Eastern vs. Western Perception of Naruto

[Mikasa Hagaromo]

I've been thinking about the last 50+ chapters of Naruto and noted that many of us are unhappy with the direction the story has taken.

I wonder, however, what Kishi's eastern (i.e., Japanese, Chinese, Korean) audience thinks about the story.

When we put Sakura's role and personality (i.e., usually in the background, temperamental and violent towards Naruto though it's obvious she deeply cares for him, still being in love with Sasuke) , Obito's warping out of the afterlife and giving Kakashi the PS, and Kaguya's lack of personality and her building an army)....could we be pissed bc we don't have the cultural context in which to fully understand the story?

What do you guys think?

Is there anyone from the east on here who can lend some insight?

 

[GreenHairZoro]

Kaguya killed the Infinite Tsukyuomi arc...

 

[BlacLord™]

It's not bull, it's a lack of brain cells and maturity on some readers' part.

 

[Gyakusetsu]

I've been thinking about the last 50+ chapters of Naruto and noted that many of us are unhappy with the direction the story has taken.

I wonder, however, what Kishi's eastern (i.e., Japanese, Chinese, Korean) audience thinks about the story.

When we put Sakura's role and personality (i.e., usually in the background, temperamental and violent towards Naruto though it's obvious she deeply cares for him, still being in love with Sasuke) , Obito's warping out of the afterlife and giving Kakashi the PS, and Kaguya's lack of personality and her building an army)....could we be pissed bc we don't have the cultural context in which to fully understand the story?

What do you guys think?

Is there anyone from the east on here who can lend some insight?

I asked China, Korea, and Japan how they felt and they said slightly ambivalent and a little wistful.

They also said to thank you for asking but I think Korea was just going along with it so they wouldn't appear rude.

 

[Chie]

I've been thinking about the last 50+ chapters of Naruto and noted that many of us are unhappy with the direction the story has taken.

I wonder, however, what Kishi's eastern (i.e., Japanese, Chinese, Korean) audience thinks about the story.

When we put Sakura's role and personality (i.e., usually in the background, temperamental and violent towards Naruto though it's obvious she deeply cares for him, still being in love with Sasuke) , Obito's warping out of the afterlife and giving Kakashi the PS, and Kaguya's lack of personality and her building an army)....could we be pissed bc we don't have the cultural context in which to fully understand the story?

What do you guys think?

Is there anyone from the east on here who can lend some insight?

Cute SasuHina sig.

ot: Naruto is the most popular manga in the West whereas One Piece is the most popular in the East. Even though the story is taking a weird direction, people will probably still review the series positively in the end due to the earlier chapters, when there was more suspense and people liked the series more.

In response to those questions...

Sakura's personality? Most Japanese speakers adore Tsunderes (Sakura), whereas in the West, Moes (Hinata) tend to be favored. People like Sakura for comic relief in the East and like her as a Naruto female (though there are better Shounen females out there...not many, but a few). They're pretty neutral, but she's the most popular girl in the Naruto series as judged by the Eastern audience.

Obito/Kakashi PS? I asked a few Japanese speakers on this too...even they think it was a plothole. Not positively received, especially since we have many Uchiha fans in both fandoms.

Kaguya? People in the East don't care, they're used to seeing males take all the spotlight in Shounen, this isn't any different.

Cultural Context is mainly helpful when trying to understand techs and the mythology aspect of Naruto. Such as what Indra and Asura really represent and how that foreshadows where Sasuke and Naruto will go in life. Also for techs named after deities, like Obito's introduction of Izanagi and Itachi's Izanami. Cultural Context can help you understand the characters better and allows you to notice that some things were foreshadowed and not asspulls (EX: totsuka and yata were foreshadowed when Itachi stopped Deidara surprisingly- w/ those two statues that were next to him). Not a big deal, though. Just helpful.

However, there wasn't any foreshadowing for what Obito and Kakashi did this chapter.

 

[-Drāke-]

Cute SasuHina sig.

ot: Naruto is the most popular manga in the West whereas One Piece is the most popular in the East. Even though the story is taking a weird direction, people will probably still review the series positively in the end due to the earlier chapters, when there was more suspense and people liked the series more.

In response to those questions...

