A Merdeka Day Special XE!!?

Question

Happy Merdeka Day to all Malaysians today! Woo hoo!! Did any of you watch the fireworks last night? I did and it was amazing XE!

Right, lest before we forget the question for the Merdeka Special...it's just one simple question that may require some deep thought ha ha...

Anime Q: What animes or mangas that have the theme patriotism inside it? It may be a centralized theme or an underlying theme within the whole storyline.

For me, the two animes that sprang readily to mind is Code Geass and Fullmetal Alchemist. Code Geass because of the rebels' group huge effort wanting to free Japan from Brittania and Fullmetal Alchemist because the main characters (Ed and Roy Mustang) did their best in making sure that Dante and Scar's plan to use people's lives in Amestris to be transmuted into the Philosopher's Stone didn't go as planned. They really don't need to have any other reason except that they love the people who live on the same grounds as them, right?

Answer 1

Well, actually most of the manga has patriotism spirit. They're all using japanese culture in their story.

Ninja and Samurai  - Naruto, Rantaro the Ninja Boy, Ninja Hattori Kun, Ninja Scroll, Rurouni Kenshin, Samurai Deeper Kyo , Vagabond, Bleach, Keikkashi, Afro Samurai, Soul Eater and a lot others

Relationship - There's always a childhood friends kinda relationship involved in manga/anime. This theme is over used by a lot of mangaka out there. Let see, in Yuyu Hakusho, Yuusuke has Keiko, in Keikkashi, Yoshimori has Tokine, Eyeshield 21, Sena has Mamori, Kindaichi Files, Hajime has Miyuki, Detective Conan, Shinichi has Mouri Ran and Heiji has Kazuha. Most of them will eventually fell in love or being the gossip around schools. I mean, it's like Japan is the only country where the guys be friend with girls during childhood.

Technology and Brains -  It's a hidden (or subliminal?) message about Japanese is the smartest race on earth by having the characters being a genius in invented a machine, mechanical, robots etc and solving a case/mysery. Some of the example is Senbe Norimaki from Dr Slump, Agasa from Detective Conan, in term of solving case, Hajime from Kindaichi Files, Shinichi from Detective Conan and a lot more.

Well, that is patriotism to me, if you want something like sacrificing themselves for the good of mankind (according to your example), that's like mentioning almost any manga/anime ever created or existed in the world today. You can say Goku is patriotic since he save the world from King Piccollo when he's still a kid, Luffy can be patriotic since he beat Crocodile in order to save Alabasta, Sakuragi from Slamdunk and Sena from Eyeshield 21 can be patriotic because their determined of winning a game for their high schools.

There's still some excception about Full Metal Alchemist, Hunter X Hunter, One Piece and many other being patriotic though. Some of the main character didn't used or have a Japanese name unlike the others. Even some of the character from Death Note has none japanese name like L Lawliet, Nate River, Mihael Keehl, with the exception of Yagami Raito and Amane Misa. Well maybe because of the market, Yuusuke from Yuyu Hakusho once being changed into Eugene in Philippines, who knows this is their strategy to make a break through outside Japan.

Happy MerDAYka dude! Saya Anak Malaysia! Wooohoooooo~~~~~