Japanese Soft Power - Is Naruto a State Led Operation?

What if the reason Naruto has been more about talk than awesome jutsu lately is becasue the state of Japan has taken over the production of Naruto in order to not only create a better image of Japan but also to exert soft power over China? It may sound crazy but try to follow my logic.

1) Soft power is a concept created by Joesph Nye that states that countries will try to create power over other countries using attractive qualities of the state. Meaning that just by looking cool, Japan could be trying to exert power over other nations. Scholars have largely concluded that this hasn't worked too well for Japan, even though Japan is rated as having the top ten highest soft powers of all nations.

2) Naruto's message since the Pain arc has been to forgive and end the cycles of hatred that have been going on. Forgive and forget. Then the world will know true peace.

3) Japan was one of the most vicious nations before WWII, when it attacked China. It's wartime atrocities were legendary. To this day, Chinese and Koreans distrust and hate the Japanese.

4) Despite this, the Chinese and Koreans still consume anime.

5) What if the Japanese government has influenced Kishimoto to write about ending the cycles of hatred, forgiving and forgetting; in order to better relations with China and Korea, using Naruto as a soft power resource? Its possible that this is all an elaborate plot to bring world peace, or to better relations with other countries for economic and political benefit.

I developed this theory while writing a research paper on the soft power of Japan, which sadly I need to return to writing. As for the Naruto chapters lately, I can't wait to see what happens with Madara. Also I don't like that Obito is being forgiven so easily, but it is the entire moral of Naruto to end the cycles of hatred. Although no one liked Obito, people would still be mad at Kohnaha for his death, either because he came from Kohnaha or becasue they will be jealous that only leaf village shinobi actually killed him.  So it works, and improves the overall story, even though it lessens the action currently occurring. I do want to see a rasenganori, or Karin, or something from Sasuke. Let's see if Madara can be defeated!

Naruto 652 - Obito finished

Well Obito is having a stage of regrett and reminiscense. This must mean he is either going to die or go to the good side. More likely he is going to have a turnover moment like nagato did. So we finally get an end to the conflict, obito could get an enlightenment, and he will most likely die. Can't wait to see how naruto gets to change him around!

Naruto 651- obito defeated?

Well finally obito has his defenses penetrated by a combination naruto and sasuke attack. I'm really tired so I will just say that was really cool.

Naruto 650-Pure Awesome

This chapter was incredible. Seeing naruto and sasuke get shut down by obito, and then get up and form a combination nine tailed susanoo. Guah. The action was great and obito is as unstoppable as ever, but kakashi is hinting at a friendship no jutsu to stop obito in the end. I'm glad he is back.

Naruto 649-shikamaru survives

So this chapter showed Shikamaru surviving his lethal injury. I'm getting slightly irritated by the lack of action and continuous survival of Naruto's friends. Especially when Shikamaru was hit with an attck that killed everyone else instantly. Can't wait to see Naruto and Sasuke do something.

Naruto 648-Sasuke's sage mode

Most of this chapter was flashback. Although flashbacks provide good knowledge and make re-reads more enjoyable, it is a short term annoyance. Also the many two pages frames greatly shortened the chapter. That said I will focus on the current parts of the chapter. First of all, Naruto took minato's half of the nine tails. This allowed him to re gain full nine tailed mode even though his chakra was previously sucked out.

Also Sasuke seems have always had a sage mode of his own. The curse mark originated from juugo's sage mode like abilities. It so follows that he can coat his susanoo in curse mark chakra by having juugo close inside. Sasuke knows the curse mark so well, that he can use the chakra output from juugo to make his attacks just as effective as naruto's. Obito has no chance. I loved that frame with both of them attacking at the same time.

Second hokage said that sasuke csn surpass madara which isnt surprising, the question is when. Will it happen in this battle, against naruto later, or later as hokage?  Only time will tell. Weird how Obito plans on killing Naruto and Sasuke. I thought he had plans for them. I predit a look into those plans in the coming chapters, as well as somr serious smackdowns by naruto and sasuke.

