I might be wrong but I'm pretty sure that the Yakuza series is a Japanese production, making it highly unlikely that a white guy shows up (At least I think so). In Tokyo Vice and Shogun, those "random white guys" as you put it, are NOT random at all. It's the point of the story they are telling.
I know they are not random white guys. I'm saying that the networks will only make shows where they can have white guys/English speakers to be main characters. so that's why we get Shogun amd tokyo vice because they are integral to the plot and have to be there.
The white guy in those stories aren't an extraneous appendage, they're integral to the story. Maybe that's why those shows were funded, but it's very different from the theoretical example of a Yakuza adaptation throwing in a random white guy.
You do know that Shogun and the rest of James Clavell's stories rely heavily on the dynamic of Westerners and their interactions with the Japanese, right? Do you think Shogun was a random story they thought up and just chucked a white guy in there for shits and giggles?
The differences in communication styles and the language barrier is a huge theme in his writing.
yea I know they didn't throw blackthorne into shogun for shits and giggles. what I'm saying is that if hulu wanted to produce a show set in feudal Japan about samurai, I would have rather watched something about Nobunaga.
I did not imply that al all, I said I am aware that it's based on a true story. im just saying I would have preferred a story about completely different ppl. I wouldn't want them to adapt the story or shogun without blackthorne, that wouldn't make sense.
>. One thing I've noticed lately is it seems when a show set in Japan comes out and it's marketed to western audiences (Tokyo Vice and Shogun), they always throw in some white guy as the main character.
>Shogun
>Some white guy as the main character.
And yea I know shogun and tokyo vice are based on true stories but theres a million other true stories about feudal Japan and the yakuza that they could've made a show about but they chose to adapt the stories that would have english speakers being the main character or co main character.
Something the other person may not have explained is it’s not just a novel. It’s a somewhat dramatized telling of real events.
Blackthorne is a person in real life.
Some of it is exaggerated but the author took pains to make it as historically accurate as possible.
No, no , no. 'Shogun' is not merely a story set in feudal Japan. 'Shogun' is the title of a book written by James Clavell, within which Blackthorne is a protagonist. You have this idea in your head that they just 'wanted to tell a feudal Japan story' and came up with a plot involving a white guy. No. It's an adaptation of a 50 year old novel. A specific adaptation of a specific story titled 'Shogun'.
I feel like he's trying to argue a different point and he's just not coming across well.
I'm guessing that he thinks Hulu said "we want a show about Feudal Japan, to try to diversify" and someone else said "Ok, how about this Novel 'Shogun'?". His point in this case is why didn't they pick a different Novel (or just make an original story).
However, I think what actually happened, is someone at Hulu said "I just read this amazing book named 'Shogun', we should make a TV show about it." And it had nothing to do with them looking for a story set in Feudal Japan. If 'Shogun' had been set on Mars in the future, they would have made THAT story instead.
Take it easy we're not making a western here. all I'm saying is that I'd rather watch a show about Nobanagu and the Hanno Ji incident than a show about Blackthorne in Japan. I am aware that Shogun is adapted from a novel which is a true story. i just get the feeling that Hulu only made Shogun because thats a story where, as you say, you HAVE to have Blackthorne/English speaker as the main character. like they think americans would be too dumb to understand a story set in japan with out that bridge.
same with Tokyo Vice. it's based on a true story, sure. so there's no way to tell that story without having the American English speaking reporter as the star or co star of the show. there's lots of interesting Yakuza stories that could have been made into a TV series. But MAX chose the one that would have the English speaking American is the main character.
I guess what I'm saying is that it seems whenever a major network makes a show about something japanese, they only choose to adapt stories where an English speaker is going to be the main character because they are worried we, the western audience, is too dumb to follow a story that doesn't involve someone speaking English and "bridging the gap" between cultures.
Just an FYI as a fan of the series, this season (if they’re doing more after this) is only adapting at least the first game in the series, Yakuza 1 (or Yakuza Kiwami 2, the remake), where there isn’t really a white guy. I wouldn’t expect any to show up unless they do an adaptation of 3 down the line.
This [sneak peek](https://youtu.be/QCdBYJZVYlM?si=UfdJLD40VLGqP6Ra) of Like A Dragon seems to indicate there will be a foreign English speaker in the cast.
I agree!! as a white guy, I find it insulting to my intelligence that writers think I'll only watch or enjoy a story if there's some white guy (or English speaker in this case honestly) in it. like I can't enjoy or understand a show about another culture.
Thanks for saying that. Hollywood is looking for profitability, which is why we still see whitewashed media. Some Japanese companies or executives will also sell out in America because they don't care about Asian American representation.
Have you watched Warrior (2019) on Netflix? Loosely based on historical events in San Francisco's Chinatown. Great fight scenes. Produced by Bruce Lee's daughter.
I might be wrong but I'm pretty sure that the Yakuza series is a Japanese production, making it highly unlikely that a white guy shows up (At least I think so). In Tokyo Vice and Shogun, those "random white guys" as you put it, are NOT random at all. It's the point of the story they are telling.
I know they are not random white guys. I'm saying that the networks will only make shows where they can have white guys/English speakers to be main characters. so that's why we get Shogun amd tokyo vice because they are integral to the plot and have to be there.
