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.
http://www.inochi-life.net/archives_tezuka2.html
Here you can find a quote from Osamu Tezuka for Akahata.
Yes, that Akahata. Yes, THAT OSAMU TEZUKA. There would be no anime and no kawaii seiyuu for you to onsess over if not for that one man.
And it was 1974 when Communism was an actual threat, not 2008 when it’s a minor political force.
Of course this is an old story now and Emiri Katou’s career was obviously not ruined (in fact she got the famous Kuybey role), but I just had to stick this fact in.
Such fervent intolerance has been displayed on this topic alone, holy s♥♥t! America is or is inching closer to a police state, as is Australian from what we’ve seen lately. A man was busted for having SIMPSONS porn people! Doesn’t this make anyone else nervous of things to come?
Less condemnation of other ideologies and political affiliations and more looking inward on our own, or our countrymen’s own. Once we complete that phase I think it’s time we assess what’s wrong, what’s right, and what fits into that gray area for our own political ideologies. I currently don’t believe we live in a “free” country in the USA.
Most of this was me going off on a tangent, but I feel your coverage of this was pretty slanderous and highly biased. Communist doesn’t HAVE to be utter tyrannical socialism, it has been perceived as such and acted out as such THUS FAR. I think a balance can be achieved for the good of the people, while still remaining mostly Communist.
I agree with you. However, I wish you did not post this comic, as it created political bickering. I, for one, believe that seiyuu are entitled to their own political views.
Fellow traveler, consider this an anti-communist site. See any flourishing of the visual arts under communism?
Are you an inherently retarded American?
There are different types of communism.
Not every communist party seeks a Soviet Superstate.
I love you, Anon. THANK YOU.
Yes. Lots of excellent paintings, music and film were produced in the former USSR.
Which was mostly propaganda and/ or heavily controlled by the party.
The USSR was a 50 year long failed experiment.
…yet you feverishly consume everything capitalistic japan throws at you. kyoani? holy s♥♥t yes! eisenstein? not so much.
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.
Whoops. I stand corrected, they have never been part of a governing coalition..
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.
So what? She’s not holding a gun to anyone’s head right? Reading the anarchist cookbook doesn’t make you a terrorist.
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.