Hokkaido Gals Are Super Adorable! Unleash the wrath of Koreans

Although it is often said that the current season was "quite weak", there are some adaptations that managed to stay relevant since its premiere (either for good or bad things). One of them was "Hokkaido Gals Are Super Adorable! (Dosanko Gal wa Namara Menkoi)", the adaptation of a romantic comedy with an unbearable protagonist who, despite everything, managed to stay on the radar especially for its high ecchi content in each of its episodes.

But the recent episode didn't become a trend because of this, but because of a scene that readers of the original manga were already waiting for. It turns out that Minami Fuyuki, the protagonist of the franchise, will be out of the picture for a while due to leaving Japan for abroad to attend a beauty school. Minami reveals this to Tsubasa, the protagonist, when he was about to declare his love for her.

• "Tsubasa, I'm going to study abroad."

Believe it or not, it wasn't this moment that caught the attention of the comment forums either. If we look at the original manga, this scene was taken from "Chapter 31.1", but there Minami makes it quite clear that he is going to South Korea.

• "Tsubasa, I'm going to a beauty school in South Korea."

Why omit the mention of South Korea in the anime adaptation? It is certainly not the first time something like this has happened, and possibly stems from the historical conflict that exists between these two nations. The conflict between Korean and Japanese nationalists has deep historical and political roots dating back decades. Here are some key reasons behind this mutual hatred:

• Japanese colonization of Korea: Japan colonized Korea from 1910 to 1945. During this period, Koreans suffered oppression, exploitation, and discrimination from the Japanese colonial authorities. This left deep scars on the Korean collective psyche and generated resentment towards Japan.
• Historical memory: Japan's actions during World War II, including the sexual enslavement of Korean women (known as "comfort women") and other war crimes, continue to be a source of tension and controversy between the two countries. The refusal of some Japanese quarters to fully acknowledge and apologize for these crimes further aggravates bilateral relations.
• Territorial disputes: Japan and South Korea also have territorial disputes, especially over the Dokdo/Takeshima Islands in the Sea of Japan. These disputes fuel nationalism and hostility between the two countries.
• Cultural and political differences: In addition to historical issues, there are cultural and political differences that contribute to the animosity between Koreans and Japanese. Tensions around issues such as historical education, diplomacy, and territorial conflicts can exacerbate nationalist sentiments on both sides.

It's not that the animators of "Hokkaido Gals Are Super Adorable!" are Japanese nationalists, but possibly the production committee or the project manager gave the order to omit the mention of South Korea within the story, simply to prevent Japanese nationalists from using this as a reason for criticism. But of course, the fact was immediately released and attracted comments:

• "But of course, the mention of South Korea has been omitted so as not to hurt sensitivities."
• "What shit."
• "Did they alter history?"
• "Is this kind of modification to the original content allowed?"
• "As we well know, any mention or inclusion of South Korean material is taboo within anime."
• "Well, I guess it can't be helped, but you don't understand the context of the girl's departure from the scene."
• "It seems like studios think that all otakus hate South Korea, but in reality only the oldest and craziest ones do it nowadays."
• "Are there still people who hate South Korea? Even now in 2024?"

Source: Otakomu