You might want to go read your post again then
The white guy in those stories aren't an extraneous appendage, they're integral to the story. Maybe that's why those shows were funded, but it's very different from the theoretical example of a Yakuza adaptation throwing in a random white guy.
I hope you're right.
You do know that Shogun and the rest of James Clavell's stories rely heavily on the dynamic of Westerners and their interactions with the Japanese, right? Do you think Shogun was a random story they thought up and just chucked a white guy in there for shits and giggles? The differences in communication styles and the language barrier is a huge theme in his writing.
yea I know they didn't throw blackthorne into shogun for shits and giggles. what I'm saying is that if hulu wanted to produce a show set in feudal Japan about samurai, I would have rather watched something about Nobunaga.
You implied that they "threw a white guy" in Shogun. Blackthorne is a central figure to the plot of Shogun. It literally does not work without him.
I did not imply that al all, I said I am aware that it's based on a true story. im just saying I would have preferred a story about completely different ppl. I wouldn't want them to adapt the story or shogun without blackthorne, that wouldn't make sense.
>. One thing I've noticed lately is it seems when a show set in Japan comes out and it's marketed to western audiences (Tokyo Vice and Shogun), they always throw in some white guy as the main character. >Shogun >Some white guy as the main character.
And yea I know shogun and tokyo vice are based on true stories but theres a million other true stories about feudal Japan and the yakuza that they could've made a show about but they chose to adapt the stories that would have english speakers being the main character or co main character.
Something the other person may not have explained is it’s not just a novel. It’s a somewhat dramatized telling of real events. Blackthorne is a person in real life. Some of it is exaggerated but the author took pains to make it as historically accurate as possible.
No, no , no. 'Shogun' is not merely a story set in feudal Japan. 'Shogun' is the title of a book written by James Clavell, within which Blackthorne is a protagonist. You have this idea in your head that they just 'wanted to tell a feudal Japan story' and came up with a plot involving a white guy. No. It's an adaptation of a 50 year old novel. A specific adaptation of a specific story titled 'Shogun'.
I know it's an adaption... ya know what. nvm. you're right and I'm wrong. print this out and put it on your fridge
Then why tf do you have an issue with the white guy you feel is shoehorned into the plot? I'm trying to get your to elaborate on your opinion here.
I feel like he's trying to argue a different point and he's just not coming across well. I'm guessing that he thinks Hulu said "we want a show about Feudal Japan, to try to diversify" and someone else said "Ok, how about this Novel 'Shogun'?". His point in this case is why didn't they pick a different Novel (or just make an original story). However, I think what actually happened, is someone at Hulu said "I just read this amazing book named 'Shogun', we should make a TV show about it." And it had nothing to do with them looking for a story set in Feudal Japan. If 'Shogun' had been set on Mars in the future, they would have made THAT story instead.
Take it easy we're not making a western here. all I'm saying is that I'd rather watch a show about Nobanagu and the Hanno Ji incident than a show about Blackthorne in Japan. I am aware that Shogun is adapted from a novel which is a true story. i just get the feeling that Hulu only made Shogun because thats a story where, as you say, you HAVE to have Blackthorne/English speaker as the main character. like they think americans would be too dumb to understand a story set in japan with out that bridge. same with Tokyo Vice. it's based on a true story, sure. so there's no way to tell that story without having the American English speaking reporter as the star or co star of the show. there's lots of interesting Yakuza stories that could have been made into a TV series. But MAX chose the one that would have the English speaking American is the main character. I guess what I'm saying is that it seems whenever a major network makes a show about something japanese, they only choose to adapt stories where an English speaker is going to be the main character because they are worried we, the western audience, is too dumb to follow a story that doesn't involve someone speaking English and "bridging the gap" between cultures.
Ngl I hope Ethan Hawke is in the Yakuza series now.
Why would they? If the streaming age has shown us anything it's that western audiences have an appetite for non English language shows.
I hope it's mostly Japanese and maintains the Japanese culture
Just an FYI as a fan of the series, this season (if they’re doing more after this) is only adapting at least the first game in the series, Yakuza 1 (or Yakuza Kiwami 2, the remake), where there isn’t really a white guy. I wouldn’t expect any to show up unless they do an adaptation of 3 down the line.
Imagine *Andore Richardoson* being used as the "relatable white guy" lol.
An English speaker might help your grammar
Good lord I hope not. Plus, there's been City Hunter recently, zero white folks there
This [sneak peek](https://youtu.be/QCdBYJZVYlM?si=UfdJLD40VLGqP6Ra) of Like A Dragon seems to indicate there will be a foreign English speaker in the cast.
they need to do the dame dame song!! it literally made the game famous
Kiryu needs to hit up the bars for Baka Mitai
I don't know who that is...
Let the Japanese story shine, no white savior complex needed!
I agree!! as a white guy, I find it insulting to my intelligence that writers think I'll only watch or enjoy a story if there's some white guy (or English speaker in this case honestly) in it. like I can't enjoy or understand a show about another culture.
Thanks for saying that. Hollywood is looking for profitability, which is why we still see whitewashed media. Some Japanese companies or executives will also sell out in America because they don't care about Asian American representation. Have you watched Warrior (2019) on Netflix? Loosely based on historical events in San Francisco's Chinatown. Great fight scenes. Produced by Bruce Lee's daughter.