hetalia | [opinions?] My thoughts on Hetalia in a Philippine daily

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[opinions?] My thoughts on Hetalia in a Philippine daily

Hello Hetalia nakamas~

I recently wrote an article for the local newspaper, The Manila Bulletin, about my thoughts on Hidekaz Himaruya's Hetalia. A friend of mine needed an article for our organization's column, and I thought this was the perfect opportunity for me to explore my opinions, perhaps a thorough look into Himaruya's work.

This is my take on Hetalia -- why I love it, adore it, and why I sometimes feel sad about it. I thought I'd share this with you guys because I was hoping to have a healthy exchange of opinions with the series, why you started reading it and why you continue to read it still.

You may read the article here. It was actually published today. ^^;; Or yesterday, since it's past midnight my time now. I hope the community doesn't mind that I gave a link to the scanlation tag. My country doesn't exactly understand Japanese and I was hoping that this would trigger them to explore the comic and maybe history.

P.S. They also asked me to give examples for the column, so I used some scanlated ones (Germany training with Italy + Italy giving Japan a ride around Italy) for the benefit of the readers. I hope you guys don't mind. I did not profit anything from this article since our organization, Read Or Die, is a non-profit one. The article does link to both Himaruya and the community at the end.

P.P.S. Don't know how to really categorize this post. ;3; halp?

EDIT: The newspaper's website has reset to accomodate this day's section and the article's been taken off. I've placed a copy of it in my website. :)

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I'm surprised to see another pinoy here. :) Hello!

Hrmm... I really didn't write it with the intention of bringing more fans or pimp it to give more love. The intention was to introduce people to Hetalia and maybe understand its historicity as a comic.

If more people come in because of what I've written, I hope that they come with my ending note in mind, with the keen interest for history and its potential.

I think the growing fanbase is healthy. I just wish some people adhere to rules in the comm. ;3;

BL notwithstanding, the scanlations for the strips and author comments made me understand the core principles of historic events that I completely did not understand. That's why I'm sticking around.

Indeed! I think I can learn more about History this way than through my teachers, blargh! Not that I should depend on these comics, but it's such an easy way to learn like this. |D

hahahaha! Don't rob your teachers of having a moment to shine! (Unless they're just reading to you what's already in the book and made you memorize stupid stuff)

Actually, I became a history major in college because of my history teacher in high school. Being a history major appeared fruitless in the beginning, but once all my history classes kicked in, my history teachers gave me some of my most important lessons in life. <3

XD; EXACTLY. We were FORCED to learn not taught to love it. Of course, some are naturally born history geeks but, alas. :P We were taught the presidents and the dates of special events. More on the spanish period methinks.

Once, I asked my History teacher (a graduate of UST with multiple degrees, I think) things about Prussia and other random history questions from Hetalia, and he was s flustered because he didn't know some of the things I was saying~ And then he asked me, "where did you get all that knowledge from?" and I said "a book". He said "can I borrow it?" and I just smiled and said no because then he'd know it was Hetalia... XD

It was published TODAY?! D: Sayang di ko alam~

Haha Khursten, making more Filipinos read Hetalia /o/ congrats!!

Hahaha~ Yukeh and I bought our copies earlier on our way to LO. lolz. >w<

I'll say, I can't believe your guts, kabayan. ^^v

I think its a good article - reveals good and bad sides of hetalia.

I am aware of tragedy which has been hapening during the wars, from the other hand i do not take hetalia as something "real".
All the countries relationship is a great material for comic and more than awesome characters. All country has its good and bad sides too.
When i read hetalia i cant think about "real" events which took place but i simply consider it as another fun comic.
maybe its because im light headed like that haha ;

One thing i must admit to hetalia - I started to be interested in history and i really feel bad that i can no longer be in highschool to listen to the lesson XD

I think not being in high school should stop you from listening or studying history. :) There are great books out there for you to read. :)

If I may recommend, some of my favorite books on WWII is "Inside the Third Reich" by Albert Speer and "Night" by Elie Wiesel.

That was a very good article, and it goes - in its critical part - straight to the point over one of the things that has always worried me about Hetalia: it's historically incorrect.

Don't get me wrong, I'm convinced the mangaka did his homework, often to the point that he reveals upon us details that we had no idea about. However, just like a children's book glazes over details in order to reach its target audience, so does Hidezaku with Hetalia.