Naruto 647-Shikamaru dies? Sasuke Attacks

This is one of the best chapters in a while. The tree killed so many people, and it even got Shikamaru! Now he is on the edge of life and death. It was really sad to see. Naruto looks like he is out for the count, and the kages/ orochimaru are only just starting to show up. The alliance moral is low, and the first hokage's encouragment isn't working. Obito sends another giant section of tree at the alliance. Right before the massacre, guess who shows up to save the day? Sasuke-kun!

Sasuke goes into his susannoo mode that usually shoots arrows, but this time it has a sword. It slices through the tree root, which is the size of a small mountain and Sasuke says "naruto is that all you got, I'm just getting started." Friggin beast! Then naruto has a series of flashbacks reminding you of naruto's failures and regrets, triggering saddness. Then everyone gains moral (naruto kicks first hokages's ass in that department). Naruto goes full beast mode and the two of them look ready to rip it up. I can't wait to see them race to the top of that tree!

Naruto 646-A depressing tale

This chapter made me sad. To see all those people dying, Naruto losing his nine-tailed chakra, and Obito going ham with the ten-tails. This is good however, because it should be the darkest part of the series.  Naruto now faces a seemingly insurmountable task, his power has already peaked, and the moon's eye plan is about to pull through.  It seems nothing can stop Obito.  Except Madara. Madara doesn't like how Obito took the ten-tails all for himself. Maybe Obito's undoing has something to do with Madara turning against Obito and/or Kakashi making an epic comeback.

The Third Hokage sure made an epic comeback by saving Naruto from the tree of doom. And yet I get the story with the tree and all but I actually didn't need that info. I'd rather see more fighting than realize every ninja is related to one guy whose mom went Adam and Eve on us by eating a fruit from the ten-tails. It gives meaningless background.  I left this chapter with a frown on my face, but that was the effect it was designed to have.  SO it is still a good chapter, but a sad and slow one.

Next time... the friggin tree needs a chainsaw to the face or something, I don't know. I guess its going to be Obito vs Madara and first hokage has time to make a real difference in the battle. All the alliance needs to do is destroy the tree bud at the top before it sprouts. Expect a race against time to the top of the tree. Hopefully Sasuke comes to the rescue, seeing as he has not done much yet and still has most of his chakra.  This is his time to shine.  See you next week!

Attack on Titan - Initial Review

Well I joined an anime club. While there we watched the first three episodes of Attack on Titan. It was really cool. The main character is seeking revenge like sasuke and is confident as naruto for becoming hokage.

The only negative is the in-show censorship. I mean, after watching Elfen Lied, this seems like baby stuff. Naked giants and people being eaten alive, but with minimal nudity and no gore.  It's probably just me but I like when does don't have to do this. Either go all out or don't have all the giants naked! This is kind of ridiculous though. It wouldn't make sense for them to be clothed, and the lack of gore makes it viewable by a larger audience.

Overall dark, epic, funny, and smart I give it a 5/7 (great) so far.  I heard it gets better too!

Naruto 645 - Ninetailed sage mode!

This was an epic chapter! I can't believe the sage mode nine tail eyes made a comeback! Minato and naruto are unbelievably strong together. Even tobi was like "I can't handle this much longer, time to go ahead with my plan."  Infinite tsukuomi is imminent. This indicates that the fight we have been witnessing the past year and a half or so is finally wrapping up.

This is bitter sweet. On the one hand, this fight has been on a scale usually reserved for the climax of the best mangas. After this war is over, we are FINALLY done with the akatsuki. Sasuke and orochimaru will become the main attraction, as they fight naruto for the position of hokage.  Did you see Sasuke in this chapter? He was just sitting there wonderinv how naruto could be so strong. There was literally nothing for him to do. Naruto once again has surpassed Sasuke by leaps and bounds. And we all know what happened ghe firdt time Sasuke got jelly.

You can't even begin to predict the next chapter, but I think maybe even madara will try to delay the ten tails so he can fight the first longer. And Sasuke will poop his pants. See you next week!

