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NEWS: Rurouni Kenshin: Hokkaido Arc Manga Resumes in June

trunkschan90 wrote:

There's more zero tolerance to drug use in Japan than pedophilia it seems. I mean Paris Hilton and the Rolling Stones are banned from entering Japan because of their drug convictions.

You're right, and now that you mention it, one of the ending songs to Rurouni Kenshin (The 4th Avenue Cafe by L'Arc En Ciel) was abruptly removed from the show after only airing four times, because the band's drummer, Sakura, was arrested for drug possession. Sakura was permanently kicked off of the band, served two years in prison, and the single for that song was banned from sale for eight years.

A MUCH harsher penalty than Watsuki got.

I echo statements that I'm glad the manga is back, but I always assumed it was temporary given how light an issue it was. Most of the outcry came from westerners, like most other 'scandals'.

Fandoms are a funny thing.

This basically comes down to "can you separate the person from their work?"

For people who make a living off of their actual appearances, like actors or spokespeople, its hard to separate the fiction from reality. So when they behave contrary to the preconceived image they have created, people generally react negatively and drastically. Because they are emotionally connected to the image, they feel a sense of betrayal. So much that is nearly impossible for the actor to continue their previous career paths.

This can also extends into the world of athletes as well, but its easier for people to separate their life from their work. How many times have people heard reports of an athletes behavior off the field, but they continue to play because of their performance on the field. Granted, its not happening as often as it used to, but it happened enough to show that people can separate the person from the work. Sure, he beat his GF up, but did you see him knock out whats-his-name in the 8th round?

Indirect creators, such as artists, mangaka, writers, programmers, etc. fall into a different area where its easier for people to separate the personal lives of the artist from their works because when people hear the name they don't imagine the artist's face, but the works they created. They are not emotionally connected to the creator, but the world that was created.

This happens more often than most realize. How many times has a series been delayed due to a mangaka being sick and instead of feeling concern for the health of the mangaka, peoples' first reaction is anger that there is a delay.

This happens across all mediums as well. Take the series A Song of Ice and Fire as an example. I know more people who are more emotionally connected to the fictional characters than the well-being of the writer. "R.R. Martin should just hurry up and finish writing Game of Thrones before he dies" is something I hear often. Concern over how he lives his life and his general health extends only to the point of him finishing his work.

With all that said, I can see them deciding to resume work on Rurouni Kenshin.

We're talking about a long running series with a sizable fan base.
Fans who are generally more connected to that fictional world than its creator.
Additionally, we're talking about Japan here.

A society that pretty much embody the phrase "Work hard, play hard"

A culture that has a long history of separating work life and home life. So much that I've seen business people who as soon as the work day ends will drink and sing late into the night. But as soon as the next work day begins they are back to the grind. As long as you do your job, and perform as you should, no one cares what you did the night before.

For those who can't separate the two, that's also valid. All it shows is that they are more emotionally attached to the crime than to the person or the work. I can sympathize with that. All I can say is boycott and hope the free market sorts it out.

He was caught. He was punished. He is now resuming work. If he continues to produce at the level he did before this incident, people will move past it. If his production drops, or if sales do not meet expectations, he will be let go.
Its a business. It always was.

Seeing individuals decide that their need for more fictional content is much more important than adequately punishing a known pedophile is both sad and extremely sickening.

There is no ONE objective or even correct value to morals, only society has the power to decide. This would be an interesting case - if Kenshin sells well, clearly significant number of people align with his values, and not the people who are disgusted by it.

there's still a lot of people who don't know about it.

I love how every one of you are acting like you don’t have a loli picture in your folders or haven’t watched a questionable anime series that sexualizes children. Not defending him, but the hypocrisy in this thread is hilarious. I'd love to see how you people react if the government were to go through your computer. I’d pay to watch that livestream.

That's a good point but I'd like to think there aren't too many who didn't know - I mean it was plastered all over the news.

For argument's sake, imagine it was a HUGE sell, by then the topic will inevitably come up, would that then, indicate that people knowingly bought his work?

Why are people so butt hurt over this? The man at least hasn’t hurt anybody yet to fulfill his sex fantasy.