It's not the humorous approach that I particularly disagree with: history, as we all know, is full of horrors, some of which are so absurd when looked with an ice-cold eye, that they are outright hilarious. In fact, sometimes we have to laugh in order not to cry. Of course, making history funny is... tricky at best.

Like I said before, much like first grade history books, Hetalia leaves out some details in order to reach the readership. No one would complain about that, because it's necessary in order to get the job done.

In a time where education is gravely failing society, Hetalia serves a similar function. The fact a comic can actually help people learn about history, even if from the comedic perspective, should be considered a good thing-- provided that you encourage the reader to look into the actual facts in order to understand them better.

In fact, I'd dare to say that the problem with Hetalia is that it isn't bold enough.

But this, too, is necessary.

We live in a time where objectivity is lauded (in many ways, reasonably). Nobody wants to pass judgment on historical events anymore, lest they eventually find out that they had some facts wrong and realize their position was shamefully erred. Sometimes, people simply withhold judgment in order not to offend others - put simply, people like to be politically correct. It's safe. And that safety is something the mangaka relies on in order to get the story published... otherwise, it simply wouldn't fly.

But that doesn't mean it's right.

Japan did monstrous things in World War II. Few people actually know the extent of it, and even on the China/Japan strip, Hidekazu admits he was surprised by the things he found online about it. However, I'm convinced if he were to portray Japan more accurately, the result would be a much less likable character - and the end of any chance of Hetalia being published in Japan. Goodness knows Germany didn't fall behind on the atrocities, and hey, how about Russia and the horrors of communism?

However, if you look at the fanart, people seem to take pity on Japan/Kiku Honda for the fact that Alfred subdued him. Others simply smear him with a nice layer of nobility and melancholy and then leap forth to the delicious boy love.

Therein one of the grave problems with Hetalia. It can never be historically accurate because of the intended genre, and the audience it's directed to. A vicious circle emerges: the audience and the publishing rules force the mangaka to create a skewed view in history, and in turn, that skewed view further bends the mind of the reader.

Like you said in your article, Hetalia has to be taken with a grain of salt. Or rather, I'd suggest Hetalia is taken with a history book by your side, or perhaps with a phone so that you can call your oldest relatives and ask them what they remember about the days when this wasn't history, but present fact.

I think that is should be bolder, but it's a business, and in order to keep it published things get glazed over. Perhaps this is one reason why Hidekaz has kind of ignored making a character for the philippines (seeing as it was so important to the US in World War II, what japan did there was pretty bad.) But it's a comic, and it's made me more interested in history (to the point where I'm EXCITED to go to history class during the day), and if a webcomic can do that I suppose it's a good thing.

Funny, my friends and I were wondering where Philippines is in Hetalia. Funnier still is how there is really little documentation about it in Japan and in the text.

I actually have to research on that... just to see how Philippines is presented in history to Japan.

And I'm happy that it made you excited to go to history class! <3 <3

That's actually could be said with my country (Indonesia) too during WW II, Japan once occupied it for about 3 1/2 years to get raw products like oil, foods, and such because America did economic embargo on him. And for that 3 1/2 years, Japan caused damage far more greater than decades of Dutch colonial era, mind you -_-;;, And according to my friend who have Japanese friends, it's not even get documented in their history books.

But well, I still love Hetalia anyway, it makes me more concern about world histories as well as mine ^ ^

I'm glad that you and I share the same opinion.

And that safety is something the mangaka relies on in order to get the story published... otherwise, it simply wouldn't fly.

But that doesn't mean it's right.

Truefax here. And I cannot agree more. And you chose the perfect strip that even got me to start writing about this anyway, that China and Japan strip which I felt missed so much details that rather having a very holistic view as much as she does with the European story, it was rather one-sided and very tragic.

It is interesting how despite the historical connections ingrained in Hetalia, it still remains flawed because of its comic appeal and need to 'sell' to a market. Yes, it could have been bolder, but being bold means pushing the boundaries and possibly really touching the sensitivities of the topic.

And yes a history book at hand is always the best solution. >w< But really, I doubt many here would even open a 500 page book on the Third Reich (And for the curious, I do pimp Albert Speer's "Inside the Third Reich" here). ^^;; But Wikipedia seems to help... ;3; If they click hard enough. ;3;

The sad truth about the world of today is that information really isn't as openly available as we'd like to imagine. The internet, yes, makes it easier to get some facts, but at the end of the day, some subjects such as history still demand us to make a very large investment in books.