Sakura's personality? Most Japanese speakers adore Tsunderes (Sakura), whereas in the West, Moes (Hinata) tend to be favored. People like Sakura for comic relief in the East and like her as a Naruto female (though there are better Shounen females out there...not many, but a few). They're pretty neutral, but she's the most popular girl in the Naruto series as judged by the Eastern audience.

Obito/Kakashi PS? I asked a few Japanese speakers on this too...even they think it was a plothole. Not positively received, especially since we have many Uchiha fans in both fandoms.

Kaguya? People in the East don't care, they're used to seeing males take all the spotlight in Shounen, this isn't any different.

Cultural Context is mainly helpful when trying to understand techs and the mythology aspect of Naruto. Such as what Indra and Asura really represent and how that foreshadows where Sasuke and Naruto will go in life. Also for techs named after deities, like Obito's introduction of Izanagi and Itachi's Izanami. Cultural Context can help you understand the characters better and allows you to notice that some things were foreshadowed and not asspulls (EX: totsuka and yata were foreshadowed when Itachi stopped Deidara surprisingly- w/ those two statues that were next to him). Not a big deal, though. Just helpful.

However, there wasn't any foreshadowing for what Obito and Kakashi did this chapter.

This is pretty much it

 

[Mikasa Hagaromo]

Cute SasuHina sig.

ot: Naruto is the most popular manga in the West whereas One Piece is the most popular in the East. Even though the story is taking a weird direction, people will probably still review the series positively in the end due to the earlier chapters, when there was more suspense and people liked the series more.

In response to those questions...

Sakura's personality? Most Japanese speakers adore Tsunderes (Sakura), whereas in the West, Moes (Hinata) tend to be favored. People like Sakura for comic relief in the East and like her as a Naruto female (though there are better Shounen females out there...not many, but a few). They're pretty neutral, but she's the most popular girl in the Naruto series as judged by the Eastern audience.

Obito/Kakashi PS? I asked a few Japanese speakers on this too...even they think it was a plothole. Not positively received, especially since we have many Uchiha fans in both fandoms.

Kaguya? People in the East don't care, they're used to seeing males take all the spotlight in Shounen, this isn't any different.

Cultural Context is mainly helpful when trying to understand techs and the mythology aspect of Naruto. Such as what Indra and Asura really represent and how that foreshadows where Sasuke and Naruto will go in life. Also for techs named after deities, like Obito's introduction of Izanagi and Itachi's Izanami. Cultural Context can help you understand the characters better and allows you to notice that some things were foreshadowed and not asspulls (EX: totsuka and yata were foreshadowed when Itachi stopped Deidara surprisingly- w/ those two statues that were next to him). Not a big deal, though. Just helpful.

However, there wasn't any foreshadowing for what Obito and Kakashi did this chapter.

Very helpful response. Thank you! +rep.

 

[-Drāke-]

Very helpful response. Thank you! +rep.

I can add some more information actually that makes us different
There are no pairing wars in Japanese forums(there are debates occasionally of course), the most popular pairings are Yaoi(probably spelled in wrong, but it's same ***) pairings

 

[Jowy Atreides]

about the story.. there are quite a lot of readers upset with the twists of course.. doesn't matter whether you come from the east or west..

I can add some more information actually that makes us different
There are no pairing wars in Japanese forums(there are debates occasionally of course), the most popular pairings are Yaoi(probably spelled in wrong, but it's same ***) pairings

yup

 

[vasu 32]

It isn't the matter of east or west now in this age but religious background. People who follow, know and accept the belief of Hinduism and Buddhism wouldn't have mind look over the re-incarnation and what obito pulled as far as I think. Believers in Christianity and Islam will have problem digesting these things. Atheist? well they would be rational.

 

[Mikasa Hagaromo]

I can add some more information actually that makes us different
There are no pairing wars in Japanese forums(there are debates occasionally of course), the most popular pairings are Yaoi(probably spelled in wrong, but it's same ***) pairings

Oh really. I knew the yaoi stuff was popular, but I didn't know they didnt have pairing wars. So it's mostly us in the west huh?

Cn you recommend any asian Naruto forums to check out? I'm super curious now.

Thanks for the post. +rep.