No "black" characters in Naruto?

[Tke6191]

how come there are no black characters in the magna or anime i haven't seen one black person throught

[Zhang_Fei]

Maybe cause ninjas come from Japan and they are all Asian?

[Euraj]

There have been a few in general anime, but they're usually annoying or have no importance. I would say that it's because African or Afro-American culture has no effect on the Japanese, but then you have things like Samurai Champloo. I guess they just don't want to draw us.

When it comes to Naruto, that's just a fictional universe based on Japanese mythology, so there's reason to have any black folk... Besides Afro-Thunder Gai.

[TWF]

how come there are no black characters in the magna or anime i haven't seen one black person throught

Because the Japanese are a very racial culture, not saying that they are racist, just they have few influences or understandings on blacks. Besides, they very highly idolaize Caucasians.

Edit: I almost forgot, Kidoumaru is dark-skinned character in Naruto, a member of the Sound Four.

[mootz]

because blacks are not the ninja type.

if anything maybe we can pull of samurai but ninjas are to much of a stretch

[Lainex9]

Maybe cause ninjas come from Japan and they are all Asian?

most of the naruto charcters are white only a handful are asian like tenten.

[Canute87]

Black ninjas are nonexistent.

[Wrath]

Naruto exists in a very strange state of societal and technological development. We've never seen a form of mass transportation, and without that your societies are going to remain much more racially homogenised than in our world. See, the Naruto "world" that we know is actually a single continent, and judging by the times it takes for people to move from one country to another not a particularly vast one. There are therefore presumably other continents with people of other races, and we just don't see them.

[Kyon]

Kidomaru was kind of black.

Probably because it's hard to ink in darker skinned characters without like...merging them into the background.

The world will never know o.O

[Micah]

If you must know, learn Japanese then ask Kishimoto, he would know.

[Instant Karma]

Hmm..


I imagine their version of black was someone like Asuma. Other than that, the answer pretty much exsists in the culture of the creator of the manga itself.

[Whitest Rose]

I think it's because Japan is not made up of African Americans....
And their culture has nothing to do w/ African Americans. ^^

There are African American anime/manga characters, but very few, and none in NARUTO.

For example, in the FMA anime, the only black character I remember is a librarian woman at the front desk... And she only appeared for a few seconds... Never to be seen again....

BLEACH... has about 2 or 3... I just started that series, so I don't know. ^^'...

So, that's what I think. :nod

[Batman]

As far as I can tell, there aren't any asian characters either. There are characters that have asian characteristics, but for the most part they're white.

[dummy plug]

Maybe cause ninjas come from Japan and they are all Asian?

absolutely...:)

[Cirus]

I could give some lame or stupid answer but that would just end up causeing more headaches. So I will just say that he doesn't have any inspiration in the manga when it comes to race. So he just does what he knows.

[~Zaxxon~]

If this is a whole different world in general, then how can they be Asian, if Asia does not exist? :huh

[Batman]

If this is a whole different world in general, then how can they be Asian, if Asia does not exist? :huhShhh, you'll cause a breach in the space time fabric.

[Sexy]

u must dont remember there r one Kidomaru

here prove

http://www.naruto-kun.com/naruto+characters/kidoumaru.html

[CrazyMoronX]

It's either because Japan isn't home to many blacks, or because Kishimoto is a giant racist.

I'm thinking there's a racist plot going on, here. :notrust

[Alice in Wonderland]

In all honesty: I think Kishimoto just didn't even thought about to include a black character in his manga. It did not come to his mind. You rarely see black characters in manga.

[General Mustang]

I think its because they base the characters on there own culture, which is all white

[Alice in Wonderland]

I think its because they base the characters on there own culture, which is all white
And has such things as pink hair :oh ?

I don't think Kishimoto is racist.

[Spanish Hoffkage]

Kidoumaru and Kakuzu are black. both strong

[itachi0982]

kidomaru is sorta.But it would be cool if their was

[Greed990]

You ever seen a black man in japan?

Common sense, not hard to comprehend people ._.

[Seto Kaiba]

There aren't any latino characters either. As far as I know ninjas are asian, and that is what they presumably are. Some of them do look caucasian though, but for many characters I can see asian features. You just have to look past the wild hairstyles to notice.

[Rokurai]

WTF kind of topic is...

This is just like asking, "How come Japan is near China instead of Africa?" It just is.

Besides, there's no black people in Japan...<_<



Can you imagine a Black Might Gai? He'd be like 3 times as strong as a Kyuubi.

[-Dargor-]

That spider-guy was dark-skinned

http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/2650/naruto2307rhdy9.gif

So that makes one.

Anyway naruto is fien the way it is, adding blacks just because people ask for it would be dumb, if the author sees it without blacks then so be it.

Besides most of the time blacks in animes either act dumb or look dumb except when they are girls.

[KrazyKiba]

Do you guys actually think they would put an african american into a ninja manga? I ont think so. Plus since its japanese, like many other of you had said, they are very nationalistic and like to represent themselves. Oh yeah, i do know a manga with african americans, dragonball. ( general black from R.R. army.)

[jakethesnake]

most of the naruto charcters are white only a handful are asian like tenten.

How do you tell the difference between a character like Tenten being Asian and another character not being Asian?

[Dre]

There are no black ppl in Japan, therefore there are none in Naruto.

[Cava]

its because ninjas are based from Japan duh. other animes like bleach have black ppl(tousen) because their plot is based on the afterworld, if all of the shinigamis are japanese it would've been funny, as if japan is the only country. then again i could be wrong...

[durtycheese]

WHO CARES....

[blackdragon2187]

There are no black ppl in Japan, therefore there are none in Naruto.

How do you know?
Pics or it didn't happend. :notrust

You ever seen a black man in japan

Yes i have...many times.

Where you might ask?...mangas and on TV.

Every few months a topic like this comes around, Kishimoto idolizes the creator of DB/DBZ, and did you see how he portrayed black people?

Also do you see how lazy Kish is to most of his other characters...it would be far too troublesome if he put any black people in the manga. >_<

[Jazz]

Ever see a black Asian guy? I thought not...

[Saosin]

Isn't Kakuzu a darker-skinned character?

Personally, I don't think it's that big of a deal.
If you're going to ponder about the lack of black people then you should also be pondering about the lack of catholics or homosexuals for example. It doesn't really affect the story in any way... =/

[blackdragon2187]

Ever see a black Asian guy? I thought not...

lol?

Where are you from?...becuase clearly you haven't been to NYC.~

Or you never seen the japanese singer Crystal Key? Her mother is Korean and her father is African..nuff said.

[Terrence Urameshi]

There have been a few in general anime, but they're usually annoying or have no importance. I would say that it's because African or Afro-American culture has no effect on the Japanese, but then you have things like Samurai Champloo. I guess they just don't want to draw us.

When it comes to Naruto, that's just a fictional universe based on Japanese mythology, so there's reason to have any black folk... Besides Afro-Thunder Gai.You make a good point. I agree with the fact that there are very few blacks in Japan, and there wouldn't be much point in making them ninja. I'm glad someone brought up Samurai Champloo, because that's clear proof that blacks have some type of influence in Japan. Lol, plus it seems like the guy on bleach is trying to rap at the end. XD But yeah, I doubt it has anything to do with racism, just a lack of major influence.

[Hack_Benjamin]

i dont think there are that many black people in japan, in witch naruto takes place so... yeah

[INSANITY]

Maybe Kishimoto's never seen a black person. o_0

[jakethesnake]

lol?

Where are you from?...becuase clearly you haven't been to NYC.~

Or you never seen the japanese singer Crystal Key? Her mother is Korean and her father is African..nuff said.

