Former Naruto Editor Claims Foreign Fans Lack Reading Comprehension

In 2019, an interview with Yahagi Kosuke, Naruto‘s editor, was translated and sparked discussions among international manga fans. The interview delved into the manga industry and revealed behind-the-scenes details about popular series like One Piece and Naruto.

Former Naruto Editor Claims Foreign Fans Lack Reading Comprehension

The most controversial part of the interview was Yahagi’s statement regarding foreign readers’ comprehension. He said:

“The drama in ONE PIECE is very interesting. On the other hand, NARUTO is easier to understand due to the action and other aspects rather than the drama. I have children, and when I show them Naruto, what they understand the least is the drama.

Children feel satisfied just by looking at a well-drawn picture. For example, if the image has good perspective or the sky is clearly visible, they’ll say, ‘I like this.’ So, it’s about whether it catches their interest at first glance.

We’ve been reading manga for a long time, so we tend to analyze more deeply what makes manga interesting. But many people abroad don’t understand Japanese manga. I think this is probably because they lack the literacy or reading comprehension skills. So, in the end, NARUTO doesn’t require that level of reading comprehension.”

After the interview went viral on Twitter, fans quickly started debating the editor’s controversial remarks. Here are some of the top reactions:

• “Just stating facts.”
• “Wow, that’s the famous Naruto editor talking.”
• “Is he wrong? I’m shocked some of you graduated high school.”
• “The way y’all were arguing about Sasuke being stronger the other day, he might be on to something.”
• “He’s right. In India, manga is seen as just a source for anime, not an art form.”
• “OMG, I’VE BEEN SAYING THIS FOR YEARS. NARUTO HAND HOLDS EVERYTHING FOR YOU.”
• “Using Naruto fans as an example is perfect. Now they’re praising future-seeing powers as multiversal while mocking Yhwach’s infinite future-seeing abilities.”
• “People still have a lot of misconceptions about Naruto.”
• “Hilarious take, since the editors took all the fun and violence out of Naruto.”
• “This explains so much. Why GT is so hated, why Midoriya is criticized, and why Yamcha is treated like trash. Western fandoms just can’t appreciate Eastern media properly.”
• “Considering your average Twitter discussion, he’s absolutely right.”

You can read the full interview [here].

via Você Sabia Anime