History ValuesDissonance / Anime

It probably should not come as a surprise that there can be a fair amount of ValuesDissonance when Western audiences watch anything made by Japanese people and intended for a Japanese audience.

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:General]]
* Frankly, this trope could probably adequately explain a lot of what seems to be RelationshipWritingFumble in the eyes of western fans. If you are more used to more open western romances, don't realize that the Japanese are generally more shy about overt romantic affection, what the mythological themes and symbolism mean, and a lot of subtle social cues, you're probably going to be pretty lost.
** Or, in some cases, it could just be a matter of extending the "will they - won't they" as long as possible. ''REC'' is a seinen manga where a young couple meet and have sex on the same night, and the plot follows their relationship afterwards. Their sexual encounter is treated as healthy and ordinary.
** A related issue is the Japanese attitude toward physical affection and public displays of affection. It should be noted that the Japanese are a touch-averse people (bowing instead of shaking hands, for instance), to the extent that the only people to whom they will show physical affection are immediate family members (especially little kids) and sex partners. (It doesn't help that the Japanese word for "hug" (idaku) is more commonly understood as a euphemism for sex.) Therefore, it is the understanding in Japan that, by displaying your affection publicly, you are communicating not only that a lot more is going on behind closed doors, but that you are only too eager to boast about such activities to the entire world. Thus, even something as innocent (to Westerners) as hand-holding could be considered extremely provocative.
* As mentioned on the main page for StayInTheKitchen, a lot of Japanese gender attitudes come across as quite sexist to Western audiences.
** While it might be okay with Japanese audiences, the BastardBoyfriend stereotype does not go over well with Western viewers.
** To Western viewers, it can seem very strange that a female character would quit her job just because she was getting married, or that marriage would be seen as an alternative to a career instead of a separate issue. While it is uncommon, but not unheard of, for a woman to quit her job in The West due to getting married, pregnancy is usually the more deciding factor, or more cynically, the husband's income, in Japan and Eastern countries it's common enough to be expected.
*** The West and East also have different opinions on this issue. In the West, a woman who did this would typically be seen as needy, spoiled, and overly reliant on her husband, or at worst, a gold digger. The East, on the other hand, would typically see this behaviour as someone devoted to their family and a strong pillar of support for the husband and community.
** The treatment of sexual harassment is another issue that can raise more than a few eyebrows in Western audiences. In Japan, [[TheChikan "inappropriate touching" on trains]] is so widespread that some stations and trains have ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frotteurism signs warning women about perverts]]''. Yet, women are ''not'' supposed to raise a fuss about it should it actually happen to them; it's the emphasis on dignity coupled with an attitude of female subordination. The train stations offer women-only cars nowadays though to help allivate the issue, but this in turn is seen as discrimination, since men-only cars have yet to be implemented. There is still great controversy in Japan over the legality of this, the lack of prosecution in all but the clearest of cases, and the lenient punishments of those who actually do get convicted.
*** It certainly doesn't help that one of the main reasons behind the creation of the separate train cars was an incident where it was found that 3 high school girls were essentially blackmailing a salaryman into getting money or saying that he tried to molest them. Cases like this are on the rise recently, as commited by savvy juniors who know they cannot be prosecuted.
*** In anime, the AccidentalPervert is usually a bumbling, supposedly likable character; if the "target" freaks out, her reaction is played for comedy. More serious plots may feature outright, deliberate harassment, but very often the heroine will be scolded for fighting back or told not to make such a big deal out of it. Often it's not entirely clear whether the story is on the heroine's side ("sexual harassment is bad"), or backing up society's view ("the heroine needs to accept her lot in life as uncomplaining, submissive victim"). This could be due to the fact that MostWritersAreMale. In ''Manga/{{MARS}}'', for example, Kira, the heroine, is assaulted while at her work. Naturally, she retaliates. Her boss, however, forces her to apologize to her attacker, even though she is the victim. The story is just ambiguous enough to leave the reader wondering if the author takes the manager's side or the best friend's. If you were to look at a lot of shoujo manga, you will notice that the girl is considered "pure" and more "chaste" if she just quietly and tearfully takes the groping from the molester. It is generally up to her boyfriend to call the molester on it and protect her, because a woman should never protect herself. However, most shoujo manga that indulge in this are fantasies in the vein of romance novels and bodice-rippers, so they don't necessarily reflect society's actual opinions.
