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Who said the U.S. Navy wasn’t culturally sensitive? ANN has reported that the U.S. Navy has not only completed the story for their planned manga title, but has already printed around 30,000 copies. The manga is called CVN-73, and was created to promote the arrival of the aircraft carrier USS George Washington to the Navy base in Yokosuka, Japan. CVN-73 is the carrier’s call number, and is printed on the ship’s hull.
The story revolves around a fictional character, Jack Ohara, who is nervous about his first overseas assignment to Japan. While the story is more about the USS George Washington, you see the event unfold from Ohara’s eyes. The manga is a stunning 200 page book, and is aimed at the 10-30 year old Japanese audience.
I think this was a great way to help smooth over the objection Japanese citizens have had with the anticipated arrival of the carrier. Many people had a problem with a nucular ship being docked in Yokosuka’s port. CVN-73 is expected to hit the streets of Yokosuka this week, and the rest of Japan soon. Via ANN
this is such bullshit can they stop little bitchass input in every aspect of life this is almost enough to make one hate the art form
I know sailors on this ship. One is my son. Anything to ease the way of the first nuke ship coming in, not to mention thousands of sailors, could be good.
i don’t like that the US is distributing something that verges on propaganda in japan (i’m half japanese, half american). against the backdrop of an extremely low violent crime rate in japan, the repeated violent crime incidents and murders that are caused by american military personnel in japan and the apparently inadequate american response, it’s not surprising that area residents don’t want a nuclear-powered submarine in their port. the US should not resort to manipulation of japanese opinion by indirect means. i would like to see a solution which relies on restoring the trust of local residents by preventing crime, and perhaps better outreach if there’s undue prejudice on the side of the japanese.
curious to see a copy of it.
It’s not indirect means. They’re giving out free copies of a comic book which says all over it that it’s a fictional work commissioned by the US Navy to spread real info. It’s no different than the various information pamphlets printed by your state or the federal government. The only thing different is that it’s going to foreign nationals; and we’ve certainly given out plenty of information pamphlets to foreign nationals over the years.
It’s obvious that the manga-ka, while cautious, had some fun showing the odd ways of Americans from an American’s POV. (The picture of how the Navy simulates fires during firefighting drills is priceless, for example, and funnier because quite accurate.)
Another funny bit is that the manga-ka are not quite sure what a horse farm in Lexington KY should look like. It turns into a Western ranch, except with white rails! Heh!
“don’t like that the US is distributing something that verges on propaganda in japan… against the backdrop of an extremely low violent crime rate in japan, the repeated violent crime incidents and murders that are caused by american military personnel in japan and the apparently inadequate american response, it’s not surprising that area residents don’t want a nuclear-powered submarine in their port.”
Nothing in your entire comment was accurate or even remotely informed.
FIRST, READ IT. IT IS AVAILABLE. It isn’t “propaganda”. I’ve read it, I’ve been stationed on a carrier, and I lived in Yokosuka (where the AIRCRAFT CARRIER is going) while in the Navy for 3 years. The manga is very straight forward. It makes no glorious depictions of the purpose of the Navy, or its impact globally, it merely shows you a relatively accurate day to day for a sailor on a ship. Something 99.9999% of Americans don’t even know about.
Two, Japan is a peaceful nation, you got that right, but U.S. Navy in Japan are even more peaceful. They commit less crimes, less violent crimes, less non violent crimes, by percentage than anyone else in that country. Old Japanese women commit more crimes on average come on. Don’t by the Japanese news propaganda. The truth is, many many many people will lie and demonize U.S. Navy in Japan, because they simply don’t want the U.S. Navy there. I don’t think they should be there either, but your lies hurt them, not the governments. Your lies hurt the personnel. They hurt me. My life was shit for 3 years because of people like you. Because of the news. I was treated like a child. I had little freedom or rights. I never hurt anyone. For 3 years I was a gentleman, I made many friends, and my neighbors and all who I met loved me, but because of the restrictions meant to curtail any possible incident, I spent much of my time confined, restricted and controlled. You might not want U.S. Navy in Japan, but we aren’t criminals, you are liars. If you wish to be unjust and biased, then go ahead, but don’t hide behind lies. U.S. Navy in Japan are saints compared to Nihonjin. Compared to American military in general, there are much higher standards. Compared to Americans, no comparison.
And certainly, due to the fact that all human beings are individuals and capable of great good, and evil, some do commit crimes. But don’t spit your filthy lies at me telling me they aren’t punished ENOUGH. The standard policy is any sailor that commits a crime on Japanese soil must face Japanese law, then when they’re finished, the U.S. Navy steps in and tries the AGAIN! Sailors in Japan are punished twice!
If your heart be stone, then I can understand your desire to see humans suffer. But my friends, I have seen the world you wish upon me, and my brothers. It is not a good world at all. Remember that the U.S. could have left Japan long ago, but the Japanese want them there, a majority do. There is a minority opposition, but that’s life. The U.S. Navy in Japan are Japan’s Navy too. We defend them. Who are you? What have you done to serve Japan? I lived there. I lived in town. I was with the people and I was good. And I patrolled the seas. We had Japanese sailors on my ship, and we had American sailors on theirs. We sailed together we practiced together, and when things got hot with North Korea, it was the U.S. and Japanese side by side in the sea of Japan making it clear to North Korea that we were allied. But you have only ill will on me.
Most Japanese I met, loved the fact that I was there. It’s their country, their city, why do you think you speak for them? Who the hell are you?
Way to GO JOSHUA!!!!!
I am the son of a Silor who was assigned to the Pacific Stars and Strips (for those not familiar with it..its the L.A Times of the US Armed Forces in the area. Headquartered in Tokyo) and we lived at Yokota Air Base. I had many friends from the other side of the fence and they were proud that we where there. I hope the local Friendship Festival is still held on base. If anything MANGA CVN-73 (Submarines are SSN’s to the ignorant see three up) at the very least adds another aspect to the public conversation. Just remember above all else. The US Navy had to get PERMISSION from Tokyo to Transfer her there.
Yes they do still have the friendship festival on base. That and many other celebrations are held each year to bring in the locals and let them walk around. Any other day of the year Japanese citizens have the same access to the base as any American citizen would (that is by having an escort or a pass, or a job on base).
I re-read what I wrote and see it was very angry, but I stand by what I said. Unlike the cynical English “teachers” I’ve read from on many occasion that hate the citizenry, and mock them while simultaneously never learning the language and failing to teach their own, Navy Sailors in Japan show great respect for the citizens and you would be hard pressed to find a negative comment about them from a sailor. And unlike the Wapanese fanatics that may have plagued these comments, especially those that find their way into Japan, worshiping it in totality and deriding any others, the Navy Sailors in Japan are serving the Japanese honorably, but maintaining their loyalty to America. Many Navy Sailors come to find a better life in Japan and never leave, but not as some fanatic obsession over comics or playing dress-up, but exclusively to raise a decent family with their wives and children, and there it is common that the entire family becomes bilingual. Certainly most Sailors don’t become completely fluent in Japanese, as the Navy doesn’t like to keep its sailors any one place for long (especially not overseas), but even the most adventurous of us have found it difficult when the rules you celebrate, the punishments for crimes uncommitted you demand, prevent any further interaction than a glance.