So you referring to a person who is half African and half Korean and 0% Japanese. Even if you were to have a Japanese and African child that still would not be the norm/traditional Japaneses citizen for the time period or style that most of these Animes are written by.

There are no black people in most animes because it just doesn't necessarily fit the story line or time line for the most part.
It would be like having an Anime set in Africa and running across a village of Swedish tribesman .... not very likely.

[blackdragon2187]

So you referring to a person who is half African and half Korean and 0% Japanese.

That person said Ever see a black Asian guy? I thought not...

That's what i ment...Korean, is obviously asian.

I simply answer their question...i personally don't care whether there aren't any blacks in anime.

Next time try reading both of our quotes to see what i'm trying to make clear ok?~ :nod

[durtycheese]

lol?

Where are you from?...becuase clearly you haven't been to NYC.~

Or you never seen the japanese singer Crystal Key? Her mother is Korean and her father is African..nuff said.

its rare to see a half black and half asian, there r some of course but its rare. i do believe there r non in china cause bad things would happen to a half black person.

[JiNjo-Kiske]

What about Tobi? o_o

Just sayin'. I've never seen a hair of white skin on the guy.

[D1nonlynaruto]

how come there are no black characters in the magna or anime i haven't seen one black person throught

im pretty sure it's because it's an anime and it's based on ninja. :nod

although, there are other anime that have black characters in them, but they're not always ninja.

[Amaru]

Because...Kishimoto wanted Japanese and pseudo-white people only in his manga, which is reasonable because it's about ninja and I dare you to find Japanese text saying that they had a black ninja. Pseudo-white maybe but black no.

[Bitch]

You guys are saying that blacks cannot be ninja... yet whites can? lol

Some mangas/animes such as Samurai Champloo and Eureka 7 have black characters in them, but some do not. The Japanese people are very proud (possibly a bit too proud) of their race to care about others.

[D1nonlynaruto]

You guys are saying that blacks cannot be ninja... yet whites can? lol

Some mangas/animes such as Samurai Champloo and Eureka 7 have black characters in them, but some do not. The Japanese people are very proud (possibly a bit too proud) of their race to care about others.

hahaa...you never know these days!!! or do you??? :huh

[Cyclonus]

Kishimoto probably had no idea how to add a rapping ninja into the storyline.

[natwel]

You guys are saying that blacks cannot be ninja... yet whites can? lol

The Japanese people are very proud (possibly a bit too proud) of their race to care about others.

and too proud to have more than 1% of foreigners to live in their country. Did you know that it's near impossible for a non japanese to rent a flat. Regardless of job status, wealth and fluency in language? But kelly got on immediately without even being able to say ohayo gozaimasu. Why do celebrities get better treatment than us. Bitch!!!!!

But yeah the only blacks i've seen is eddy from beyblade and pablo from excel saga. For not letting westereners live there they seem to love us people, making tall curvy and pale anime characters and increasing number of japanese becoming cheesy pop groups and rap stars, and screaming over the arrival of good charlotte and paris hilton. It's a joke!!!!

[Cyclonus]

that whole kelly osbourne thing pissed me off.. I felt sorry for the japanese people that they had to endure that trash

[Dao]

because.... it's all about lazy cell shader... Black are harder to draw! O_O I mean... seriously.. If you even Watch anime at all The afro man.. It' about the crazed afro...

~daomoua2

EDIT:

Oh yeah.. One thing I forgot to mention... It's not like the Black had ever Influenced the Japanese.. I mean seriously... Not THat I'm hating but look at the history... Was it the Black that influence Japan back those 700 years of history? I think not... I swear man, it' alway about the white >>;

[Mr. Toto]

As far as I can tell, there aren't any asian characters either. There are characters that have asian characteristics, but for the most part they're white.

Sasuke looks pretty Asian to me, as far as I can tell. But yeah, we have Kidoumaru as being black, and at least one other future character that has dark skin as well.

Also, so much of this thread is so racist and ignorant that it pisses me off.

[Nuzents]

its probably to much of a trouble to do their lips without being racist. I mean, the tone of the skins getting it right would take a little longer i would think.

That one guy from the sound 4 will be the closest you get, he was drawn well, and they never did it again, since they knew he would die. You can just look at Gai's nose and imagine him with a afro :P

edit: besides, in this world, its one big ass continent, like ours never split up. I always thought of races coming about because of the placement of the continent and the sun. Asian eyes where slanted because of the horizon of the sun or some crap, and made them see better. African's where black because it had less of an effect on their bodies from all the heat they got down there. Mexican's half way because they where a bit further up, but not as much as Europeans. Same with Indians, they where darker from the Sun exposer. All having to do with pigments over many years. Though this crap i used to think about when i was younger....but yeah, think about if we only had one continent, would everyone be the same color??

[sangofluter8448]

Isn't Yoruichi from Bleach black? She's pretty cool too. I would think that a black ninja would be the best, so good that Sasuke couldn't keep up. Honestly, the character would either be really, really good or greatly demeaned.

[moezee]

you rearly see black people and any anima magna or cartoon around the world even black people dont draw black people

[moezee]

really i dont think it a race thing and lets not make it a race thing naruto is fine the way it is im black and i realy cant see a black ninja but maybe akuma from sreet fighter

[Davit]

i wouldn't consider obiki, or gaara's sensei to be full asian or white...they have a dark complextion...

[Kazuma-Kiriyu]

I dont know why there are no blacks in naruto, and i dont think its because of racisim, i mean in afro samurai the main guy is black

[UltraJounin]

Whaddya mean?!?!

I thought Lee and Gai were black... just light skin :)

[donmonly]

i have no idea. maybe black people aren't ninja types.

[Stilgar]

What about Tobi? o_o

AHAHAHAHAH. Oh, that's wrong. I'm black, and even I couldn't help but laugh at that.

[Katta San]

There are only no black people because ninja came from japan, most people are Asian there, so there you have it.

[Kalep]

kidomaru isint black. he looks more arabian


anyway there arent many black characters in manga/anime just like there isint much black anime/manga fans. im mix

[sukettebayo]

how come there are no black characters in the magna or anime i haven't seen one black person throught

Well, I actually have no idea why theres no black people in naruto. I guess it could be that they don't think its important to include people from all different ethnic groups in the show and thats probably cause people in japan dont care about that stuff. I think that viewers/readers like you really aren't getting the point of the show. The show is not a racist statement, its a kid show for god sakes, it was meant to tell a story with relateable characters regardless of there skin color. Dont think that I'm busting your chops for making this thread, I actually think it's a topic that needs to be discussed but you have to realize it's a cartoon, politics and race have nothing to do with it. Naruto is about losing yourself in another world, one where the troubles of life do not apply. So why try to bring up the topics of the world that we already live in, you need to immerse yourself in the show and realize that kishimoto is not here to make political statements but to create a world where you would want to live in. So don't over analyze things that dont need to be over analyzed about, just watch the show or read the manga and ENJOY!

BTW for those in the thread who tried to be political correct, "African americans" are people of African descent who live in the United states. They wouldn't be called that if they lived in konoha.

[Daikatana]

Its kinda like why there aren't black people in the Jetsons...

....and no its not "Because there aren't black people in the future" (ROFL)

Its because the author may have not been exposed to to darker skinned people and didn't think to put them in. The man is Japanese, hes been around other asians or white people all his life.

Who cares its just fiction anyway..

[Woodrokiro]

They're all Japanese, and, like what Euraj said, they don't really have much of an effect on the Japanese.

[Up In FlameZ♥]

heres a black character xD

http://img38.exs.cx/img38/9008/gai5dp.gif

[sassuke55]

I first would like to say that K413 what do you mean no/few black anime fans!?? I am black and I know tons of black anime fans. Infact the guy who told me about Naruto like two or three years ago was black and Gay. So there are plenty of all types who like manga.

