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 The manji symbol, used by the Toman Gang in Tokyo Revengers, has been corrupted by hate groups, but its original meaning is much more benign.

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Tokyo Revengers follows a young man named Takemichi Hanagaki as he travels back in time to save his girlfriend from being killed by a gang called Toman. The series starts off with what looks to be a simple love story only to expand with Takemichi determined to save everyone he loves, including his newfound friends in Toman. The manga, written by Ken Wakui, was named the Best Shonen Series at the 44th Kodansha Manga Awards.

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But it's time to talk about the elephant in the room: the manji, or swastika, which is the symbol of Toman. For Western audiences, seeing the swastika is a huge trigger, as it was the symbol of Nazism, hatred, and terror; for other cultures, like those in India or East Asia, it represents prosperity and good luck.

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Understanding Tokyo Revengers' Manji Symbol

Takemichi stands in front of the Manji symbol in Tokyo Revengers

The Nazis' version of the swastika varies slightly from the manji symbol: the manji symbol is counter-clockwise with the center as a plus sign while the other version is clockwise and tilted at an angle known as a "hooked cross." If you were to look at a map in Japan a few years ago, this symbol would have been on it several times as it marks off where the temples are. However, Japan recently changed it to make it more "foreigner-friendly" just before the start of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. He understood why the government chose to replace him: without knowing the culture and context, he could cause hatred and fear in the Japanese people.

We discuss the main meaning of the first form of the swastika: the great symbol of peace and prosperity. In Buddhism, it represents the footprints of Buddha. It represents good things and luck, so it is a symbol around places of worship. It is also seen as a powerful symbol in Europe, as it was also used by the ancient Greeks and Anglo-Saxons.

For most Westerners, the swastika will forever be associated with Nazism. Unfortunately, due to the deeply symbolic history and culture of Nazism past and present, this connection will be difficult for audiences to overcome. Therefore, Japan chose to change the symbols on the map rather than give the historical meaning of the swastika symbol. Similarly, Tokyo Avengers chose not to use this symbol in their anime trailers and used bullets instead.

In both cases, the animation and situation avoid meaning and try to portray consistent and non-contradictory characters. Is there any hope that Chinese characters can return to their original meanings? T.K. Nakagaki, the Japanese monk who created the "Buddhist Swastika" and the "Hitler Cross", said that the debate about the symbol has begun, "now it has been won", and that there are two sides talking about the symbol and the entrance. open. The path of peace and reconciliation.

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How the swastika changed in the anime

Swastika analyzed with lights on it

'Tokyo Avengers' excitement It completed the first season by surprising its fans with its exciting plot, unforgettable characters and surprising heart. Even though the anime has gained a lot of coverage, it is not without its problems; This is how he chooses to treat kanji characters.

It has nothing to do with Nazism, which is heavily examined, instead providing a disclaimer at the beginning of each chapter explaining the meaning of the kanji symbol. Considering that Mickey's gang is called the Tokyo Manji Gang, censorship had a huge impact on the series' viewership. In the opening scene, the Tokyo Swastika Gang flag is darkened and the sunlight behind Drakken and Mickey is amplified to blinding proportions in an attempt to hide the swastika. The show uses dazzling lighting whenever possible. Otherwise, the animation uses static shots and inflections instead of kanji characters, which results in some awkward transitions when characters aren't moving or when events happen without characters (or even a person speaking). Scenes that are supposed to make a big impact don't.

Perhaps realizing that tight restrictions were providing fans with a less-than-ideal experience, Tokyo Avengers then took a different approach. The show eliminates or makes confusing any traces of gang uniforms. There are still static shots rather than shots, but it's not as pronounced as before. It is true that this development has happened before, but there is no explanation as to why there is no space in the middle of the gang's name, which causes it to not be present in the minds of the audience. It won't happen without Nakagaki advocates trying to start the debate.

It's worth noting that this censorship is only for western audiences. According to Crunchyroll France's response to fans, the streaming platform is being provided with the censored version and they are strictly prohibited from making any changes or embellishments. Episodes aired in Japan are not subject to the same level of censorship.

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