look like Caucasian women? Nope.

That's not the same. That was a practical adjustment to lighting conditions afaik. The goal was to embolden existing physical traits, not transform. There's a difference in conceit.

But maybe you're onto something. The act of becoming more visible and drawing attention to oneself, perhaps by becoming physically brighter, doesn't seem too far fetched of an explanation.

 

[ArchedThunder]

You mean are, but here you go:

Mario,
Luigi,
Princess Peach
Samus Aran
Bayonetta
Chris Redfield
Claire Redfield
Leon Kennedy
Jill Valentine
Barry
The Guy from Nioh
Ness
Jeff
Paula
Snake
Link
Arthur
Castlevania protagonists
Dylan Morton
Regina
Frank West
Chuck Greene
Mike Haggar
Cody
The guy from Urban Reign
Nina Williams in Death by Degrees

I could go on.

Chuck Greene is from a Canadian made game.

 

[Replicant]

As far as generalization goes, Asians really do love white people and vice versa, although maybe not as much.

 

[Haly]

Let me iterate once again: People's opinions outside of the US are irrelevant when talking about media being made in the US for the US.

Not irrelevant, but not the smoking gun a lot of people, who are really just interested in shutting down conversation, want it to be.

 

[Izuna]

Do Geisha paint their faces white in order to look like Caucasian women? Nope.

You're right that Geisha is not about looking white, and Korean women don't lighten their skin with bright red lips to try and be caucasian, but there's definitely a popular opinion that White facial structures etc. are ideal within Japan.

Some shops will use white women for their advertisements.

But it's a very separate point, the both of them...

GitS being the way it is is fucked for Asian Americans, which have a vastly different experience and expectation to Japanese people living in Japan.

When the US "finally" gets an East Asian story, and yet they have to put a white girl to sell it, it's not the same when a Japanese person hears that one of their manga has an adaption half way around the world with what they consider to be their natives.

 

[karasu]

That's not the same. That was a practical adjustment to lighting conditions afaik. What would be the practicality behind my examples?

There is nothing practical about fashion. At most it's a form of rebellion. But I guarantee you that people of color who dye their hair blonde or red may love the colors, but their goal is not necessarily to look like white people. No one puts red in their hair because they want oh so bad to be Irish.
Edit: I say this as a black man with blonde dreadlocks.

 

[Chet Rippo]

They know about MLK Day in Japan?

The joke was about how Halloween is a very western holiday, yet has found its way to Japan, and they're speculating what American holiday Japan will start celebrating next (MLK day and Independence day are brought up)

 

[dlauv]

There is nothing practical about fashion. At most it's a form of rebellion. But I guarantee you that people of color who dye their hair blonde or red may love the colors, but their goal is not necessarily to look like white people. No one puts red in their hair because they want oh so bad to be Irish.
Edit: I say this as a black man with blonde dreadlocks.

That's removed from my original argument. I think motivation is a very complex issue that I'm not prepared to delve into here and now. I was merely short-handing my stance on appropriation and features being conceivable in the first place. I actually removed the final question in an edit because I realized it muddied waters (and answered my own question). I edit a lot, sorry.

I wouldn't suggest white people on the whole wear dreads to look black, but I wouldn't argue that it's not an appropriation. This is in part due to the obvious, intrinsic near-impossibility of a white person looking black without lineage.

 

[King Gilga]

......................
Which Japanese game protagonists was white again ?

Pretty much all of them?

 

[wandering]

Let me iterate once again: People's opinions outside of the US are irrelevant when talking about media being made in the US for the US.

You should read the article. OP's title is rather out of context. And these are Japanese actresses working in America.

 

[Zoe]

You should read the article. OP's title is rather out of context. And these are Japanese actresses working in America.

Japanese American for two of them.

 

[travisbickle]

Living in Korea, I see a lot of people, like a whole country, with a lot of different opinions on what is beauty/beautiful.