Now I don't think the TC was missing the point of the manga but like him having seen DBZ and Naruto and Airmaster and some others Fist of the Northstar you wonder why is there no one that looks like me do they have tv? And I don't buy how many blacks do you see in Japan because alot of the black singers from US like Janet Jackson Sell 2x there what they do here. But I will say this also in Kishimoto's defense U.S Dominated Japan in WW2 and has had Controling Intrest in Japan for 50+ years and the US is run by mostly white people which influences their culture. So that's most likely why. I would like to see more black anime characters but I won't hold his culture against him esp since I don't know the man. Although Naruto is clearly white blonde hair blue eyes me and him are both Libra's so hey Its cool plus its a cartoon!

[NaraShikamaru21]

I dunno. It probabaly comes back to the more general question, "Why are there so few black people in anime/manga in general?"

It's probably 'cause there are very few black people in Japan. Blacks, or any other race, for that matter, don't have a large influence on Japanese culture, so, really, all the manag artists in Japan proabably feel they're drawing asian characters, whereas we just see them as white or otherwise. I suppose it all depends on perspective.

[sassuke55]

Nara shiki I agree with you. Its kinda like a white run gov oversees them.

[wraithguardstar]

most of the naruto charcters are white only a handful are asian like tenten.

sweet jesus.


if you find that many white people who speak japanese, i'll suck your dick.




You absolute waste, tenten is more *chinese* looking, see, all of Gai's team is.


incase you missed it, the teams have themes.


i'd ask if you read the manga, but i suppose you'd just look at the pictures anyway.

[B o n e s]

Have you people noticed that all the non-white caucasian-people are evil in Naruto?

Blue ppl (Kisame), green ppl (Zetsu), brown ppl (Kidomauro)..etc

If there was a black guy in Naruto, it would be evil too.

[(510)THIZZ]

LOL hell yeah, the akatsuki leader is gonna be black you just wait.But yeah, how many asians do you see.........none lol they all look like white people(very few look asian) with japanese clothes on.I've been wondering about this a long ass time ago.Not about the black part but why don't they draw THEMSELVES?I also heard about that usa taking over thing and something about honering whoever defeats them or some shit like that.

[kimidoll]

This is fiction, and there've been no black people in some '80's movies too in America, so why can't there be no black people in a manga? Plus, if Kishimoto wants to put in black characters, he'll do it

[Hana]

It's either because Japan isn't home to many blacks, or because Kishimoto is a giant racist.

I'm thinking there's a racist plot going on, here. :notrust

I KNEW IT! :laugh

[B o n e s]

I'm thinking there's a racist plot going on, here.
So Kishimoto is not only sexist, but ALSO racist?

At least we know he's not homophobic :amuse

[DragonReaper01]

Yeah, I don't think that race is even an issue in Japan, so it's not really a big deal.

[Jyunin_Kyuubigrl]

its rare to see a half black and half asian, there r some of course but its rare. i do believe there r non in china cause bad things would happen to a half black person.

It is rare to see a half black half asian but they are out there....as shameful as it is to say I watched flavor of love two and the girl Patience was from Hong Kong with a Chinese father and a black mother.

OT I think it's done more out of an oversight rather than a deliberate slight it's not as if Kishi intentionally ignored African Americans but not too many African Americans live in Japan, but there are some there ppl anyone who thinks there are no ppl of African descent in Japan is a bit naivee and crazy. While TenTen, Lee and a few others are the only ones who look Asian the others all appear white. And Kidomaru and Kakuzu appear to me as more Middle Easter colored than African colored---but it's a fictional story and it doesn't bother me that there's no one with my complexion there. I'm still watching so.

[Noctrine]

Well, my reasoning would work out something like this.

Naruto wasn't made for you. (Not to be taken like that really but you should get it by the end)

It was made for Japanese people. In Japan there aren't that many Black People. When you make a character for something like that the primary thing is having them as someone that the people can relate to. Hence why most Shonen Manga leading boys have attitudes ala Naruto, because children tend to act like that. So if the population of Japan is less than 10% Black what is the point in making a black character? While it would be nice to have something for the less than 10% (Maybe 2%) to relate to but having to many characters tends to make things muddled, so why not spend time dealing with the larger section of the population?

It's just like Harry Potter, JK Rowling stated that she wasn't going to just add an American for the Hell of it. Sure it would fulfill tons of American Kids dreams by being able to envision themselves in Hogwarts but it is an English School for English Wizards and an American kid running around just wouldn't seem right.


I had a point that I wanted to make in closing, but once I digressed I lost it sooo I am going to restate that Naruto wasn't made for you. And I doubt that Kishimoto would really care that a few Black people got upset and felt as though his non-inclusion of them was racially motivated (Well that part he might care about but for a different reason*) especially since they aren't in the target group of people that the comic was to be marketed to.


*I am sure that he wouldn't want it to seem racially motivated, but you have to remember. Not everyone had that whole segregation policy based in terms of skin color.



So yeah, think I am done here... but a bit more thought into this one as well. My brain would want to go into overtime the week that there is NO school


EDIT: Just remembered from the person who said that they highly Idolized Caucasians.

That had been a running discussion among me and my friends a couple of months back, case in point being DBZ. Where the main characters got stronger when there hair turned blond and their eyes turned green/blue.

EDIT2: Thought that bolding the opening statement of the rant would make it stand out better.

[Kitee]

most of the naruto charcters are white only a handful are asian like tenten.

o_o; Neji and Lee both have references to Asian ethnicity as well (dark hair, Neji's Hyuuga abilities, Lee and Bruce Lee...)

Same goes for Sasuke (there was an actual legend of a Ninja named Sarutobi Sasuke), and most of the Konoha 12 have distinctively Japanese names.

[Ion]

Maybe Kishimoto's never seen a black person. o_0Yes he has.

Japan's huge in the hip hop culture right now.

And if you want to see a multiculturaal anime/manga cast, pick up Bleach.

[Xell]

Oh gawd gaiz! Kishimoto iz racist!

[(510)THIZZ]

Well, my reasoning would work out something like this.

Naruto wasn't made for you.
EXACTLY!!!!!!!!! it's made for the MAN! You don't see any other race including their OWN.

[ElementalShinobi]

I was wondering myself, I was hoping that al leader was at least black but that hope went down the drain. Someone ask kishi why he has no black people.

[Choakslame]

I don't think black people are ninjas. They are more like gangsta type - gunz, knuckles, rap... All those stuff.
Kidoumaru is not black... He has more like mexican type of skin or something like that. :)

[Podman]

Um I don't know if any of u have been to a real Country in Asia but, Everyone from the Arabs, to the Pashtunes, to the Petans, to the Japs, to Chinks are all very light skinned.

The only really dark ones are Indians.


So when u say all the people in Naruto are White the only hint of this is that some of them have Blonde hair. But then again some have pink hair and some blue hair so that really doesn't matter. So almost everyone in Naruto is Asain, and most likely Japanese no matter how you look at it.

[garr01]

Because the Japanese are a very racial culture, not saying that they are racist, just they have few influences or understandings on blacks. Besides, they very highly idolaize Caucasians.

Edit: I almost forgot, Kidoumaru is dark-skinned character in Naruto, a member of the Sound Four.
Haha, they really idolize them? But honestly who cares? Does everything have to be politically correct and include everyone?

[Amon-Ra]

It would be great to have some black people in Naruto but i wouldn't hold it against Kishi for no putting any cause his show is still great
I remember reading an interview somewhere, where he specifically said
he gave Naruto Blonde hair and blue eyes to attract the American audience

[~Gesy~]

theres no such thing as blacks in their world

[SireDean]

hehe just on the odd note.... you do have your afro-samurai tv show... i don't know if that counts but i thought i would throw that out for fun.... :P

[Ion]

I don't think black people are ninjas.....and white people are?