And not everyone can afford (or has the access to) a large collection of books.

P.S #1:
I'm even afraid to say that such difficulties in finding literature are a small problem, compared to a widespread decay in education, proper. I am a college professor as well as a lawyer, and I've had students in law school who didn't know the difference between b.C and a.D dates. To be more precise, in two years of teaching, I have had students tell me that I've "written the dates backwards." A quick survey showed me that their high school education was dismal, at best. It wasn't their fault, they just had hideous schooling.

P.S #2:
While pimping, I'll pimp myself (doh hoh HOH), or rather, my efforts to make a little collaboration to the

nationslash community: I recently scanned a lot of images from a book called "An Illustrated Atlas of Fascism" which deals with Italian fascism and how it came about, how it presented itself, and how it ended. I still owe the community one image dump on that. Keep an eye out for it!

You said that quite well... all the more real in my country wherein spending Php1000($25) for a historical book is like robbery. And most books cost like that.

I guess this is where teachers come in. But even that... that is difficult. Not all share the same passion and enthusiasm and many have been disillusioned with how their students just don't care. You know, your PS#1 reminded me of how a good friend of mine just told me how some of her co-teachers either compensate for the lack of education kids get in their high schools, or lower their standards just to make the kids pass their grades. *sigh*

PS#2... lol. I didn't know about

nationshlash! >w< I feel like missing out. lol. Checking the pictures now. *w* Thanks for the pimp! >w<

I do agree with your opinion, indeed after I've read the actual facts on history books, I've found there are many inaccuracies in Hetalia. But nonetheless, it's Hetalia that made me determined enough to wade through this piles of huge and thick books to search for the real facts.

Hetalia broaden my knowledge , and I'm very thankful for it ^ ^
Well, we know since it's being made into a manga, there must be some inaccuracies on board (for profit matters) so if we want to know the real facts, history books come in handy ;D (at least, most of us think so

However, if you look at the fanart, people seem to take pity on Japan/Kiku Honda for the fact that Alfred subdued him. Others simply smear him with a nice layer of nobility and melancholy and then leap forth to the delicious boy love.

And lots of it -_-;;, I'm sorry for this is just my subjective point of view, but knowing what Japan really looks like on WW II, I kinda pass out those ideas of Japan's portrayal.

Like I said, Hetalia is (and has to be) not unlike a first grade history book. It can't have *all* the facts, but it should inspire you to read them.

And it's alright, MINE was also a perfectly subjective opinion, too. As I'm going to be very subjective and say it now: the biggest pet peeve I have with Hetalia is Kiku Honda. I could go on for hours just talking about the problems I have with him, from the fact I find him to be a bit of a Marty Stu, to the way he reflects the disturbing fashion in which modern Japan covers up its past. He simply bothers me... specially because every other piece of work about him makes it seem like he wants to go back to the "glory days." Doesn't it seem like it? Those dead, glazed eyes, the demure attitude, they all make it seem like we should pity Kiku because he's no longer out there, stabbing and raping the rest of the nations.

I even wonder if Hidekazu didn't portray him any more accurately simply because he doesn't know better. After all, I've heard there's a disturbing void of information over in Japan about the country's war-day deeds.

Marty Stu, hehehe this one makes me laugh so bad XDD

Agree, for that very reasons, he's the only character I found really disturbing in this Hetalia fandom. Though I love every pieces of Hidekaz's strips, I always frown a little in strips that involve Kiku in historical event. I thought maybe part of it because, well, Hidekaz is Japanese, maybe he couldn't help let out his nationalism onto his works, which, I wouldn't mind to some extend ^ ^;;. But the real reason I found him more disturbing is the fact that he always pictured as the ultimate victim despite his carnivorous attitude to other nations at those time. Although, perhaps it's his way to express his guilty conscience?

Well, indeed from what I've heard from my friends who've lived in Japan, their WW II history records are sucks, and some of it clearly covers up what they've done to other nations in the past. I'll take an example on a history about Japanese occupation in my country for about 3 1/2 years, it's never mentioned in their history books though it caused damn a lot of hell to my country back then -_-; my friends even got into a fiery argue with their Japanese friends about that problem XD
This is the very reason why my opinion is really subjective ^ ^

Kiku's fans shouldn't read these posts XDD

"how about Russia and the horrors of communism?"
...Ivan is a crazy sadist, what more could you possibly want?