** This is changing somewhat; in the manga ''Manga/SgtFrog'', for instance, Aki Hinata, [[ActionGirl strong]] mother and aikido master, is groped on a train and responds by slamming her attacker to the ground. Several other writers have followed this trend, especially when dealing with strong female characters.
*** Also in the ''Manga/{{Parasyte}}'' manga, when one of the infected humans humiliates a groper, the other passengers cheer her on.
*** In one ''DetectiveAcademyQ'' anime {{filler}} episode, Megu and a rival DDS student are groped in a train. They actively track down and collar the groper, and proceed to demolish the carefully crafted alibi he presented to "prove" he wasn't guilty.
**** Something similar occurs in ''TenshiNaKonamaiki''.
*** In the ''BeachEpisode'' of ''OuranHighSchoolHostClub'', the heroine Haruhi tries to take on two thugs in defense of two girls, even though she's thin and short, knows no martial arts, and can't swim (she ends up in the water). It's also worth noting that she didn't even think of calling for help, even though the beach is swarming with ''armed private police forces.'' Her male friends reprimand her but the lesson they teach Haruhi is more about understanding her own limits and safety than about being a meek, submissive girl. At the end of the episode, it's also shown that the reason she didn't think of calling for help is that she's ''not used to having help to call on'', softening the impact of the reprimand somewhat.
*** ''Webcomic/{{Megatokyo}}'' sort of goes in between when someone [[MuggingTheMonster gropes Erika]] [[http://megatokyo.com/strip/125 on the train]]. She is at first freaked out with a 'Wtf?" expression on her face and then returns to the conversation she was having while slowly reaching behind her and painfully snapping something on the pervert. However, being written from a American's point of view on the issue, this is probably more of an exception.
*** Manga/{{Change 123}} uses this when a pervert begins molesting main-character Motoko. She quietly takes it until she transforms into [[BoisterousBruiser Hibiki]] of [[SplitPersonality HiFuMi]]. Then she proceeds to reach down, place her hand over his, and severely break his fingers. She walks off the train, leaving the pervert on his knees in agonizing pain, surrounded by confused bystanders.
** This is all but averted now, by the point of creating [[UnprovokedPervertPayback its own issue]].
** In ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'', Sakura kicks in the face a man who grabs her butt. When the client she's watching over notes that girls in his town don't look after themselves that way, Sakura declares that they should.
*** It should be noted, however, that the creator of ''Naruto'' grew up near a US military base and has some frankly American attitudes about a lot of things.
* The YamatoNadeshiko trope, when exported to the West, seems a bit sexist...
** ...but the WellExcuseMePrincess and {{Tsundere}} types are, for some specific groups of fans, [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff far more popular overseas than they are back home]].
*** But not for others. Americans will accept Tsundere girls (due to their like of strong female characters), but only if they have a ''reason'' to snap. It's easy for the girl to cross the line into DudeNotFunny if her actions are seen as unjustified, especially if she's not called out on it.
** An example of this, albeit with males rather than females, is Yuri's harem in ''LightNovel/KyoKaraMaoh''. Gentle, chivalrous Conrad seems to be the most favored candidate for Yuuri's affections in Japan. In the West, however, [[{{Tsundere}} Tsundere-esque]] Wolfram appears to have a bigger following. Mind you, this may be due to Conrad being interpreted as a father-figure by some Westerners.
