How is TMNT looked on in Japan?

[Shellington]

Do the Japanese enjoy the story, or do they see it as demeaning to their culture? Does anyone know?

[Panda_Kahn_fan]

The OT was insanely popular there, running longer than most american shows do on Japanese television, and getting several DIFFERENT manga and an OVA. The 2003 series wasn't anywhere near as popular over there, ending earlier than it did here. But the original movie series was successful, and had their own mangas, as well. They didn't view it as insulting, as they have had several popular ninja super heroes over there. (Naruto, Goemon the Mystical ninja, Nininger, kakuman, and hurricanger-guess Japan didn't get the memo Ninjas aren't supposed to be heroes. XD )

[Shellington]

That's pretty cool to hear. Thanks.

[oldmanwinters]

Good write-up on TMNT Entity on why the original TMNT toon took off in such a big way. The Japanese market was able to make it partially their own through comics, toys, games and the infamous OVA episodes. And the kids ate it up!
In Japan, there are various rules and guidelines in place that frequently prevent foreign programming from appearing on major networks like TV Tokyo, as they wish to save their broadcasting timeslots for Japanese programming so as to stimulate jobs and what-not. These sorts of guidelines are not exclusive to Japan; it’s my understanding that Canadian networks have very similar rules. For a foreign cartoon to appear on networks such as TV Tokyo, there has to be a considerable amount of backing from Japanese companies as well as respectable ratings after the fact. These factors would contribute to the ultimate failure of the 4Kids Ninja Turtles cartoon in Japan many years later, but that’s getting ahead of myself.
Needless to say, a foreign cartoon such as Ninja Turtles running on a station like TV Tokyo for 102 episodes is, quite simply put, a monumental achievement and credence to the brand’s incredible popularity over there at the time. With the Playmates toyline being released by Takara, providing the Japanese backing the show needed, and tremendous ratings success, this version of Ninja Turtles quickly became a sensation, spinning off into Japanese exclusive comics and cartoons
http://tmntentity.blogspot.com/2010/03/confusing-history-of-tmnt-in-japan.html

[CyberCubed]

Also interesting that TMNT aired over there at the same time popular anime like Dragonball were airing for the first time, and Sailor Moon, etc. TMNT had to compete with DBZ at the height of its popularity in Japan.

[Shark_Blade]

There's so many manga arts and yaoi on tumblr by Japanese fans so it's safe to say they are at peace with it.

[thundermaster612]

Wasn't there some sort of airing screw up in Japan when the OT was on? Like they only got a couple of seasons aired and out of order?

[Konchadunga]

The OT was insanely popular there, running longer than most american shows do on Japanese television, and getting several DIFFERENT manga and an OVA. The 2003 series wasn't anywhere near as popular over there, ending earlier than it did here. But the original movie series was successful, and had their own mangas, as well. They didn't view it as insulting, as they have had several popular ninja super heroes over there. (Naruto, Goemon the Mystical ninja, Nininger, kakuman, and hurricanger-guess Japan didn't get the memo Ninjas aren't supposed to be heroes. XD )

That point is bound up in so many technicalities it doesn't matter much. The Feudal era of Japan, when the traditions of Ninja were born, was a rather morally gray time. Yes; ninjas were assassins using guerilla tactics to murder their targets, and arguably it's less romantic than the supposed Bushido tradition of conventional troops to the effect of "If you've got a sword and are attacking a foe in bed, wake him up and hand him a sword, too", but either way neither were necessarily killing in the name of a good cause. There wasn't really a tangible Japanese nation-state with binding moral statutes at the time; merely clan loyalties and hunger for territory. There isn't anything necessarily unheroic about guerilla tactics over conventional military tactics, and in fact, many stories view the guerillas as the heroes.

[Panda_Kahn_fan]

That point is bound up in so many technicalities it doesn't matter much. The Feudal era of Japan, when the traditions of Ninja were born, was a rather morally gray time. Yes; ninjas were assassins using guerilla tactics to murder their targets, and arguably it's less romantic than the supposed Bushido tradition of conventional troops to the effect of "If you've got a sword and are attacking a foe in bed, wake him up and hand him a sword, too", but either way neither were necessarily killing in the name of a good cause. There wasn't really a tangible Japanese nation-state with binding moral statutes at the time; merely clan loyalties and hunger for territory. There isn't anything necessarily unheroic about guerilla tactics over conventional military tactics, and in fact, many stories view the guerillas as the heroes.

As a history major with an Asian studies focus, I'm well aware of the historical shinobi, I was merely making a statement about the modern Japanese pop culture usage of ninja.

[oldmanwinters]

Wasn't there some sort of airing screw up in Japan when the OT was on? Like they only got a couple of seasons aired and out of order?

When the TMNT cartoon began airing on TV Tokyo, it apparently went for a total of 102 episodes. The season 1 and 2 episodes aired almost in comparable order to the U.S. run (Cowabunga Shredhead aired in place of Splinter No More, and Splinter No More got moved to #44 in the series order). However, after Return of the Technodrome, things got mixed up as they started picking and choosing episodes from seasons 3-6. I've seen the list for the first 58 eps in some old Japanese TMNT publications, but I don't know what would be the most reliable episode list for the Japanese airings. Curiously, they also bunched upon some of the individual turtle spotlight episodes together (Donatello's Degree, Donatello Makes Time, etc.) so maybe they aired them as a single day's showing?

[sdp]

We have a dromer that lives in Japan, I think he'd be the most fit to answer this question.

[ssjup81]

I'm sorry I can't answer this better. It seems known to kids (some), but not as much as say Youkai Watch, but realistically what is at this point? Its popularity amongst kids is phenomenal, even giving Pokemon a run for its money. I've only met two kids who were into TMNT. Toys and stuff are here. I received all four 2k12 Turtles as a present along with a mirror (OT Style). Have comics in Japan too. Folks around me know I'm a Turtles fangirl, or whatever you'd call it. lol

Seems older people I come across know of it, but mostly the OT. For instance, when I took my iPad to the repair shop, the guy checking it in noticed my background image (Raph wrapped in snakes with his bros around him from that Dream Beaver ep as I love it) and he was like, "Mutant Turtles!" He then was saying he watched it as a kid. I then explained how it was from the new series and he was surprised that there was a newer one airing.

I have a Japanese friend...I'll ask him about how TMNT is viewed in Japan. Kind of surprised I never asked before.

[pferreira]

From what I remember the 1990 movie did terribly in Japan.