[Roy]

because Naruto takes place in Asia :oh

[Dre]

hey are more like gangsta type - gunz, knuckles, rap... All those stuff.

SMH stereotypes...

[KazouJutsu]

What about brown people? inuit? why is this just focused on black people?

There's really only asian//white looking, because the main setting is Japan.

[Pein]

there are no indian people either but I dont care

[LadySachiya]

Well I say its because we're too much for them. If they put us in animes then we be done fucked up the whole series. lol. And I really don't count kidomaru(sp?) as black because he worked under Orochimaru. If a real black person was on there, we'd be like, "fuck that shit, I aint workin' 4 him!" And if we didn't say that then we'd just be plain out-of-character. ~^^~ lol

[SireDean]

ooo... and fyi... there could have been white people.... because back then, the only trustable people that they would trade with were the Dutch.... SO.... FTW DUTCH!!!

[BGtymin]

pretty much all, anime/manga characters are based off of white people, come on now how often do you see big tall Japanese people with big round eyes. Look at Naruto, blonde hair, blue eyes, come one now... The American influence on Japan is bigger than they would like to say. Which is maybe why when they make sports manga's they always make the Japanese athletes in the story so far fetched (in prince of tennis they say that one character could potentially be better than Pete Sampras... right, also the entire Slam Dunk series is ridiculous almost every player on the HIGH SCHOOL basketball teams are way over 6' tall and most of them can dunk... come one now. And don't confuse that as being anything but honest, the Japanese are decent at tennis, but basketball, it's not even a popular sport).

Regardless, I'm just trying to say anime/manga is never realistic.

[Kai]

Gai killed them all when he was 5, that's why.

[durtycheese]

WHO GIVES a shit????????

[SireDean]

well if u want abit of stupidity... ask yourself this question

so what about the mexicans and brit's?? or hey what about canadians and french while were at it?? lol... well i was just messin so ya... yall have fun with those other thoughts... :P

[SireDean]

WHO GIVES a shit????????


what's up with that?????

Who Shives a Get???? haha :P i bet this could get annoying...

[molten]

I guess it is supposed to be in japan?

[Mangekyo Bankai]

African Americans don't really show up in anime generally, so I'm not too surprised. I suppose Asuma and Kidomarus skin color variation is the closest thing to it in the Naruverse.

[Drunkenbakaotaku]

how come there are no black characters in the magna or anime i haven't seen one black person throught


What are you talking about? Kisame is black! And Orochimaru "was" black, until the plastic surgeries, vitiligo, and the 1993 molestation charges.

[K']

Well there are a few Tan Naruto Filler chars.

[Brdof Hrms]

how come there are no black characters in the magna or anime i haven't seen one black person throught

im pretty sure its because originally anime was designed to make the characters more white...could be dead wrong so dont quote me

[KFC]

Maybe cause ninjas come from Japan and they are all Asian?


Even though they all look white.

[K']

I never seen an Asian Dark skinned person.

[avioletscream]

OMG comon guys, one of the biggest charactors in the show is black....
Orchimaru... kishimoto based this guy off his all time favorite singer.. you know who... i mean look at the similarities! don't let the white skin fool you.

[narutorendan21]

by black being a color no there is no blacks in Naruto but there are people who have very black characteristics. anyway dont be surprised if kishimoto said hes never seen one of us before.

[Kay-kun]

Maybe cause ninjas come from Japan and they are all Asian?

*laughs* this comment amuses me! :amuse

[Soseki_]

Even though they all look white.

They may appeared as Caucasian but Japanese audience saw most of them as Japanese/Asians for sure.

Japanese are pretty much light-skinned from their POV and frankly they're isn't that much difference in term of skin color between Japanese and number of Caucasian, the difference is more on the characteristics asian features (black hair, dark eyes)...thus even if anime/manga characters look white they're Japanese without any doubt in fact.

In Naruto for example actually only Ino, Hidan and him really look Caucasian (blond hair, blue eyes)...but Sasuke is a hundred percent Japanese if you ask the question at a Japanese audience and it's the same for most of the cast ( Kakashi, Shikamaru, Asuma, Chouki, Kiba, Orochimaru, Tenten etc...).

Then there's the characters with unnatural features like pink hair etc...even if they looked white most of the time it's only a matter of eye colour (like blue or green ) but they don't have any ethnicity really...I mean how a purple haired, purple eyes girl for example could be more Caucasian than Asian or anything else ?

The real point of having characters with various eyes and hair color is just to make them different not to give them any ethnicity.

If a character ethnicity is not clearly specified then he is mostly Japanese despite what hair/eyes color he/she may have...that's just the way anime/manga are.

For exemple Sawachika from School Rumble is presented as a foreigner whereas Mikoto despite having blue hair and blues eyes is Japanese.

[Choakslame]

....and white people are?

White people are not ninja's either. :notrust
People call Asians yellow. (no racism)

[dmitric300]

there are black people in naruto... like gaara, he lives in desert and he is... completely pale. I give up. Anyways, if you want black go bleach and Chad is technically japanese (his uncle or however lives in mexico)

[Traveler]

See Gai....

[Techno_Jutsu]

Why are people so worried about race?

If you want racial equality, you'll have to stop demanding and acknowledging it at some point.

[Roll]

It's true that they don't have character who's black because they're in japan and all,
http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/7289/yoruichibw9.png

[narutorendan21]

o_o; Neji and Lee both have references to Asian ethnicity as well (dark hair, Neji's Hyuuga abilities, Lee and Bruce Lee...)

Same goes for Sasuke (there was an actual legend of a Ninja named Sarutobi Sasuke), and most of the Konoha 12 have distinctively Japanese names.
actually sasuke means ninja master or something to that extent sasuke is a purely japanese name.

[~Redchaos325~]

Considering the fact that its set in Japan, an asian country i'm not really surprised...

[TWF]

Japan is nation that is 99% homogenized with its norm being set completely in the people that inherited the land and its home islands. The only real influence they get of the outside world is of western cultures. And since the Japanese have a belief they were created by blonde hair, blue eyed gods...white people love.

[SleepingDisaster]

yes there is, in naruto filler there is a black ninja from fuuma clan if I'm not wrong, but the character is just passing by

or take sasuke, when he tranforms into his CS2 form, he is a black ninja

[Soseki_]

And since the Japanese have a belief they were created by blonde hair, blue eyed gods...white people love.

Hum...:huh I guess you failed Japanese cosmogony 101...or never been there.

[kyuubi425]

They may appeared as Caucasian but Japanese audience saw most of them as Japanese/Asians for sure.

Japanese are pretty much light-skinned from their POV and frankly they're isn't that much difference in term of skin color between Japanese and number of Caucasian, the difference is more on the characteristics asian features (black hair, dark eyes)...thus even if anime/manga characters look white they're Japanese without any doubt in fact.

In Naruto for example actually only Ino, Hidan and him really look Caucasian (blond hair, blue eyes)...but Sasuke is a hundred percent Japanese if you ask the question at a Japanese audience and it's the same for most of the cast ( Kakashi, Shikamaru, Asuma, Chouki, Kiba, Orochimaru, Tenten etc...).

Then there's the characters with unnatural features like pink hair etc...even if they looked white most of the time it's only a matter of eye colour (like blue or green ) but they don't have any ethnicity really...I mean how a purple haired, purple eyes girl for example could be more Caucasian than Asian or anything else ?

The real point of having characters with various eyes and hair color is just to make them different not to give them any ethnicity.

If a character ethnicity is not clearly specified then he is mostly Japanese despite what hair/eyes color he/she may have...that's just the way anime/manga are.