** On the third hand, [[http://loserzcomic.comicgenesis.com/d/20010822.html presentation is everything...]]
** Likewise, in ''Manga/AiYoriAoshi'', Kaoru's preferred match is YamatoNadeshiko Sakuraba Aoi for Japanese fans; but western fans prefer hooking him up with LoveableSexManiac and ManicPixieDreamGirl-wannabe Tina Foster.
* Difference in the AOC (Age of Consent) in relation to female anime characters, have also caused some cultural shock among Western Audiences since the 90s. In Japan, the minimal age of consent for a Japanese girl [[http://www8.cao.go.jp/youth/kenkyu/jourei/pdf_index.html is 13]], and anything above that is fair play. Heck, in Japan, girls can already get married at the age of 16 (though recently this act has been frowned upon by modern Japanese society). And since Japanese AOC's minimum is 13, there'll be a lot of "underaged" school girls wearing painfully sexy short skirts (with emphasis on [[ShesGotLegs legs]]), tight blouses, [[ZettaiRyouiki long socks or stockings]], SchoolSportUniform, and off course SchoolSwimsuit (see {{Joshikousei}}). {{Fanservice}}s are occasionally put up to placate viewers who have fetishes on these objects. Worst case scenario happens when these underage schoolgirls are treated to malicious and perverted incidents; even rape. Off course, for the Japanese, these are all normal. They don't see these characters as being sexualized or anything, they just think they're cute.
** It's most famous and well-talked about example is ''SailorMoon'' when it first aired in the West during the 90s. The show's emphasis on female sexuality and fanservices were particularly loved by male audiences. However, things went downhill when Western viewers learned that many of the female characters whom they have been jacking off too where in their teens. The main character, Sailor Moon, who was given so much visual focus, was 14(!). It caused an uproar in America at that time, and networks broadcasting the show changed Sailor Moon's age from 14 to 16, and made some frowned upon changes in its format as well.
** Strongly related to this are the ideas of {{Loli|con}} and {{Shota|con}}, since in Japan, cuteness and innocence combined with a small but still noticable amount of sex appeal is a strong selling point due to the fact that the Japanese prefer adorable, youthful looks rather than sexiness (say, like in America). Also playing into the appeal of young looks is the fact that many Japanese have very low chances of ever having a family and children as well as the population getting constantly older due to record-low birthrates, so the masses also start looking older and older and thus finding a viable, healthy partner to start a family with [[UpToEleven becomes even harder]]. Thus it's no wonder why young boys and girls in Japanese media are so popular, like many things in fiction they act as a good enough surrogate for the real thing.
* While AnimationAgeGhetto has been quite a problem in the West, the same can also be said for its opposite. In the West, many Shounen and Shoujo are marketed towards the older teen/young adult demographics, but in Japan, those titles are created and marketed mainly towards younger teens. It doesn't help that popular titles have shown content that are seen as controversial towards anyone under 18 in the West. ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar'', ''Anime/MazingerZ'', ''Manga/FullMetalAlchemist'', ''Manga/DeathNote'', and ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'' could be so graphic at times that Western fans find it EXTREMELY hard to believe that [[WhatDoYouMeanItsForKids they are intended for preteens]]. As a result, the content ratings for English versions of {{shonen}} manga are often all over the map, with many manga that middle-schoolers would be able to read in Japan being deemed for teens or older teens in America. ''MaiHime'' is one notable example, as while it is a shonen series, the English release contains a content warning stating that it is not for children.
