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NDTV
10 hours ago
- NDTV
From Godzilla To Anime: How Atomic Bombings Shaped Japan's Pop Culture
From Godzilla's fiery atomic breath to post-apocalyptic anime and harrowing depictions of radiation sickness, the influence of the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki runs deep in Japanese popular culture. In the 80 years since the World War II attacks, stories of destruction and mutation have been fused with fears around natural disasters and, more recently, the Fukushima crisis. Classic manga and anime series "Astro Boy" is called "Mighty Atom" in Japanese, while city-levelling explosions loom large in other titles such as "Akira", "Neon Genesis Evangelion" and "Attack on Titan". "Living through tremendous pain" and overcoming trauma is a recurrent theme in Japan's cultural output "that global audiences have found fascinating", said William Tsutsui, a history professor at Ottawa University. The US nuclear bombing of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 left around 140,000 people dead. It was followed days later by the bombing of Nagasaki that killed around 74,000 people. Some poetry "portrays the sheer terror of the atomic bomb at the moment it was dropped", but many novels and artworks address the topic indirectly, said author Yoko Tawada. "It's very difficult for the experience of the atomic bomb, which had never existed in history before, to find a place in the human heart as a memory," she told AFP. Tawada's 2014 book "The Emissary" focuses on the aftermath of an unspecified terrible event. She was inspired by connections between the atomic bombs, the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster and "Minamata disease" -- mass mercury poisoning caused by industrial pollution in southwest Japan from the 1950s. The story "is less of a warning, and more a message to say: things may get bad, but we'll find a way to survive", Tawada said. Godzilla's skin Narratives reflecting Japan's complex relationship with nuclear technologies abound, but the most famous example is Godzilla, a prehistoric creature awakened by US hydrogen bomb testing in the Pacific. "We need monsters to give a face and form to abstract fears," said professor Tsutsui, author of the book "Godzilla on My Mind". "In the 1950s, Godzilla fulfilled that role for the Japanese -- with atomic energy, with radiation, with memories of the A-bombs." Many people who watched Godzilla rampage through Tokyo in the original 1954 film left theatres in tears, he said. And "it's said that the special effects people working on Godzilla modelled the monster's heavily furrowed skin after the keloid scars on the survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki." In the nearly 40 Godzilla movies released since, nuclear themes are present but often given less prominence, partly to appease American audiences, Tsutsui said. Even so, the series remains hugely popular, with 2016 megahit "Shin Godzilla" seen as a critique of Japan's response to the tsunami-triggered Fukushima disaster. 'Black Rain' "Black Rain", a 1965 novel by Masuji Ibuse about radiation sickness and discrimination, is one of Japan's best-known novels about the Hiroshima bombing. But the fact Ibuse was not an A-bomb survivor is part of a "big debate about who is permitted to write these stories", said Victoria Young of the University of Cambridge. "How we talk about or create literature out of real life is always going to be difficult," she said. "Are you allowed to write about it if you didn't directly experience it?" Nobel-winning author Kenzaburo Oe collected survivor accounts in "Hiroshima Notes", essays written on visits to the city in the 1960s. "He's confronting reality, but tries to approach it from a personal angle" including his relationship with his disabled son, said Tawada, who has lived in Germany for four decades after growing up in Japan. "The anti-war education I received sometimes gave the impression that Japan was solely a victim" in World War II, she said. "When it comes to the bombings, Japan was a victim -- no doubt" but "it's important to look at the bigger picture" including Japan's wartime atrocities, she said. As a child, illustrations of the nuclear bombings in contemporary picture books reminded her of depictions of hell in historical Japanese art. This "made me consider whether human civilisation itself harboured inherent dangers", making atomic weapons feel less like "developments in technology, and more like something latent within humanity".
