The Author of No Game No Life Shows His Wife the Reality of Brazil
Did you know that the author of No Game No Life is Brazilian? He is known as Yuu Kamiya, but his real name is Thiago Furukawa Lucas. He was born in Brazil but moved to Japan at the age of seven, where he got involved with manga during high school and eventually created No Game No Life.
He traveled to Brazil and brought his wife along. From the tone of their conversation and interaction, this seems to have been her first time visiting Brazil, and the two decided to go to São Paulo.
The Author of No Game No Life Shows His Wife the Reality of Brazil
Upon arriving in Brazil, Yuu Kamiya had everything prepared and warned his wife as follows:
“When I went to Brazil with my wife:
Me: ‘Okay, we’re about to arrive at the airport in Brazil. Change into the old clothes I prepared. Take off your watch and any jewelry. We need three wallets—assume we’ll lose the first two. And no speaking Japanese until we get to the car. Don’t let go of my hand.’
Wife: ‘…What kind of country is this?’
Me: ‘A country where the crime rate is 102 times higher than in Japan.’”
Unfortunately, this is a part of Brazil that, to be honest, I don’t think will ever improve. No one seems willing to fix it, and it might stay the same or even get worse.
“Me: ‘Things like iPhones and Apple Watches are especially valuable, so don’t use them outside under any circumstances. The latest models disappear like magic.’
Wife: ‘Oh… so that’s why we’re using these old, cheap Androids…’
At least, it was like that five years ago. I wonder if things have improved now… well, probably not.”
It hasn’t improved at all. You were fully prepared to face Brazil with your wife, congratulations, and it’s likely that in five years nothing will change either.
“Bang! Bang!
Wife: ‘…I keep hearing this every day. Does São Paulo set off fireworks this often?’
Me: ‘Those are gunshots.’
Wife: ‘…’
Near where I used to live, I also heard a lot of “fireworks.” I was younger and always wondered if they were really fireworks or bullets; I never found out.
Finally, after only speaking the truth about Brazil, Yuu Kamiya tried to “soften” his country’s image to the Japanese audience. He said:
“…I don’t want it to seem like I’m just bashing my homeland. Sure, Brazil has security issues, but it depends on the area. There are safe places too (though still not as safe as Japan). The food is delicious, and there are lots of great things about it. Personally, I like the laid-back attitude of Brazilians—it’s easygoing, even if sometimes a bit careless. It has its pros and cons, but it makes life feel more relaxed.”
Some Japanese who saw Yuu Kamiya’s posts decided to comment, including a few who had already been to Brazil. Let’s see their reactions:
“Brazil was dangerous even decades ago. When I went, the guide said that in Rio, there were no safe places; only dangerous, very dangerous, and extremely dangerous areas!”
“By the way, Japanese people are seen as wealthy. When an expatriate was robbed, he was told, ‘If you’re Japanese, you should be carrying more money,’ and even got scolded.”
“Hearing this, you might think Brazil is scary, but of all the countries I’ve visited, it’s the one I liked the most. I’d even say I like it more than Japan and would consider living there forever, it’s that fascinating.”
“That’s true. A Brazilian who worked at my company was robbed and killed while walking around looking tidy after he returned to Brazil. If you dress up and get all excited just because you’re traveling, you could really get into trouble. It’s best to look like you don’t have money. Also, when you go to the U.S., it’s good to have $30 cash in your pocket.”
“To give an easy example: in Japan, the murder rate is 0.23 per 100,000 people/year, while in Brazil, it’s 20 per 100,000. In a city of one million people, Japan would have 2 murders a year, while Brazil would have 4 per week. Of course, this is an average; there are safer places and more dangerous ones. By the way, in South Africa, the number is 45 per 100,000, or more than one per day.”
“About 20 years ago, a friend of the mother of the Brazilian I lived with got robbed during a visit to Brazil and was beaten up severely. A relative of his also lost an arm in a bus hijacking…”
“I used to think Brazil was a cheerful country because people seemed so relaxed, but I learned it’s actually really dangerous.”
“Seeing this, Japan really seems like heaven…”
via Você Sabia Anime