"Doma" should not be "Pan-Asia"

[Hinoto-no-Ryuji]

Before making comments about asian appropriation, I would advise that you watch this. At first I was really upset about the Ghost In The Shell Movie thing, but then when I realized they actually encourage us to make the movie, it opened my mind. Now, I'm sure that actual asian appropriation exists. If I were to put on a yukata, and host a Japanese ceremony with no thorough research, I would be a moron. If I did it with class, and actually learned the right way of doing it, no one would probably say anything. I also wouldn't go around saying I'm Japanese when I'm not. That's downright annoying, and disrespectful. However, Japan actually seems to like it when Americans learn about their culture. I think its great, and also important to remember that MMOS, and the anime subculure are a NATIONAL thing on a global scale. It's not just about Japan. Anyway, watch it. It will probably open your eyes a little, like it did for me. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DhoBuU1Dtc

It's a bit off topic (the GitS casting is completely unrelated on a number of levels) so spoiler tags, but...

It's true that, by and large, Japan doesn't care about the GiTS casting, but of course Japan doesn't care; Hollywood is effectively foreign cinema to them, and them caring would be like us caring who they cast as Spider-man or who Bollywood cast as Super-man, or something. They have no dog in the fight because it doesn't effect them, their film industry, or their population. No, the plight is that of the Asian-American community. Hollywood has huge issues with representation and stereotyping racial minorities into supporting roles, and here, we have a character with a Japanese name played by one of the highest-profile white actresses out there. Can ScarJo pull off the look? Sure. Does the work itself support the idea that the Major could be white? Arguably! All else equal, it's not a bad choice. But all else is demonstrably NOT equal and, at the end of the day, a good chance to throw a bone to an under-represented American demographic was ignored for possibly the laziest casting choice possible.

So while the GiTS film has the blessing of the makers and whatnot, I'm not positive that actually addresses the real issue behind the casting choice in the first place. Even if the movie is good - and that's a huge IF - and ScarJo is brilliant, a chance for an Asian-American actor to take center stage in a culturally-Asian story was passed over because it could be. THAT'S why people are upset, and I think they have every reason to be.