Image taken from Visionary-Dreamer
According to a article from the International Herald Tribune, Hayao Miyazaki, also known as Japan’s Walt Disney, has criticized Japanese Prime Minister Aso for his push of Japanese anime, manga, and other creative works to strengthen Japan as a country rather than it’s more well known industries of automobiles, electronics, and other items that are exported out of Japan. Miyazaki calls it “embarrassing.”
Aso has gained much popularity amongst otaku due to his love of anime and manga, specifically Rozen Maiden which has led to Aso’s nickname, Rozen Aso.
Personally I think Miyazaki is correct on Japan’s economy needing a boost in other industries, even if I am a creative works fan. Anime is not something I would recommend to boost the economy, especially with the current economic situation in Japan, even with the huge growth in the industry overseas.
What do you think?
I too agree with Miyazaki. Then again, I’m biased against Aso and I’d agree with anyone criticizing him (hey, my entire family is Chinese!). I think this is one of the only things I can respect Aso for.
Funny, I actually saw this on the regular news before seeing it here. I guess I don’t have a particularly strong opinion either way since I’m not in the mood to think about the Japanese economy, but I’ve gotta say, it felt pretty weird hearing the Prime Minister support anime and one of the medium’s most famous directors go against it.
ETERNAL’s last blog post..Clannad ~After Story~ [ep 7]
I also agree with ETERNAL that perhaps the biggest guy in Japanese anime industry is going against PM who is helping to boost the anime industry. Quite ironical?
AnimeVocalist’s last blog post..First Anime Vocalist Contest Announcement
@N.H.: Ya, Miyazaki is correct.
@ETERNAL: I meant to post about this earlier but got caught up in other things ^^;;;.
@AnimeVocalist’s: Yes, quite ironic.
I agree with Miyazaki too in this. But I don’t agree with Miyazaki’s other opinions I’ve heard from one of his assistant, a Tokyo University professor. According to him, Miyazaki says that people should watch anime just from time to time, like one movie a year. This is something that noone from us can agree with, right?
@Matteas: Haha, ya, I don’t think no one who’s into anime can only watch time to time or one movie a year ^^;;;.