* Nudity in Japanese culture is viewed ''very'' differently. While it's used for plain old FanService, it's also used to convey innocence and purity. This ''really'' causes a problem with children -- a nude child or a panty shot is not intended to be sexual at all in Japanese culture and in fact, a nude child is often intended to emphasize their ''lack'' of sexuality. Consider, for example, the bathing scenes in ''Anime/MyNeighborTotoro'' ([[BathtubBonding in which the father is bathing with his preteen daughters]]) or the ''numerous'' panty shots in ''Anime/KikisDeliveryService''.[[note]]On ThisVeryWiki, there was -– [[Administrivia/PermanentRedLinkClub once upon a time]] –- a page called "InnocentPanties", which were just that. It had to be cut because... um... [[Administrivia/TheGoogleIncident well]]...[[/note]] This does ''not'' translate well to a pedophile-wary West, in which any instance of this is thought of as child pornography. Parents bathing with children, even fathers and daughters, is not uncommon in Japan, up to a certain age. Girls taking baths together is considered more a relaxing social thing than anything else, especially if they happen to be visiting an [[HotSpringsEpisode onsen]], even (stereotypically) comparing bust sizes and curves and such while in the bath. Even mixed sex baths are OK, as it's not really a sexual thing, just a chance to relax and chat with friends.
** Interestingly, America did not used to be quite so uptight about this. Look at classic advertisements for [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coppertone_girl Coppertone sun block from 1953]].
** In some anime programs, ''Anime/YuGiOhGX'', any nude of suggested treads to be censored when ported to the Western viewers, in the ''Yu-Gi-Oh GX'' episode "It's all Relative", Bastion [[{{Streaking}} takes off his clothes completely before running]] after his moment of deep thought. In the Western Port, Bastion was still wearing his boxers, but in both ports the rest of the characters just simply watches on and no action in taken, unlike what would've happened in a America, where such action was grounds for arrest.
** This lack of nudity taboo makes the prominent testicles on many Japanese depictions of tanuki highly problematic during localization.
* Then there's the fact that in certain Western countries (like the USA, Australia, and Canada but not most of Europe), [[KissingCousins cousin intermarriage]] is treated as almost as bad as BrotherSisterIncest (both as a cultural taboo and, in some jurisdictions, a criminal offense), causing an aversion to cousin [[UnwantedHarem Unwanted Haremettes]] in DatingSim games and shows based upon them. Cousin marriage is fully legal in Japan and seen more as odd or quaint than [[{{Squick}} Squicky]]. It is still comparatively common in some social circles as a way to ensure an equitable match.
** The acceptability of KissingCousins varies from series to series. In many it's barely even like they're cousins but in others it can be a big moral dilemma. For example in ''Manga/DailyLivesOfHighSchoolBoys'', one of the characters has a crush on a boy only to learn he's her cousin, prompting her to abandon said feelings.
* In many anime, a character will be reprimanded for laughing loudly, crying, or generally showing an "excess of emotion." While this may be universally understood in certain places (such as in an important meeting, in the cinema, or in a library), it can be confusing if the character is just sitting with friends or talking to their parents. It only makes sense once you realize the emphasis Japanese culture puts on Dignity, and [[ItCantBeHelped not bothering other people with your personal problems]]. It works both ways, of course. The stereotypical American's emotional and dramatic nature, as well as their infamous Constitutional right to own a gun, is absolutely shocking to the Japanese population. This resulted in "[[{{Eagleland}} half-crazy, gun-toting American]]" characters appearing in anime. Examples: Leon of ''{{Pet Shop of Horrors}}'', K from ''{{Manga/Gravitation}}'', and most of the cast of ''{{Manga/FAKE}}'' (except Ryo, who's [[ButNotTooForeign half Japanese]]). Another example happens when laws allowing citizens to own guns are passed: ''Anime/BurstAngel'', for example, depicts Tokyo as slowly becoming a more rotten place than [[ViceCity the lowest]] ''[[ViceCity favelas]]'' [[ViceCity of Rio de Janeiro]] after one of these laws was enacted.
** France has a similar attitude toward private gun ownership, as has Britain, which introduced some of the tightest gun control laws in Europe after the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunblane_massacre Dunblane]] and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungerford_massacre Hungerford]] massacres.
** In ''LightNovel/{{Akikan}}'', the main character had to transfer to a new school after saving a friend from a kidnapper using the kidnapper's own gun. To a Japanese audience, this is apparently considered horrifying and scandalous, while in an American context, he would have been lauded as a hero for his actions.