 

[ash321]

You mean are, but here you go:

Mario,
Luigi,
Princess Peach
Samus Aran
Bayonetta
Chris Redfield
Claire Redfield
Leon Kennedy
Jill Valentine
Barry
The Guy from Nioh
Ness
Jeff
Paula
Snake
Link
Arthur
Castlevania protagonists
Dylan Morton
Regina
Frank West
Chuck Greene
Mike Haggar
Cody
The guy from Urban Reign
Nina Williams in Death by Degrees

I could go on.

Jesus, that's a staggering amounts of white people.

 

[PSqueak]

Let me iterate once again: People's opinions outside of the US are irrelevant when talking about media being made in the US for the US.

Except, you know, it's a Japanese franchise that sparked the debate.

 

[Mister Wolf]

Jesus, that's a staggering amounts of white people.

Its almost as if the developers prefer their heroes to be white over Japanese.

 

[AnathemicOne]

Except, you know, it's a Japanese franchise that sparked the debate.

I am well aware, more specifically it is an adaptation of a Japanese franchise being brought to the American audience. Asian Americans and native peoples of Japan, Korea, and China (living in their respective countries) grow up and live in entirely different communities. There's a reason why multiple ethnicities from Asia emigrated to the US and still to a degree; I really don't have to explain this do I?

 

[nephilimdj]

USA forced trade deals, were most of Asia has to play American media (movies, sports, music ect.) after WWII, its no shock honestly that Asia looks to USA.
Media plays a massive role in society.

 

[ash321]

Its almost as if the developers prefer their heroes to be white over Japanese.

Not really, a lots of character in those list are for a world wide release. They want to carter to a larger audience. There still a tons of niche Japanese game with asian protag.

 

[Jotaka]

Jesus, that's a staggering amounts of white people.

If the game come to west, the protagonist was probable white. Usually we need to beg for western translation when the protagonist is japanese.

 

[IdreamofHIME]

You mean are, but here you go:

Mario,
Luigi,
Princess Peach
Samus Aran
Bayonetta
Chris Redfield
Claire Redfield
Leon Kennedy
Jill Valentine
Barry
The Guy from Nioh
Ness
Jeff
Paula
Snake
Link
Arthur
Castlevania protagonists
Dylan Morton
Regina
Frank West
Chuck Greene
Mike Haggar
Cody
The guy from Urban Reign
Nina Williams in Death by Degrees

I could go on.

Ah, you got greedy. Chuck's a Canadian creation.

 

[Chet Rippo]

You mean are, but here you go:

Mario,
Luigi,
Princess Peach
Samus Aran
Bayonetta
Chris Redfield
Claire Redfield
Leon Kennedy
Jill Valentine
Barry
The Guy from Nioh
Ness
Jeff
Paula
Snake
Link
Arthur
Castlevania protagonists
Dylan Morton
Regina
Frank West
Chuck Greene
Mike Haggar
Cody
The guy from Urban Reign
Nina Williams in Death by Degrees

I could go on.

But couldn't this just be them trying to appeal to the western markets? The more Japanese-styled games are either scrubbed of Japanese references in localization or never brought over to the west in the first place.

(I always though Ness was supposed to be asian, because he looks like a typical Japanese kid, though maybe that's just because it was made in Japan...)

 

[Massive Duck. C.M.]

This whole thing is flames but

Okatsuka: When white feminists don’t know what to say about race, they go for the feminist thing. That’s what happened with the Women’s March. When women of color were like, “Will you be there, though, for the next march, when the next black kid gets shot? Will you be there when women of color need you?” they were like, “Wasn’t it great for women all around?”

I'm ready to ring this woman up if she's available

 

[Jotaka]

But couldn't this just be them trying to appeal to the western markets? The more Japanese-styled games are either scrubbed of Japanese references in localization or never brought over to the west in the first place.

(I always though Ness was supposed to be asian, because he looks like a typical Japanese kid, though maybe that's just because it was made in Japan...)