Naruto 644 - Giant teleportation

OK so this chapter was good in that we saw how Minato and Naruto together have the potential to be insanely powerful.  This was already assumed but nonetheless, the fact that EVERYONE in the shinobi alliance was teleported away using Kurama's chakra displays how powerful it is.  Also we discover that the Second Hokage invented the Shadow Clone jutsu. Pretty impressive stuff man.  By the way I'm glad we got to see Killer Bee since we have not seen him in a while. I thought he would be much more powerful and useful than he's being right now.  The explanations for this are that he has been fighting the longest and is injured, and the jump in power from 8 to 9 tails is by far the greatest.  Still, it seems weird for the 8 tails to be relying on Kurama's chakra.

I can't wait to see what this duo does next.  Naruto and his dad together, with a full powered nine tails.  This next chapter has the potential of being the best since Naruto first melded his chakra with Kurama.  I predict... idk the ressurection of the nine tails?!  Like, one swipe of the tail creates tsunamis and topples mountains type-deal. No more half-assed 4.5 tails (not to say it wasn't awesome before).  So yeah i'll blog next week! :)

627: Sasuke's Reply- Sasuke Will Fight Madara!

This is the best non- combative chapter ever. Hands down.  Sasuke is now my favorite character.  First Sasuke and the others discussed their options and reviewed Madara's plan.  Sasuke weighed his decision to destroy Konoha or fight Madara based on everything his brother ever said to him.  It seemed as though Itachi's final words lifted the pressure of "avenging" Itcahi off of Sasuke's shoulders.  Now that Sasuke is free  to carry out his own dreams, he decided to protect everything that Itachi and every other shinobi fought so hard top achieve.  Sasuke could not let the world be governed by Madara as one huge "perfect world." He realized that shinobi fight for true peace and work to achieve that goal.  Madara's method skips past that work and negates all of it.  Sasuke is better than that.

Since that decision the hogakes are ready to go.  Minato will get to fight alongside Naruto, the third will be able to repay some of his mistakes and fight alongside Orochimaru, the second will eliminate the Uchiha he never trusted, and the first will settle things with Madara once again.  Its great!  I heard someone mention the Minato-Obito relationship. That should be an interesting conversation.  Kakashi will be able to see his former sensei as well!

Of course, surrounded by heavyweight fighters, Shigetsu feels out of place and tries to escape.  However he is stopped by non other than Karin, who is flustered with Sasuke stabbing her. However everything goes back to normal because she still loves him.  She is surprised to see Orochimaru who says "yeah Sasuke stabbed me too, but I suggest you go with the flow." That was funny.  I also liked the look on Sasuke's face when Karin leaned on him.  He's like "Get of B***ch!"  There were quite a few humorous and quaint moments.  To cap it off, the four Hogakes stood on their four statues carved in the rock.  Stuff is about to go down!!! 

oops... ending flashbackception

Yeah i forgot last week.  oh well I have so much going on with school between choosing my college and studying for AP Exams. No time to blog.  But heres I is.  That last Naruto chapter was cool, but now I want to finally finish flashbackception (flashback of the young 1st Hokage in the middle of a flashback of the final fight with madara vs 1st Hokage).  I can't wait to see what Sasuke has to say.  He could become good or remain evil.  I feel like he will not answer this question until he goes to the battlefield himself.  If they all go, it would really help the alliance out.  They are really struggling.

During my hiatus from using this blog, I have read the Death Note manga, watched the original Yu-Gi-Oh! anime and the Bleach anime (skipping filler) and now I am reading bleach manga.  I'm still about 50 chapters behind the present. I have to say, Naruto is not the the and only awesome anime/manga.  I was ignorant before.  I can honestly say bleach does just as much better than Naruto as Naruto has some things better than bleach.  Death Note I see as on another level/genre and Yu-gi-oh was geared for young kids, but pulled at the heartstrings more than the others.  Some Anime I have seen is just bad.  But im happy to finally be a "wellrounded" anime fan, rather than a simple narutard.  That being said I still think Naruto is the best.  Out of 7, Naruto is a 7 (perfect), bleach is 6 (Excellent), Death Note 6, Yugioh 4 (good).

I'm back

Its been a while (half a year) but I'm going to start posting again since I have gained 768 page views!  I hope to entertain you people at least a little, and if you guys leave feedback in any way that would be cool.  Can't wait for the chapter tomorrow, but I also want to be over with this flashbackception already.  See ya tomorrow!