For exemple Sawachika from School Rumble is presented as a foreigner whereas Mikoto despite having blue hair and blues eyes is Japanese.


consider this thread officially pwn'd as of the above statement.
the fact that there is no blacks is unimportant to me (and i am black by the way) but to see so many posts saying the majority of the characters are white is kinda ridiculous. just because of blonde hair and blue eyes? as stated above if all the characters had the same hair and eye color, then they wuldn't look so appealing now would they? as far as skin tone goes, they do have skin tones.Neji and sasuke are your typical pale skin dark haired "bishi" type, naruto is slightly darker with blue eyes and blonde hair to stand out.
Hinata has blue hair while the rest of her family has brown hair.
Sakura has pink.
It's so characters can look different from each other. Race isn't the issue. There are no black people, there are no white people, there are no asian people. The characters are influenced by these races yes, but you can'tjust put a label on them just because of hair color or eye color or skin tone, when konoha's history isn't our history.

[~Gesy~]

euruka 7 is a japanese show it it has 2 main characters thats black....so that excuse can no longer be said....:oh

[Eureka]

euruka 7 is a japanese show it it has 2 main characters thats black....so that excuse can no longer be said....

How very wrong you are, because Eureka Seven is not in any way set in Japan you see? :)

[~Gesy~]

oh really:yell*goes to check*

it' is a japanese show....do some research before you make statements:nod

[Eureka]

Yeah, actually its not really set on this PLANET really.... -_-

[~Gesy~]

Yeah, actually its not really set on this PLANET really.... -_-

eh? i think it is......but lets just agree to disagree:sweatdrop

[soulz9]

You only see Whites in Naruto and most other anime because Japanese and Asians in large worship White people and their culture. Here in the US you see Asian women chasing after the ugliest White guy just to have some of their genes in their offspring. Asians want to be White really badly.

[Sai]

most of the naruto charcters are white only a handful are asian like tenten.

i bet kishimoto didnt planned to make all naruto's character caucasion because his intention was to bring out the outstanding story and show it to the world. If you're questioning about their hair's color, kishi just wants to make naruto looks cute, loud and active with blonde hair and sasuke a mystery guy with alot of secret in his raven black hair.

so you can't really say all of them are caucasion and only handful like tenten are asians.

I'm an asian myself and i dont believe that japanese are the most racist asians in the world because I'm one of the ancestor from japan too ^^ yellow skin here

[Sai]

You only see Whites in Naruto and most other anime because Japanese and Asians in large worship White people and their culture. Here in the US you see Asian women chasing after the ugliest White guy just to have some of their genes in their offspring. Asians want to be White really badly.

You're totally off the topic and simply putting down asians :mad

[(510)THIZZ]

I don't know any asians with wide eyes lol.Every asian I know has SLANTED eyes.

[SireDean]

You're totally off the topic and simply putting down asians :mad


hmmmm.... i think that i would have to agree with you on this one....

[Kyuubi6]

I haven't really noticed that there weren't any black people in the anime.

[ArtsaBang]

Learn Japanese and go ask Kishimoto, it's his world.

[gunslingerblack]

well thats easy,

everyone knows theres no such thing as black people....

[gunslingerblack]

wow seriously do some animation research,

the father of anime, osamu tezuka was inspired by early disney and fleisher animated pictures. that influence permeated into his work , and in turn influenced generations of anime and manga artists. big eyes small mouth originated at disney. look at pictures of alice from alice in wonderland, she fits the mold pretty well.

[Jack]

how come there are no black characters in the magna or anime i haven't seen one black person throught

Because grey are a lot more interesting, and we got plenty of those in naruto :love

[SireDean]

Because grey are a lot more interesting, and we got plenty of those in naruto :love
haha.. i don't even know how that works out... :P who's grey and wait what??

[Batman]

The real question is, Why are there no asian people in Naruto. They're all white!!! :OMG

[SireDean]

The real question is, Why are there no asian people in Naruto. They're all white!!! :OMG

haha... settle down rambo.... :P yaya.. we know... we just gotta throw out a thing or two every now and then because sometimes this thread goes along time with out anyone saying anything... so sometimes someone just goes and tries to revive it... :P haha

[Nidaime]

The real question is, Why are there no asian people in Naruto. They're all white!!! :OMG
We do not have any race in the Naruto world. There are no summons or magic-like ninjutsu, even in japan. Why do some people want to have some special kind of people in a story created from another person... It's not yours and Kishimoto can do what he wants. :P
And... EVEN IF he implemets a black one, I would stop looking/reading it. That would be such a typical fu**ed up story and just for the style. What does a black one bring with him. Special negro-jutsus? No.
And do not start to think about me as a racist, I am a mixture of several ones.

Kidoumaru is not black. He has a nice tan.

[FoxxyKat]

how come there are no black characters in the magna or anime i haven't seen one black person throught

I noticed that, too, and can't tell you why. It's a bit weird to me b/c if I had an anime, I would put a mixture of different colored people in my show, but that's just me.:oh

Like some said before, you can't really say there's no black people b/c Naruto isn't of our world, but I would be a total liar if I said those characters didn't look whi...I mean, non-Asian.:P

[Arthy]

The day I see a black asian is the day naruto becomes a computer nerd

[durtycheese]

who gives a flying fuck? are they complaining about shit on naruto now?

[(510)THIZZ]

LOL lee, ten ten, and hinata are the only asians in naruto.The rest are all white, the whitest of all is tsunade, naruto, Jiraiya, ino and Yondaime lol.

[ChickenPotPie]

Kidoumaru is not black. He has a nice tan.

Why not? He has the kinky hair. (No really, that's the actual technical term)

[longhorn05]

Batman is right. I think the real question is, "Why are there so many white people in Naruto?"

I've seen comics from other homogeneous non-white countries, and they usually don't have characters from other races. So it's not surprising Naruto (and other Japanese manga) doesn't have black characters, but it's just as surprising that Naruto (and other Japanese manga) has so many white characters. Japan's very unique in that way.

[Death-T]

I can't beleive you someone actually started a thread like this. :/ Stupid question really,there aren't many black people in Japan,it's only natural that you don't see em' pop up in Naruto,and especially considering it being such a Japanese theme ... 0h but um,regarding to what someone said before,there ARE black asians,though very few. :/ Actually,one comes to mind right away,ever heard of Tiger Woods ?

[~M~]

Maby kishi ran out of brown crayons.:oh

[kyuubi425]

why are people still posting in this thread? To just show off their ignorance? Come the fuck on. I couldn't really care if Kishi put a black character in or not, but for so many people to say some characters are white because they have blond hair and blue eyes and don't specifically look Asian is freakin ridiculous. There is no race in Naruto. It's a fictional world. Some characters (like those in Suna) show reference to some cultures (middle eastern), Lee and Gai are references to Bruce Lee, and TenTen is another reference to asian culture. If Kishimoto's goal was to represent races with every character, it would not make much sense. The reason we have characters with purple, pink, blue, brown, and black hair/eyes, and dark/light skin tone is to have VARIETY in the characters. Only certain characters are inspired by certain cultures, but they are for a reason. Baki lives in the desert, so he looks somewhat arabian. But Gaara and his siblings don't. Because they don't really have to. VARIETY. Lee's Asian appearance is due to a tribute to one of the greatest Martial Artists in recent history. Everyone else is given their look to set them apart so we don't have a bunch of Generic looking characters. No races involved, except in a few cases.

[MR T]

I don't remember seeing a black guy/girl in naruto.
But i've seen one in Bleach. And i THINK i've seen one in DBZ.

I think it's kinda sad, cuz there should always be one black guy in a serie.
Being all cool and stuff, kinda fun... i miss that part in Naruto

[Swimfan908]

its drawn by a japanese man in japan. the japanese have no naturally existing african population, so the fact that every character is basically a generic whitish-tone is to be expected.

