Assorted characters

Diversity - what fun!

and once again, ... if there is a need to explain that 'it' is "mega-popular", then it is most likely, for sure, probably not.

Interesting that a transgender is really nothing new here. Several famous ones around for ages, not to mention the drag queens and everything in between. Now in the US, they finally have their first famous transgender, Catlyn Jenner. It took them long enough to get their first famous drag queen, Ru Paul.

Haruna Ai really is an inspiration to all transgenders out there. She's still treated poorly at times but she still smiles, dances, and is a regular on variety shows and news programs. Good for her.

gokai_wo_maneku: "Interesting that a transgender is really nothing new here. Several famous ones around for ages, not to mention the drag queens and everything in between. Now in the US, they finally have their first famous transgender, Catlyn Jenner."

It is, and it isn't. Yes, Ai Haruna has been around for a few years now, but far from being accepted as a 'normal' woman, she is being put on stage with a drag queen and other characters dressing up from manga. If she were being treated normally, she would have just appeared with Tom Cruise or something to promote Mission Impossible 5, instead of the "Hey, where's our resident transgender tarento?" If the Media tries to pull such a thing with Catlyn Jenner in the US they get in serious trouble. So, while Japan may have had transgender 'characters' for some time before the US has allowed them into the mainstream, so to speak, they are still 'used' and perceived differently.

Perhaps surprisingly, Japanese are relatively free from homosexual bias. I imagine the same is true for transsexual. I don't actually have any prejudice towards transsexual whatsoever. Yes, I often see Ai Haruna on TV. Yes, she's very fun indeed.

One Piece may have Guiness World Record, it's certainly #1 in Japan, but not abroad - Naruto is the #1 in the western world (even after the series ended). I was buying One Piece for some time, but I recently came to the conclusion it was pointless - it's clear to me that author's creativity is gone now and all the new stories and characters are clones of previous ones. Not to mention every single characters expresses traits of severe ADHD and narcissism. I wonder what is the reason behind the popularity of the series - whether it's numerous cultural themes the series present or simply the surname of the author.

Look a narcissist parade.

They surveyed a number of salaryman in Tokyo asking which they'd prefer - Haruna Ai or Harinsenbon. 70% went with Haruna Ai!

1 Piece is also a common name of a group of children in all cities across Japan. I volunteer in them close by, so please do not make fun of them.

Japanese are relatively free from homosexual bias.

Just as long as the "homosexual" is not your child or family member.

I've read (and watched Naruto) both stories at different times, I prefer 1 Piece, I think it has the better entertainment value.

And...off topic but... I once tested some homophobic friends with pictures of both western and Asian actresses and a picture of Haruna Ai right after she won the Ms International Queen award in 2009. All of them said she was the prettiest and or cutest. So it just goes to show if there is no label on something people can't show their bias.