{"id":21895,"date":"2017-11-28T18:26:13","date_gmt":"2017-11-28T10:26:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en-d27fq2mgp64qlg.cloudfront.net\/?p=21895"},"modified":"2017-11-28T18:27:51","modified_gmt":"2017-11-28T10:27:51","slug":"qoo-otaku-japanese-vs-westerner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/d27fq2mgp64qlg.cloudfront.net\/en\/post\/21895\/qoo-otaku-japanese-vs-westerner","title":{"rendered":"[Qoo Otaku] Japanese vs. Westerner: Should live action Fullmetal Alchemist cast Japanese?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"fullmetal<\/p>\n

As the premiere day of live action\u00a0Fullmetal Alchemist<\/a>\u00a0(\u92fc\u306e\u932c\u91d1\u8853\u5e2b) is approaching, many otaku around the world have been asking one question: why a Japanese cast?<\/p>\n

\"fullmetal<\/p>\n

\"fullmetal<\/p>\n

These comments are literally everywhere on the internet, from QooApp to a Japanese discussion board.<\/p>\n

People on the “Western side” say: the characters are all westerners, and to be faithful to the original work the cast should be westerners. On the other hand, people on the “Japanese side” believe: it’s only natural for Japanese to be cast in a Japanese film, and those who say otherwise are mentally disabled.\u00a0The heated debate has caught the attention of the movie’s director\u00a0Fumihiko Sori, who\u00a0decided to\u00a0set up\u00a0a Twitter<\/a> account and\u00a0answer this question once and for all.<\/p>\n

\"fullmetalRight: Fumihiko Sori<\/em><\/p>\n

The director felt like cultural differences between Japan and other countries also meant a\u00a0difference in perceiving\u00a0family bond. He said, “I chose a Japanese cast because the\u00a0movie emphasised on characters’ mentality. I want to portray\u00a0the bond between brothers just like\u00a0the manga does.”<\/em><\/p>\n

He added that it was quite difficult for foreign actors to be familiar with Japanese mindsets. “I believe it is quite impossible for foreign actors to portray\u00a0a\u00a0Japanese-style story and characters with Japanese mentality. This is (a Japanese cast) the best choice through and through.”<\/em><\/p>\n

A more practical reason is that the script written by the original mangaka\u00a0Hiromu Arakawa is in Japanese.<\/p>\n

Given that the script is\u00a0written by Arakawa Sensei instead of\u00a0a foreigner, it should be understandable \u00a0that the director sticks to the story rather than the characters’ appearance (perhaps\u00a0at least give Winry Blonde hair) and nationality, right? Otherwise, it may end up like\u00a0the <\/a>aborted Bleach movie<\/a> and the very\u00a0distasteful Dragon Ball movie.<\/p>\n

In fact, many live action adaptions of Japanese manga feature Japanese actors as\u00a0foreign characters. Not only are these movies successful, the actors who play as foreigners get praised a lot as well.<\/p>\n

Thermae Romae is the best example.<\/p>\n

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\u4eba\u6c17\u30b3\u30df\u30c3\u30af\u306e\u5b9f\u5199\u5316\u3001\u5916\u56fd\u4eba\u3082\u5168\u54e1\u65e5\u672c\u4eba\u30ad\u30e3\u30b9\u30c8\u3067\u3001\u306a\u305c\u304b\u6210\u529f\u3057\u305f\u4f5c\u54c1 pic.twitter.com\/6sEUCuz09E<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 \u5143\u5e97\u9577 (@ohko_tencho) November 26, 2017<\/a><\/p>\n