[Shinkirou]

Because black ninjas are elite. They're so good that noone knows of their presence.

[Nice Gai]

I thought Gai was Black but just lightskinned.

[Grrblt]

I don't remember seeing a black guy/girl in naruto.
But i've seen one in Bleach. And i THINK i've seen one in DBZ.

I think it's kinda sad, cuz there should always be one black guy in a serie.
Being all cool and stuff, kinda fun... i miss that part in Naruto

I don't remember seeing any blue or green guys either. Apparently there aren't any blue, green or black guys in Narutoworld.

[Splintered]

Why are there no hispanics in Naruto? Or Middle Easterns? Or Native Americans? Or hobbits!?

Because there aren't. Simple as that.

[darkwater297]

Asians = yellow people. If you are just splitting hairs.

[Lilith]

ask kishi :oh

[MR T]

its drawn by a japanese man in japan. the japanese have no naturally existing african population, so the fact that every character is basically a generic whitish-tone is to be expected.

So? that can't be enough to not but in a kewl black dude.
I realy do think kishi knows their are black guys out there. he should take some stuff from Tokeyo drift.

[Pugthug]

I guess Kidoumaru would count as a black guy

[MR T]

I don't remember seeing any blue or green guys either. Apparently there aren't any blue, green or black guys in Narutoworld.

OMG Grrblt post in my thread... I like you Grrblt but do not mock me!
Because i can take many forms, witchever form you like!

[DEATHwisher]

asians people dislike balcks, I'm not being offensive, but if go to eastern asia racism is very severe. When asian think of "people" they think of "white" "brown" and "yellow"... "black" not so much...

[MR T]

asians people dislike balcks, I'm not being offensive, but if go to eastern asia racism is very severe. When asian think of "people" they think of "white" "brown" and "yellow"... "black" not so much...

I see. but one thing i don't get.
why don't you + rep me? i'm doing something good here!

[Pein]

why are there no indian or inuit people hispanic or the other races in the world

[YoYo]

Yes...because every single anime should have someone of every single race and ethinicity in it, because otherwise its just pure racism isn't it?

Apart from different hair colours, nearly every single anime has only white looking characters in it.

[MR T]

Yes...because every single anime should have someone of every single race and ethinicity in it, because otherwise its just pure racism isn't it?

Apart from different hair colours, nearly every single anime has only white looking characters in it.

I see. but i never said it was racism, i'm just suprised that we haven't seen one so far.

[Mercury Smile]

I tihnk they believe anime style looks best on white tones characters. That and there's hardly any black people in the region of Japanese animation. It would just be awkward and unneccasary to them. If there was to be a black character, most likely he'd be drawn in a tough/badguy kind of way, not a normal character.

[Pugthug]

I thought Gai was Black but just lightskinned. Yup and here is proof:

http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/745/gai1sy.jpg

[FoxxyKat]

Isn't there another thread like this somewhere?

You should ask the creator, seriously. I think that b/c there aren't many black/dark-skinned people in Japan, that their characters look the way they do. It's like they don't know how to draw us so they pretend we don't exist.:S

It would be nice to see more people of color in these anime, especially black women. We are extremely sparse in the animation world. I think the only anime I've seen at least a handful of black people in it was Cowboy Bepop and I think there was one black lady in Fullmetal Alchemist.:laugh

[shadowwolf]

haha that was funny.
but really the reason there are no black guys in Naruto because its base on japan ninja's.I think can't reamber y though.

[MR T]

i kinda miss Jawas too.. those whould be great.
Or any Jabba the hutt!

[Ichi Sagato]

Or Middle Easterns?
Gaara/sand village/sand country etc etc..

[Seto Kaiba]

How many times has this been asked?

[dest]

there were a few in dbz. none that were really main characters. though. just the population in japan is mainly japanese so they create japanese characters. that is why. end of story.

[Haku]

Black ninjas are anbus there so skilled they are force to wear mask. lmao idk thats a good question?

[Foxy]

there may be one eventually...

[Vicious-chan]

Why does it matter? :\ fucking PC bullshit... story's a story, fuck the race of anyone in it.

[Sweeney Todd]

You mean Narutos racist?

[Niko Bellic]

there is
that spider dude that fought neji and kakuzu

lol kakuzu is hood

[Kagura615]

asians people dislike balcks, I'm not being offensive, but if go to eastern asia racism is very severe. When asian think of "people" they think of "white" "brown" and "yellow"... "black" not so much...

Not to make you out to be extremely wrong or anything...but my mother married my father, who is a black man. (Apparently, she's quite Korean, too.) In fact, most of my mom's friend's husbands are black.

I don't disagree, however, that some Asians may have a tendency to be racist against darker toned people. However, you just claimed Asians (as in ALL or at least the MAJORITY) are racist against them. :huh That, my friend, is where you were wrong.

I think some people just make too much of a deal out of it. I prefer drawing and writing about people with black or dark brown hair. That doesn't mean I have a thing against redheads or blondes.

Also, would that mean Kidoumaru (and Gai, to an extent) isn't black? I was under the impression that he was, at least somewhat.

[longhorn05]

Why were there no Japanese people in Blood Diamonds?

[Insein]

I was wondering when someone would ask. lol

[Asuma]

Black character, here you go:


It's really a spoiler

http://img434.imageshack.us/img434/2761/hidanal9.jpg


:DDDDDDDD

[iander]

If they had more petty thieves like Gatou's crew, there would probably be more black people in Naruto. Yeah that sounds racist but if you watch a lot of anime, (im right now watching some oldies like Street Fighter, you'll see that black people are often displayed as stupid petty crooks. Although that happens a lot in American cartoons as well.

[Senju]

I don't remember seeing any blue or green guys either. Apparently there aren't any blue, green or black guys in Narutoworld.
Kisame is blue! :Kisame
I wonder if they let him vote and stuff.

[Fireblade2211]

I don't remember seeing any blue or green guys either. Apparently there aren't any blue, green or black guys in Narutoworld.

i remember seeing a blue guy...

tht fish dude in akatsuki, remember...

[Insein]

And then of course there is the Green Beast of Konoha.

[Hiruto Uzumaki]

I guess that's another reason why they don't have any japanese rap in anime, except Bleach and Samurai Champloo. Tell me where I can find more rap in anime in japanese. And no, that 4kids One Piece crap doesn't count!

[Kurau]

Does it really matter? Do you need to have someone of every race in a show/movie/whatever to make you feel better about your own self? Asking a question like this is kind of annoying to me. Judging the show based on colors of the characters, and not having some types is racism itself.

Grow up, there are bigger things out there than the pigments of skin.

[Azurite]

Why are there no Asian People in Naruto?
:laugh Nevermind.

[Saya]

Gai is black. :(

[Shiraishi]

Because his younger brother told him, 'Yo bro, I am creating a black guy. He's my hook. He's black in a world of different colors. So God, if you make a character black, I'll kill your babies.'

http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/381/ball014uw.jpg

[Batman]

Lol ball isn't black. He's just got white-boy dreds.


Why are there no asian characters in naruto. They characters are all clearly white.

[Capacity]

why is there a black person in 666Satan

[Shiraishi]

Ball isn't black?

If he isn't black, then that just's creepy.

I mean the dreads, love of basketball, and just the color tone screams black.

[Batman]

Ball isn't black?

If he isn't black, then that just's creepy.

I mean the dreads, love of basketball, and just the color tone screams black.

Love of basketball?? What manga are you reading lol.

Anyways I was hoping that he was black, but he doesn't appear to be. He's either really really light skinned, or he's just got the white boy dreads.

[Powdered Toast Man]

Does it really matter if there are black people or not? NO
Will you stop reading the series? NO
Will you lose sleep over this? NO
There isn't a rule that there must be a black person in everything is there? If so then I have some choice words for the KKK rejecting me.