Usually they won't release them in the west because they are "to japanese" and people won't get/buy it and it is not far from the true.

 

[Angelus Errare]

But couldn't this just be them trying to appeal to the western markets? The more Japanese-styled games are either scrubbed of Japanese references in localization or never brought over to the west in the first place.

(I always though Ness was supposed to be asian, because he looks like a typical Japanese kid, though maybe that's just because it was made in Japan...)

I like how they automatically assume Link white when dude isn't even from earth. These same people by the way argue Goku ISN'T asian becaues he's not from earth, but Clark Kent/Superman IS white despite not being from earth.

 

[O Canada Our Home and Native Land]

USA forced trade deals, were most of Asia has to play American media (movies, sports, music ect.) after WWII, its no shock honestly that Asia looks to USA.
Media plays a massive role in society.

I forgot about this. Now that is cultural imperialism. Fuck Hollywood using the US government to force countries to remove quotas that allows homegrown movie industries to thrive.

 

[capitalCORN]

USA forced trade deals, were most of Asia has to play American media (movies, sports, music ect.) after WWII, its no shock honestly that Asia looks to USA.
Media plays a massive role in society.

You know about Datsu A Ron. right?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datsu-A_Ron

 

[Measley]

You mean are, but here you go:

Mario,
Luigi,
Princess Peach
Samus Aran
Bayonetta
Chris Redfield
Claire Redfield
Leon Kennedy
Jill Valentine
Barry
The Guy from Nioh
Ness
Jeff
Paula
Snake
Link
Arthur
Castlevania protagonists
Dylan Morton
Regina
Frank West
Chuck Greene
Mike Haggar
Cody
The guy from Urban Reign
Nina Williams in Death by Degrees

I could go on.

For some reason I immediately thought of Terry Bogard, Andy Bogard, and Rock Howard from the Fatal Fury series. You don't get much whiter than those characters.

 

[Valkerionseven]

Just from reading the quoted alone and not the thread as a whole.

It's been said before that a lot of people here in Japan don't care about or really see race when talking about anime. Unless it's expressively said blah blah blah is from blah blah blah or takes place in -insert place- Fantasy shows are considered to be fantasy.

There is also a pretty well understanding that big hollywood action movies are filled with the top actresses and actors in the world. Guess what, thats 99% white folk. A lot of people are really self aware about it.

Saying they worship white people is a bit over dramatic and blatant but its clear and obvious that east asia does in fact regard them higher than other races, something I see daily as a black person in Japan. You look at any ad campaign and its always some beautiful top Japanese model/actress with some pokey below average white guy, you will never see a black person in these ads. Same with the famous men here. If they are pairing them with a foreign person, its 100% of the time a white person. It annoys me but its also the reality of the situation.

 

[Vincent Alexander]

This whole thing is flames but



I'm ready to ring this woman up if she's available

Yeah. That quote is legit as shit.

 

[Izuna]

black person in Japan.

 

[SuperStiltzkin]

Just from reading the quoted alone and not the thread as a whole.

It's been said before that a lot of people here in Japan don't care about or really see race when talking about anime. Unless it's expressively said blah blah blah is from blah blah blah or takes place in -insert place- Fantasy shows are considered to be fantasy.

There is also a pretty well understanding that big hollywood action movies are filled with the top actresses and actors in the world. Guess what, thats 99% white folk. A lot of people are really self aware about it.

Saying they worship white people is a bit over dramatic and blatant but its clear and obvious that east asia does in fact regard them higher than other races, something I see daily as a black person in Japan. You look at any ad campaign and its always some beautiful top Japanese model/actress with some pokey below average white guy, you will never see a black person in these ads. Same with the famous men here. If they are pairing them with a foreign person, its 100% of the time a white person. It annoys me but its also the reality of the situation.

What about Dante Carver though?!

