Two New Anime Tackle Smoking in Polar-Opposite Ways
Japanese people used to be one of the heaviest smokers on the planet, so cigarettes have always appeared in anime. But rarely as an object of focus. They were simply too commonplace for that, so they became part of the background until Japan did a 180 on its smoking culture, heavily regulating all things tobacco, […] The post Two New Anime Tackle Smoking in Polar-Opposite Ways appeared first on…
Two new anime have started a conversation about smoking, but they take very different approaches. Chainsmoker Cat, produced by Bibury Animation Studios, is a gross-out comedy that intertwines addiction, fantastic racism, and graphic scenes of smoking. The main character, Yaniko, is a heavy smoker facing dire consequences when she tries to quit. Smoking is portrayed as an unavoidable reality in her life, making the show an intense health warning without being condescending.
On the other hand, Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You, created by Asahi Production, is a slice-of-life rom-com that romanticizes smoking. The anime focuses on an office worker, Sasaki, and a supermarket employee, Yamada, who develop feelings for each other while smoking behind the store. Smoking is depicted as an innocent stress-reliever, with no negative consequences for the characters. The show emphasizes how smoking takes away their basic human rights and makes them sad.
While Chainsmoker Cat aims to serve as a harsh reminder of the dangers of smoking, Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You tries to make smoking appear socially acceptable again. Both anime have found a place in Japanese pop culture, with about 1 in 7 people smoking regularly. However, it is clear that Chainsmoker Cat uses smoking as a framing device to deliver a powerful health message, while Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You takes a more light-hearted and romantic approach to the subject.
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