Must everything become a racial issue, there aren't any black people because there aren't any black people, leave it at at that please.

[Shiraishi]

Love of basketball?? What manga are you reading lol.

Anyways I was hoping that he was black, but he doesn't appear to be. He's either really really light skinned, or he's just got the white boy dreads.

Well you know what I mean. His basketball style of O-Part, ect.

And damn. He's not black?

Then the Kishimoto brothers must not like drawing dark characters.

[Soseki_]

Lol ball isn't black. He's just got white-boy dreds.


Why are there no asian characters in naruto. They characters are all clearly white.

They may appeared as Caucasian but Japanese audience saw most of them as Japanese/Asians for sure.

Japanese are pretty much light-skinned from their POV and frankly they're isn't that much difference in term of skin color between Japanese and number of Caucasian, the difference is more on the characteristics asian features (black hair, dark eyes)...thus even if anime/manga characters look white they're Japanese without any doubt in fact.

In Naruto for example actually only Ino, Hidan and him really look Caucasian (blond hair, blue eyes)...but Sasuke is a hundred percent Japanese if you ask the question at a Japanese audience and it's the same for most of the cast ( Kakashi, Shikamaru, Asuma, Chouji, Kiba, Orochimaru, Tenten etc...).

Then there's the characters with unnatural features like pink hair etc...even if they looked white most of the time it's only a matter of eye colour (like blue or green ) but they don't have any ethnicity really...I mean how a purple haired, purple eyes girl for example could be more Caucasian than Asian or anything else ?

The real point of having characters with various eyes and hair color is just to make them different not to give them any ethnicity.

If a character ethnicity is not clearly specified then he is mostly Japanese despite what hair/eyes color he/she may have...that's just the way anime/manga are.

For exemple Sawachika from School Rumble is presented as a foreigner whereas Mikoto despite having blue hair and blues eyes is Japanese.

Yes there's no black in Naruto, there's no indian nor Hispanic or whatever too and so what's the big deal ?

[Batman]

Well you know what I mean. His basketball style of O-Part, ect.

And damn. He's not black?

Then the Kishimoto brothers must not like drawing dark characters.
LOL that made me laugh.

Well take a look here.
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/2351420586.01._SS500_SCLZZZZZZZ_V61300178_.jpg
he looks to have the same skin tone as the rest of em, and if he's a brotha then so is Jio.

[Batman]

They may appeared as Caucasian but Japanese audience saw most of them as Japanese/Asians for sure.

Japanese are pretty much light-skinned from their POV and frankly they're isn't that much difference in term of skin color between Japanese and number of Caucasian, the difference is more on the characteristics asian features (black hair, dark eyes)...thus even if anime/manga characters look white they're Japanese without any doubt in fact.

In Naruto for example actually only Ino, Hidan and him really look Caucasian (blond hair, blue eyes)...but Sasuke is a hundred percent Japanese if you ask the question at a Japanese audience and it's the same for most of the cast ( Kakashi, Shikamaru, Asuma, Chouji, Kiba, Orochimaru, Tenten etc...).

Then there's the characters with unnatural features like pink hair etc...even if they looked white most of the time it's only a matter of eye colour (like blue or green ) but they don't have any ethnicity really...I mean how a purple haired, purple eyes girl for example could be more Caucasian than Asian or anything else ?

The real point of having characters with various eyes and hair color is just to make them different not to give them any ethnicity.

If a character ethnicity is not clearly specified then he is mostly Japanese despite what hair/eyes color he/she may have...that's just the way anime/manga are.

For exemple Sawachika from School Rumble is presented as a foreigner whereas Mikoto despite having blue hair and blues eyes is Japanese.

Yes there's no black in Naruto, there's no indian nor Hispanic or whatever too and so what's the big deal ?

Lol you took my comment way to seriously. But it was still a good read.:amuse

[Kurau]

Well hes completely true lol

[Kankurothepuppeteer]

this is why

http://youtube.com/watch?v=BEtIoGQxqQs

[Spectra]

seriously how many black people are in Japan?

[Batman]

seriously how many black people are in Japan?

If you count tyrone. . . 6. And 4 of them are on their way back to brooklyn.

[sheetz]

I happen to think it's a valid question. There are black characters in plenty other shounen so what's different about Naruto? My guess is that it's mostly likely because it takes place in a historical setting completely within the confines of Japan. If the setting happened to be in modern times (like Bleach) or within a broader geographical setting (like One Piece) then we'd see more characters of different races.

[Capacity]

that makes sense since Naruto is set in a feudal era.

[Short-bus Kid]

Perhaps the absence of a black-man on Naruto is not considered
"politically incorrect" in Japan.

[Gaara from the Desert]

Interesting quiestion, BTW... but... it's true that other people say... who are ninja? Mostly they are from Asia (Japan for the most part...)
There might be few blacks in Japan, but the majority (99% to be precise) are Asian... and even thought Kishi doesn't draw most of the characters as Asians, he has no reason to put in blacks...

[Jinchuriki-san]

and even thought Kishi doesn't draw most of the characters as Asians, he has no reason to put in blacks...

That portion of your statement didnt make much sense. :(

http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/8560/blackst4.jpg

eh? Was this part filler?

[Violent By Design]

The AL will prob be black.

[Jinchuriki-san]

Shino is black.

[Tousen]

I guess that's another reason why they don't have any japanese rap in anime, except Bleach and Samurai Champloo. Tell me where I can find more rap in anime in japanese. And no, that 4kids One Piece crap doesn't count!

well to answer ur question i know rza from the wu tang are working with some people..i honestly dont know if its out and about yet but its called the afro samurai...and since its wu tang im sure there is rap and since its about a samurai thats rocking afro you can only imagene what he looks like..i saw a trailer to if..if u wanan check it out click here

http://www.afrosamurai.com/

[Gaara from the Desert]

That portion of your statement didnt make much sense. :(

http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/8560/blackst4.jpg

eh? Was this part filler?

What I mean to say was the fact that Kishi draws whites, not Asians (for the most part)... but drawing blacks... I think he doesn't want to do that...

[Tousen]

yea seriously even tho they are talking monkeys and talking dogs and all kinds of fuckery...what is the purpose of putting a black guy on the show...if that was the gay they might as well put a gay and lesbian character on the show...well more lesbian because deidara is already there



:bang:dei

[Capacity]

That portion of your statement didnt make much sense. :(

http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/8560/blackst4.jpg

eh? Was this part filler?


i dont believe that was filler i think that was apart of the Sasuke Retrieval Arc during Chouji's Fight but hey i could be wrong

[Tousen]

what about oro...hes black kinda right..just imagene a black dude with a perm

[Kakashi Love]

Because Japanese people are racist, duh!
It doesnt matter about the population. What matters is who's holding all the money/power.
Art...since the dawn of civilization, has always been based of rich people or people in power. Today, it still works the same way.

[OMGicantbelieveit]

Why isn't there black people in Japan? o.o.

[Kurau]

Why isn't there black people in Japan? o.o.

You could probably write a list of about 100 reasons why there isn't.

1. They don't speak English as a main language, most blacks do.

[Amatsu]

Because Japanese people are racist, duh!
It doesnt matter about the population. What matters is who's holding all the money/power.
Art...since the dawn of civilization, has always been based of rich people or people in power. Today, it still works the same way.

How are Japanese people racist? :huh

So... What? Everyone who isn't black is a racist? Because obviously blacks are never racist. :notrust

[Atanih88]

its drawn by a japanese man in japan. the japanese have no naturally existing african population, so the fact that every character is basically a generic whitish-tone is to be expected.
I think this is true.

