Japan’s Anime Has a Problem of Not Including Minorities in European Settings
A Recurring Problem in Japanese Anime
Introduction
I used to watch Anime like Violet Evergarden and Mahoutsukai no Yome, and wondered, “Where are all the black and brown people?”. As we all know, Europe is no stranger to minority populations, especially Western Europe. But when I watched Japanese Anime featuring European or European-like settings featuring only White and blonde light-skin characters, it creates three Major Problems I’d like to address below :
1. Lack of POC Characters in European-style Anime Distorts History and Justifies European Colonialism
As we all know, European countries are no stranger to People of Color. Having a long and troubled relationship, at times worse ( Mongols, Crusades, Ottomans ) and at times best ( Islamic Golden Age at Iberia ), White Europeans have interacted with non-Europeans since the beginning of time, especially during the Roman Empire with Black Africans on the empire and European countries establishing Colonial Outposts throughout Asia and Africa during the Age of Exploration.
Japanese Anime featuring European-style settings but excluding POC Black and Brown Characters from appearing in the story seems like promoting the narrative or idea that, “It’s OK for Native Europeans to Colonize POC Lands in real life like Australia, American Continents, New Zealand and South Africa, but NOT OK for POC Black and Brown People to appear as Minority Characters in European-like settings in Anime”.
“Japan being a Homogenous Country” is not a good excuse, because they can have all the Homogenous Settings they want if the setting is based on Japan only, and not Isekai or Fantasy which should have more variety of human skin colors. And yet, most of the Black Characters in Anime appeared in Japanese settings like “Yasuke”, “Afro Samurai”, “Youjitsu ( Yamada Albert ), “Tenjou Tenge” and “Lycoris Recoil” ( Mika ) when there should be more Black Characters in European settings than Japanese ones (simply due to the fact there are more Black People living in Europe than Japan during the past 300–500 years of History)
2. Lack of POC Characters in European-style Anime Hurts The Self-Esteem of Current-Day POC Youths Living in Western Country and diminishes their sense of belonging
Since Japanese Anime set in an European-like setting often excludes Black and Arabic/Middle Eastern/North African-like people in its settings, this often hurts the self-esteem of POC living in the West now, when they watch all these weird Japanese Anime exported from the East that only has all these light-skinned blonde haird characters with not a single Black, Brown Indian or Arabic-like person in its midst.
This causes POC watching the Anime to feel that their presence and contributions to society in the West means nothing, causing them to feel a sense of not being able to belong in the land/country they are born in, instilling within them a sense of “Inferiority Complex” against Native European People, and this hinders their ability to integrate more within Mainstream Society, which has an added danger of causing mass disenfranchisement which could lead to what happened in France in this year of 2023 when youths who are not integrated with mainstream French society caused huge problems…..
Therefore, having more Minority Characters in Anime set in European Settings can help POC feel their existence is acknowledged and contributions to the local populace are appreciated, further making them more motivated and better integrated into the Mainstream as law-abiding citizens.
3. Lack of POC Characters in European-style Anime Alienates Those of Mixed-Race Heritage and Anime Fans Who Love Interracial Romance
As anywhere else, there are Black People that love White People, and also White People that loves Black People too. Not everyone are racists or care so much for the illusion of “Racial Purity” when we’re all the same Homo Sapiens ( only with different cultures and religions influenced by the climate ).
Lack of PoC characters severely impacts the enjoyment factor for those who likes for there to have more depictions of Interracial Friendship/Romance in European-like settings.
Japanese creators need to understand there are White Men that are into Black Girls, Black Guys who are very attracted to White Girls, and White Girls who are interested in Black Guys too by seriously making more concerted efforts to increase Diversity, Representation and Inclusion so that those diverse characters can satisfy Interracial Romance fans. “Xenoblade 3’s” Taion and Eunie, and “Tales of Arise”’’s Alphen and Shion and Dohalim and Kisara might placate those types of people(including Mixed-Race People), but those are Video Games and not Anime. Sometimes people just want to watch something and not play something which takes more effort to control characters and such….
Conclusion
Japanese Anime could benefit more from Increased Diversity. As the 21st Century progresses, Homo Sapiens will have less and less Racial Purity, and perhaps even more lesser religions if trends steer that way for certain countries, so having more Diverse Characters and Interracial Relationships is crucial for healing centuries-old wounds and enmity between nations and ethnicities and races.
Even Japan is not excluded from this discussion, as they are suffering from a Population Decline in which they might have to make decisions to introduce more foreign workers into their country which would lead to more diversity even in their own real-life populations.
Therefore, more diversity would help foster love and understanding between different cultures and hopefully lead to a better future for us all Homo Sapiens who only have this One Planet to share resources with and live in……