 

[SolicitorPirate]

As far as generalization goes, Asians really do love white people and vice versa, although maybe not as much.

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

 

[Zoe]

What about Dante Carver though?!

There's only room for one minority at a time. Becky's sister had to come to the US cause they didn't want another Becky.

 

[SuperStiltzkin]

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

In my highschool experience, white kids love clowning on Asian kids. I can't tell you the number of times we would watch a video in science class and anytime an Asian person was on screen, they'd laugh because Asian people look funny and lame. Other times they'd say, "Oh look it's SuperStiltzkin!" or "Hey is that your grandpa?" And everyone in the class would laugh and the teacher didn't say or do anything.

 

[Massive Duck. C.M.]

What about Dante Carver though?!

He's cool but definitely the exception. Usually if you saw a black dude it somebody like Bobby Ologun or Bob Sapp clowning

 

[ArchedThunder]

I like how they automatically assume Link white when dude isn't even from earth. These same people by the way argue Goku ISN'T asian becaues he's not from earth, but Clark Kent/Superman IS white despite not being from earth.

The funny thing is, Daizenshuu (guide books for Dragon Ball that came out in Japan) 7 says that all Saiyans have, and I quote, "Yellow skin".
Saiyans are space asians according to those in charge of the franchise.

 

[SolicitorPirate]

In my highschool experience, white kids love clowning on Asian kids. I can't tell you the number of times we would watch a video in science class and anytime an Asian person was on screen, they'd laugh because Asian people look funny and lame. Other times they'd say, "Oh look it's SuperStiltzkin!" or "Hey is that your grandpa?" And everyone in the class would laugh and the teacher didn't say or do anything.

I went to a primarily white high school. I'm well aware, though it does sound like yours might have been worse, since the teachers at mine probably would have stepped in.

 

[Chaos2Frozen]

As far as generalization goes, Asians really do love white people and vice versa, although maybe not as much.

Fuck this noise.

As far as generalization goes.

 

[Izuna]

As far as generalization goes, Asians really do love white people and vice versa, although maybe not as much.

All Asians?

 

[Chaos2Frozen]

All Asians?

We are all the same, like storm troopers

 

[SixMachine]

You mean are, but here you go:

Mario,
Luigi,
Princess Peach
Samus Aran
Bayonetta
Chris Redfield
Claire Redfield
Leon Kennedy
Jill Valentine
Barry
The Guy from Nioh
Ness
Jeff
Paula
Snake
Link
Arthur
Castlevania protagonists
Dylan Morton
Regina
Frank West
Chuck Greene
Mike Haggar
Cody
The guy from Urban Reign
Nina Williams in Death by Degrees

I could go on.

To be honest, in context of the games, there isn't too much of a problem with a Japanese company exploring using different ethnicity for their protagonists. Most of these characters on this list are from Capcom, Nintendo, Konami, and many of them are just pieces of an expanded universe. For example, Mike Haggar and Cody are in Final Fight, which is also a part of the Street Fighter Universe which has a lot of asian representation. Nina Williams in Death By Degrees is a spinoff of Tekken where there is obviously a lot of asian representation. In context of Castlevania and Ghouls N Ghosts, it's understandable within setting to have those characters are the protagonist, the fact that it is obviously set in Europe, and the cast of something like Castlevania are legacy characters usually related to the Belmont family (it would be really weird in this case if it was a japanese family fighting Dracula for generations). This post might seem like it would pick a bone with many people, but I think it is extremely disingenuous to say that japanese developers pretty much exclusively use white people. It would be a problem if they exclusively use it, but for a company like Capcom or Namco, their cast are actually pretty varied.

As far as generalization goes, Asians really do love white people and vice versa, although maybe not as much.

Also fuck this thought. To be honest, as an asian american growing up around a decent amount of FOBs, they have a lot to say about white people. Asian people don't automatically want to suck those white nuts contrary to what Neogaf believe. There actually is a lot of us and them mentality within groups of people.