You're right though, there were black guys in DBZ - but since I've only watched ep 1 & 2 of Bleach I can't say. No blue or pink guys either like in DBZ.

[Atanih88]

Kisame is blue! :Kisame
I wonder if they let him vote and stuff.
LoooL!!! I'd completely forgotten about Kisame, heh - but then I just have him classified as fish :D that's probably why he escaped my notice loool

[Kakashi Love]

How are Japanese people racist? :huh

So... What? Everyone who isn't black is a racist? Because obviously blacks are never racist. :notrust

I never said blacks weren't racist. I think every race is racist, wouldnt you agree? I mean like, to a certain degree.

[Amatsu]

I never said blacks weren't racist. I think every race is racist, wouldnt you agree? I mean like, to a certain degree.

I agree but I've seen this a lot when it comes to "Why are there no black people in (insert show/game/movie/cartoon/anime/etc.)" where people just blame the fact there's no black people in the show on racism.

I mean I don't know about you but I don't really see people making threads like this about asians and hispanic's and those races blaming the fact their are no asians and hispanic's in those forms of media on racism.. and usually if they do the racism thing it's when there IS a character based on their race on whatever form of media they're basing their accusations on and usually it's because said character tends to follow blatant stereotypes that in a way would offend that particular race. You know like how mexicans were offended by Speedy Gonzalas despite the fact Speedy Gonzalas existed for well over 40 to 50 years with the rest of the Looney Tunes cast.

I don't think there being no black characters has anthing to do with racism. Maybe it would just be hard to make a black person look right in a black and white manga. With some exceptions like Mr. Popo... Though it's a wonder Mr. Popo didn't get the treatment Jynx from Pokemon got here... I could swear that the FCC would have claimed that Mr. Popo represents black face or something.

Another reason could just be that the creator imagines what the characters look like and doesn't really worry about skin tone. Maybe because they see more people with a white skin pigment they're used to that and create their characters skin tone based around what they're used too.

It's speculation if anything though, but really in the end who cares if there are black characters or not? If people are so concerned about their being black characters in something then maybe they should go and make their own series. Then they can include all the black characters they want.

[Gaara from the Desert]

You could probably write a list of about 100 reasons why there isn't.

1. They don't speak English as a main language, most blacks do.

WTH... are you fogetting all the blacks that live in Africa?... Most of them don't speak English... and they make 60% of population of the Earth...

Japan is a geographically isolated archipelago (*series of isles*)...
Moreover, it was historically isolated until very recently... 99% percent of the total population are still Japanese...
Why? They had a tough politics towards foregn immigrants...
But saying something like 'they don't speak English' - that a load of crap...they don't have to! Their national language in Japanese... people have to learn the language in order to move to another country - that has always been the case... no one should adjust to you - you should adjust to them...

[Soseki_]

WTH... are you fogetting all the blacks that live in Africa?... Most of them don't speak English... and they make 60% of population of the Earth...



Yeah they're Blacks in Africa and they don't all speak English....but they certainly not represent 60% of the population of Earth :P

They're less people in Africa than there is in China or India so...I guess your just very bad at maths :amuse

[X]

Shino is black.

Well said! :D

[superwazn]

asians people dislike balcks, I'm not being offensive, but if go to eastern asia racism is very severe. When asian think of "people" they think of "white" "brown" and "yellow"... "black" not so much...
yea, my friends mom (chinese fob) saw him watching football and asked him "why are the black ppl playing with the white ppl? dont they hate each other?". lolz 黑鬼
that makes sense since Naruto is set in a feudal era.
yea uh-huh *points to narutos refrigerator* they seems to have electricity. they seem to be in their own universe that has modern technology for some things but not other things like modern weapons. in the naruto universe, guns, along with black ppl, dont exist.
no offense, it just seems to be that way

[Kakashi Love]

I agree but I've seen this a lot when it comes to "Why are there no black people in (insert show/game/movie/cartoon/anime/etc.)" where people just blame the fact there's no black people in the show on racism.

I mean I don't know about you but I don't really see people making threads like this about asians and hispanic's and those races blaming the fact their are no asians and hispanic's in those forms of media on racism.. and usually if they do the racism thing it's when there IS a character based on their race on whatever form of media they're basing their accusations on and usually it's because said character tends to follow blatant stereotypes that in a way would offend that particular race. You know like how mexicans were offended by Speedy Gonzalas despite the fact Speedy Gonzalas existed for well over 40 to 50 years with the rest of the Looney Tunes cast.

I don't think there being no black characters has anthing to do with racism. Maybe it would just be hard to make a black person look right in a black and white manga. With some exceptions like Mr. Popo... Though it's a wonder Mr. Popo didn't get the treatment Jynx from Pokemon got here... I could swear that the FCC would have claimed that Mr. Popo represents black face or something.

Another reason could just be that the creator imagines what the characters look like and doesn't really worry about skin tone. Maybe because they see more people with a white skin pigment they're used to that and create their characters skin tone based around what they're used too.

It's speculation if anything though, but really in the end who cares if there are black characters or not? If people are so concerned about their being black characters in something then maybe they should go and make their own series. Then they can include all the black characters they want.

I'm gonna have to totally agree with you. It's like a japanese person going to Africa and asking "Why is there no japanese people in your TV shows? and/or cartoons?"

[~Flippy]

Because they dont eat chicken-flavored ramen.

[MR T]

Guys CHILL! i never said it was racisms.. i just got suprised because their are often just ONE black dude in all the Anime/Manga stuff

[SamRH]

I remember seeing a black guy in one of the fillers. I don't know if that counts. It was in that arc with Shino, Ino, and Anko.

[master of sand]

er japan where it comes from think lol

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[Cirus]

It is a completely fictional world that they live in, and if you saw the world map that they showed in one of the episodes all the countries of the world are practically next to each other. Thus creating a lack of diversity, so the over all population will not deviate from one another. It is simple evolution.

[Sakura]

They're not being racist. It just wouldn't tie in properly.

[Shirozaki]

Because there aint.

[X]

Because the anime was made in Japan.

[nephilimx]

Their are no anglo saxon's in Naruto, heck only time we have seen a westerner was Movie 2

and the anglo saxon ratio, proberly kills the "black" ratio in japan

[Dr.Majestic]

even though its an alternate reality setting the slave trade didnt exist around the time of feudal japan anyway yea okay nothing is totally accurate in the narutoverse but also im sure i dont remember there being many black ninja's now or in history although hidan could be classsed as a minstrel!!! does that count??

[xSilentxKill]

I don't remember seeing any blue or green guys either. Apparently there aren't any blue, green or black guys in Narutoworld.

Umm. Isn't Kisame (i think that is how you spell his name (from Akatski) ) Blue?

[leonejoey]

The next new character Will Be BLACK

I garantee you that!

[Ifurita's Fan]

Because they dont eat chicken-flavored ramen.

And have you seen the price for Watermelons?
http://archives.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/asiapcf/east/06/15/square.watermelon/index.html

15-20 bux (1560 yen to 2080 yen) for just a normal one.

I keeeed... I keeed!

[Violent By Design]

Most black people speak English? Most ignorant statement of the day :-p

[Miss Pulchritudinous]

Made in Japan. 'Nuff said. smile-big

[Shmee]

have u ever seen a black japanese guy...
maybe there all anbu. who knows

[Halcyon Days]

I don't know , but it defenitely is some BS. People of other races would probably say the same thing if every anime was full of black people and only showed only one person of their race who played no role to the story in its entirerity, and it had them playing some type of stereotype.

DBZ-2 blk guys. UUB and the guy from the redribbon army, well he's more DB
bleach -2 blk. people yourichi and Tousen

To me it seems that others don't have much to say about it, because they use the excuse its in Japan.. I know black people live over there because i know blk people there.they just say that because they see their race all the time, and thats that.