Regarding Japan, you're right, of course. The amount of strips, and fanart, portraying him as the victim is absolutely out of proportion to those portraying him as the aggressor.
On the other hand, the POV that Hetalia (both official strips & the fandom) presents is not without merit. Both sides committed some disgusting shit in WWII, but we Europeans don't usually hear anything negative about the Allies, while the Axis powers get the Evil Empire treatment automatically. So for Europeans (and Americans too, I assume) a dose of Hetalian victim!Japan ought to be really healthy.
It's absolutely not what the Japanese need more of, of course. But as an export article, it's useful.

Total, utter agreement with you here. In fact, I think that it is necessary that both sides own up to the historical facts - which are, as you said, those that leave it clear there were atrocities on both ends.

I just think Japan, with it's history of historical censorship, needs to own up a little more to it's dark history. Consider the fact that, even if Europe and America have a great deal of bias in their historic materials, you can still find out the truth without digging too deeply (though that doesn't mean it wouldn't be great if the facts were out in the open altogether.) However, in Japan, there's such an educational and media blackout on that part of history altogether, censorship that makes it much more necessary for them to be exposed to some actual material. I hope Hetalia will help with that in the future. It would be nice if the readers there actually learned something from it, even if only a tiny bit, a spark that would ignite their curiosity.

After all, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it", so said George Santayana.

I started reading Hetalia by accident...strange to say. I was finishing up reading Afganis-tan and I was looking for something else to read...I stumbled upon Hetalia, in japanese and found you guys on LJ who had scanlations!
I love it and continue reading it, because I appreate the history and the author's notes;I'm a total history freak, so that made my love for it grow even stronger. It makes a tear come to my eyes when people incorperate history into manga( Hetalia and others) and cartoons/anime (Liberity's Kids and Grave of the Fireflies etc...), it makes me happy and it gives people that don't like learning from textbooks, an alternative to learning it.
Hetalia has also inspired me to start drawing a 4-koma manga about United States history...it's in it's early stages, but it's coming along.
Overall, I love the history and the art...that's why I like Hetalia...and I hope in the future that the anime makes its way to the US.

Wow! that's sweet! I look forward to reading it!

In lieu of history, my friends also got me reading http://www.katebeaton.com She also touches on historical figures for her comics. She's dead funny. >w<

Thanks for the link!!! I've been searching for other history type webcomics in my spare time as well. I'll give it a read!

And I'll try my best on the whole US comic.

Oh hey there fellow pinoy!

My knowledge of WWI and WWI are basic at best, since when I was in elementary and high school, we talked about how the wars affected the Philippines more ~~lulz~~. I've always had an interest for history though.

Reading Hetalia makes me curious about what really happened during the world wars so after I read some of the strips, I google about what happened or read about it in Wikipedia XD;

Also, good article. I'm disappointed that I missed it :U

I somehow feel sad that I did not post this earlier. ^^;; I was busy for a convention I was preparing and I didn't want to preempt the newspaper. I feel like leaking a scan of Shounen Jump before it's even released. ^^;;

Maybe the library can help? *A* Or asking news stands/bookstores for the copy? It's just Sunday after all. ^^;;

I'm honestly amused that this post just drew Filipinos out from the comm. ^^;;

Thanks for reading. And wikipedia might be a good resolve, but not exactly the best. When I was a student, libraries were the best thing ever for my history feed. If you still have access to one, take advantage of it. Although I must admit that history books are quite thick. Hehe. ^^;;

...)8...
I don't have Manila Bulletin ;___;...

But oh my god I'm loving this article! Thank you <3~

I'm starting to like world history because of this series..XD
AT first, I really hate history. I'm always saying "Whys would bother such a history, this is already in past".

XD
But now, I'm a;ways searching for books for histories..XD

Hello! Just came by to say the article was good! I wish I could have bought the issue in which the articale was printed~ Then I would tell my classmates "MWAHAHAHAHAHA~! Our Hetalia is awesome! HEtalia was published on the Manila Bulletin~!"

I'm a contributor to our school's paper, too. Maybe I should write something about Hetalia~?

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[opinions?] My thoughts on Hetalia in a Philippine daily

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