As part of the Kyoto International Manga Anime Fair
2024, the company that manages the Karasuma Line of the train in Kyoto
decided to decorate its carriages with details alluding to the anime “ Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in
Russian ” , an adaptation
that is currently airing. However, what began as a promotional action quickly
unleashed a wave of criticism on social media.
One user expressed his outrage with the following
comment:
- « Looking
at this from outside Japan, one of the things that strikes me as most
'abnormal' is this kind of thing. Can't they stop sensualizing characters
who are high school students, even if they're fictional? And besides, why
put it in public spaces? There are children, women, and tourists passing
by .»
This message, which condemns the eroticization of
teenage characters, generated a cascade of responses. Some users were
eqlly upset, while others defended the decoration arguing that there was no
real reason for such accusations . Among the harshest comments were the following:
- « It's
disgusting, disgusting, disgusting! All people who support this should
have their human rights taken away and be put in prison immediately! Don't
let these future criminals go free! »
- « It's
really disgusting. Even if the characters are adults in the story, their
faces look like those of teenagers… It's pathetic that there is only
demand for girls with childlike faces, how immature and pitiful can men
be? »
- " This
is disgusting in a public space. A complaint needs to be filed! "
“Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian” is a
series that revolves around Alisa Mikhailovna “Alya” Kujou, a half-Russian and
half-Japanese student at the prestigious Seirei Academy. The story
centers on the interaction between Alya and her classmate Masachika Kuze, who,
despite seeming disinterested, understands Russian perfectly, creating a
peculiar dynamic between the two characters. The work has recently
gained popularity thanks to its anime adaptation, which has increased interest
in its romantic story and the cultural details it introduces, particularly in
relation to the Russian language.
Despite the success of the series, the controversy
surrounding the train's decoration has sparked a debate about the
representation of young characters in situations that some consider
inappropriate for public spaces. However, not everyone agrees with this
view. Some social media users have defended the decoration, stating
that sensualization is an individual perception and that the work should not be
censored for it:
- " Why
are you bothering? They're just drawings, there's no reason to make such a
fuss ."
- " If
this seems inadequate to you, it's because your mind is filled with
twisted thoughts all the time ."
- " It's
a collaboration for a cultural event, they don't force anyone to see it,
it's not that big of a deal ."
Other users have pointed out the hypocrisy of some
critics, arguing that anime art and culture are part of Japan's identity and that,
despite protests, these types of collaborations remain popular among both
companies and fans.
The discussion continues to generate a lot of diverse
opinions, and the railway company has yet to issue an official statement on the
matter. What is clear is that the controversy reflects the clash
between anime culture and outside perceptions , especially regarding
the boundaries of what should be considered appropriate in public spaces.
Source: Yaraon!