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Hindustan Times
Huda Kattan's anti-Israel video draws backlash from netizens, sparks calls to 'boycott' Huda Beauty
TikTok has removed a video by beauty mogul Huda Kattan, founder and CEO of the billion-dollar Huda Beauty brand, after she reportedly claimed that Israel was behind major conflicts, including World War I, World War II, the 9/11 terror attacks, and the Hamas-led October 7 attack, reported BBC. TikTok removed Huda Kattan's video for violating community guidelines. (Instagram/@huda) According to the report, in the now-deleted TikTok post shared to over 11 million followers, Kattan said that all the conspiracy theories coming out about Israel, 'they allowed all of this to happen' and added, 'Is this crazy? I had a feeling…yes.' The video quickly went viral and generated backlash from Jewish advocacy groups, retailers, and social media users. In the past, Kattan has accused Jews of organ harvesting and running global pedophile rings, the report added. Also read: 'So uneducated': Indian-origin creator schools TikToker over video mocking Indian accent TikTok responds to Huda Kattan controversy A spokesperson for TikTok told CNN the video was removed for violating community guidelines around hate speech and the sharing of misinformation that could cause significant harm. TikTok stated that they do not allow any misinformation that could cause significant harm to individuals or society, regardless of intent." Kattan and Huda Beauty, however, have not responded to media requests for comment. A manager previously listed as a representative for the entrepreneur told CNN they no longer represent her. How X users reacted to Huda Kattan's comments The comments ignited a storm on social media. One X (formerly Twitter) user asked why Sephora was still carrying Huda Beauty's products. Another said they would boycott the brand. Some people did come out in the beauty mogul's support. Jewish groups call comments 'dangerous' The BBC report stated that the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and American Jewish Committee (AJC) issued sharp rebukes and called Kattan's statements antisemitic conspiracy theories and 'centuries-old hate repackaged'. The AJC was quoted in the report saying, 'This is not criticism of Israel. It is vile antisemitic rhetoric.' Meanwhile, ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt added that spreading vile myths about Jews to millions is 'dangerous'. 'Huda Kattan built a brand around beauty but these antisemitic conspiracy theories are nothing short of ugly hate,' said Greenblatt. Also read: Anthropic CEO mocks Mark Zuckerberg's poaching tactics: 'Something that can't be bought' Will Sephora drop Huda Beauty? The CNN report added that Jewish groups and customers are urging retailers like Sephora to sever ties with Huda Beauty. The brand was valued at $1.2 billion in 2017, and Forbes estimated it brings in $200 million in annual revenue. Despite the controversy, Sephora has not yet commented on whether it will continue to stock the brand, added CNN. Kattan previously faced boycott threats for her vocal support of Palestine, including a viral response last October when she told an Israeli critic, 'I don't want blood money.' FAQs Q: Is Huda Beauty a billionaire brand? A: Yes. Huda Beauty was valued at approximately $1.2 billion in 2017 and remains one of the top-selling beauty brands globally. Q: Is Huda Beauty CEO Huda Kattan still with the company? A: As of now, Huda Kattan remains the founder and CEO of Huda Beauty. Q: Who is the richest member of the Kattan family? A: Huda Kattan is widely believed to be the wealthiest in her family, having been named on Forbes' lists of America's Richest Self-Made Women and Most Powerful Women in Business. Q: Is Huda Kattan of Indian origin? A: No. Huda Kattan is an Iraqi-American. She was born in the United States to parents of Iraqi descent.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Hindustan Times
Huda Kattan under fire for spreading anti-Israel conspiracy theories, TikTok takes down her ‘vile' video
TikTok has removed a contentious anti-Israel video that was posted by influencer and famous beauty mogul Huda Kattan. Huda Kattan's controversial TikTok video alleging Israel's involvement in historical atrocities was removed for violating community guidelines. (AP) In a video shared with her over 11 million TikTok followers, Kattan, the creator and spokesperson for the billion-dollar company Huda Beauty, accused Israel of masterminding the September 11 terrorist attacks, World War I, World War II, and the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel. Notably, both World Wars I (1914–1918) and II (1939–1945) took place prior to the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. 'All of the conspiracy theories coming out and a lot of evidence behind them — that Israel has been behind World War I, World War II, September 11, October 7 — they allowed all of this stuff to happen. Is this crazy?' Kattan stated on camera. 'Like, I had a feeling — I was like, 'Are they behind every world war?' Yes.' Also Read: Stephen A. Smith claps back at Michelle Obama's 'offensive' ESPN remarks, gives her sharp lesson on reality TV, voting Titok reacts to Huda Kattan's video Speaking to CNN, TikTok spokesman confirmed that they pulled Kattan's video for breaking its community rules, a spokesman confirmed to CNN. 'In a global community, it is natural for people to have different opinions, but we seek to operate on a shared set of facts and reality,' as per TikTok community rules. 'We do not allow misinformation that may cause significant harm to individuals or society, regardless of intent.' Huda Kattan's video sparks calls to boycott Huda Beauty products The video has sparked calls on social media and among Jewish communities for Sephora and other retailers to sever the association with Kattan's well-known cosmetics business, Huda cosmetics, which Forbes estimates generates about $200 million in sales annually and was valued at $1.2 billion in 2017. Kattan has previously been the target of boycott calls over her anti-Israel remarks after Hamas October 7 attack. She has been a vocal opponent of Israel and a strong advocate for Palestinians in Gaza. Anti-Defamation League slams Huda Kattan The latest TikTok video that Kattan posted sparked immediate criticism from Jewish organizations. 'Huda Kattan built a brand around beauty — but these antisemitic conspiracy theories are nothing short of ugly hate,' Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League. 'Spreading vile myths about Jews to millions of followers isn't just reckless — it's dangerous.' The American Jewish Committee shared her video, saying that she 'is using her massive platform to spread vile antisemitic conspiracy theories.' 'This isn't 'criticism of Israel.' It's centuries-old hate, repackaged and broadcast to millions,' the Committee added. Kattan appeared in Forbes's 2023 and 2024 lists of America's Richest Self-Made Women and Most Powerful Women in Business, respectively.
