Lucky Star Seiyuu Flies Red Banner
- Filed under: Anime, News
- Date: Jul 16, 2008 19:09 JST
- Tags: Emiri Katou, Mass Media, Politics, Seiyuu
We get a distinct hint as to the possible political leanings of seiyuu 加藤英美里 / Emiri Katou, best known for voicing Lucky Star’s (or should that be Red Star’s) Kagami Hiiragi, with her shameless appearance in the pages of admitted communist newspaper 赤旗 / Akahata (Red Flag).
The article in question is a feature on her experiences as a seiyuu, and what the job entails, seemingly unsubversive enough, if we discount the fact that it constitutes commercial support of the Party.
In her defence, Akahata does regularly feature showbiz articles (the irony apparently being lost on them), though it is hard to see how anyone would opt to feature in such an extremist publication without realising it might attract attention, just as it has.
Whilst there are doubtless those who will argue either that her political leanings are a private matter, or that featuring in a red publication does not necessarily constitute an endorsement of tyrannical socialism, it seems so public an association with, and therefore tacit an approval of, such a publication can only lead observers to the conclusion that she is at least tolerant of such politics, and does not mind it being known.
2ch exposure preserved at Syu’s. See the innocuous looking pages of the red propaganda rag below.
“featuring in a red publication does not necessarily constitute an endorsement of tyrannical socialism”
WTF ? Where did this come from ? Today the most tyrannical regimes are so-called “democracies”. What, you’re one of those USians who’s still scared shitless of the “RED THREAT” ? Pathetic.
Typical of a Russian to vituperate against the free nations of the world whilst denying his own continuing serfdom.
This means that it is likely that Korean government will move to ban anything related with Lucky Star.
“Typical of a Russian”?
Artefact dude, did you really have to use that phrase?
I’m afraid the vast majority of Russians do actually feel that way; just look at the popularity of Tsar Putin.
I realise there is the “Other Russia”, but that seems to have become a minority position. So forgive me for generalising, but in this case it may be justified.
Tsar Putin? I’ll ignore the obvious contradiction.
anyway, Russia is a capitalist country with communist leanings. if you wanna talk communist, talk china or north korea. plus i dont see anything wrong in appearing in a communist magazine. her choice atleast.
i guess the biggest threat to the US and it’s allies is the russians but you’re not likely to see her donning a flak jacket waving the sickle and hammer on the roof of the whitehouse. mostly because as i said before, russia isnt communist… plus she isnt russian.
Even Russians I know are happy to call him that, and they support him.
Russia is a gangster country, all the money in the world won’t get you anywhere there without FSB or mafia connections.
Most objections to her actions seem to be based on whether the objector approves of leftist politics or not, so it seems a fairly straightforward issue.
Actually, “Comrade Kagami” has a nice ring to it. Does that mean Konata embodies capitalism? Is Tsukasa the Third World? And what about Miyuki?
Nordic-style Socialist Democracy. Oh god, it all fits so perfectly.
To hell with all this pointless political bickering. What CG series is that Lucky Star image from?
It’s a random doujin CG as far as I can tell, no idea as to the source.
I knew I liked her. As far as I know, communists outside China or NKorea are just innocent idealists. Inside those countries, of course, they are largely ambitious social climbers.
But are you sure there is any connection between appearing in the pages of a newspaper and endorsing its editorial views? Skimming the article, I don’t see anything particularly political.
The argument I would be inclined to make is that by consenting to an interview with a publication, one is generally giving one’s tacit approval to that publication, with certain exceptions.
This is not just a personal view; imagine the controversy were a top Hollywood celeb to go around giving interviews to white supremacist papers.
Of course she has expressed no political views so she may just have unthinkingly and innocently consented to the interview. I am not convinced this is the case, however.
Regardless, the whole thing is kind of innocuous. It’s not like she’s inciting revolts against the diet or anything. Besides, Japan has had a communist party for a long, long time in spite of it’s capitalist/democratic dominance. The efficacy of it on Japan’s affairs has been minimal at best, too. The 70’s was the last time there was any sort of real communist activity of note inside of the country, if I’m not mistaken. I’d be inclined to agree with hime over the “idealists” comment, too.
So what? She’s not holding a gun to anyone’s head right? Reading the anarchist cookbook doesn’t make you a terrorist.
You know the Japan Communist Party is a political party that is part of the government, right? They have a small electorate, but people do vote for them.
Gimme a break, this is stupid sensationalism against a non-existent boogieman. Try again.
You might want to study Japanese politics a little harder if you think the Communists have ever been part of a government here.
Not part of any ruling coalition, but the party does have seats in the Diet. Not sure how that means they are not part of the government.
You might want to read up on parliamentiary politics. Returning members to a parliament is not the same as being a member of the government.
Are the Conservatives part of the current UK government? You would get some funny looks if you said they were.
Whoops. I stand corrected, they have never been part of a governing coalition..