I love him but....

[witchwillow]

Hiro Nakamura is not Japanese.

I know it seems like he is. He speaks Japanese, looks Japanese, has a Japanese corporate mogul father and a Japanese sister and most of all he has a Japanese salary-man as his best friend. But on tv, he's not Japanese.

Comments

[witchwillow]

I was trying to discuss how he might be viewed by white-fans. Recently someone revealed to me that they had no idea a Filipino-Canadian actress was in fact a person of color.

In some of my reply-comments, I bring up the fact that while Hiro is one of the two characters from Japan (Ando being the other one) that I wonder (and often feel) as if he's coded in a way that white male geek fans might identify with him more as 'one of them' than as someone who is Japanese.

My point about him not being brown is a reference to the fact that once upon a time Italians, Poles and Greeks weren't considered white and now they are.

Hiro has quite a prominent role in Heroes. Granted it's been pointed out to me that anyone who's main plot focus isn't 'Save New York' or can't be attached to 'Save New York' has had their arcs minimized or dropped.

Still I wonder if Japanese cultural appropriation has reached a point where the writers might be unconsciously treating Hiro as white guy who views and interacts fannishly and geekly through a Japanese filter instead of as a Japanese fanboy.

Please peruse the other comments, I think some other people have managed to phrase my thinking much better. I think I might have to take a break from the conversation and come back.

[evilgrins]

Fairly sure Hiro isn't being viewed in that manner, nor intended to be. The fact he's still around is amazing it itself as he was originally written to only be around for a couple episodes.

[sabotabby]

Seriously? I've read no background on the show, but it struck me that he was intended from the beginning to be a main character.

[evilgrins]

Try this: Clicky!

[sabotabby]

Wow, that would have sucked. I'm glad they changed the plans!