** Perhaps this can best illustrated by a story. In an unnamed show, the group consisting of two Texans, a Louisianan, a French-raised American, and a Brazilian. When the protagonist of the show pulled out his personal pistol and shot a guy about to cause somebody else harm, the Texans and Louisianan applauded the action as the act of a good Samaritan. In those states, citizens didn't have reliable police services at one time and had to protect themselves from Indian raiders and troublemakers. The French-raised American and the Brazilian were both horrified and thought they saw an act of barbarity, since the protagonist shot the guy rather than trying to talk him down.
* In Japan, the extended middle finger is seen as a harmless, petty gesture, like sticking your tongue out. Hence, the reason Old Tom gives one to Star Saber in ''TransformersVictory'', a children's cartoon.
** Likewise with the tendencies to flip people exhibited in the main characters of the ''ViewtifulJoe'' anime and the ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'' manga (though not the anime).
** In ''Manga/GreatTeacherOnizuka'', there are times when the titular character did the finger. Apparently, that one's a humorous case of {{Deliberate Values Dissonance}}; he's telling whoever it is "f*** you" in a "harmless" way.
** Subverted in ''Manga/LuckyStar'' when Akira flips off the camera and her finger is blurred. Likewise, at least one instance of a character flipping the bird was removed from the anime of ''Manga/OnePiece.''
** This sort of thing is also why ''[[TengenToppaGurrenLagann Gurren Lagann's]]'' [[FanNickname Bruce Ironstaunch]] is [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff loved in America]] for giving Rossiu a BicepPolishingGesture when he announces the arrest of Simon. In Japan, the reaction was approval. In America, it was more of a "Who the Hell do you think ''you'' are?"
** However, Japan ''does'' have its own equivalent of the middle finger, which is a clenched fist with the thumb sticking out between the index and middle fingers (it essentially means, "get fucked" in most contexts). In the West (well, most of the West), this is a harmless gesture. At least currently, since it DID carry that meaning until recently (it's called a fig).
** Lampshaded in ''BlackHeaven'': deceased band member Joseph Watanabe doesn't understand what he's doing when he goes waving his middle finger around after getting pinched by a lobster. He was in the US on a solo tour at the time. As a result, a very large, angry man throws him through a billboard. It was clearly emphasized that he really didn't understand what was offensive about it.
** Subverted in the baseball episode of ''SamuraiChamploo'', where one of the Japanese characters was flipping off another in the episode and it was blurred. Of course, half the cast in that episode were Americans.
* As some specific examples below can show you, Japan has a... ''different'' way of dealing with child abuse than the West. Child abuse is treated as something the family themselves should deal with, and that it's no one else's business. Several series where a teacher or fellow student tries to tell someone has the speaker shot back down, told to not get involved, or worse, which is pretty much exactly what happens to them in real life; [[http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/02/14/japan.child.abuse/index.html?hpt=C2 unfortunately for many Japanese children, this real-life "tradition" is putting tremendous strain on Japan's social services...]]
* Related to the child abuse are vastly differing ideas for what makes a good parent, which can presumably be traced back to ideals regarding filial piety. In manga, a parent that ignores or even commits what a Western audience would consider child abuse are more likely to be overlooked or even praised depending on the situation. A parent who is too busy working to pay any attention to their child may be considered hard-working and supportive despite their hurt and confused children and one who verbally or even physically attacks their child for what is considered improper behavior may be simply considered strict but well-meaning and possibly correct. When actual error is admitted in parenting, the child is also expected to forgive them easily. If they don't, the problem is assumed to be with the ''child'' and not the parent.
** For example, Tomoya in ''VisualNovel/{{Clannad}}'' was actually given a permanent injury that disabled full usage of his arm by his father, who after the fight began ignoring his child to the point where Tomoya felt like a stranger in his own home and nearly failed out of school as a result of not wanting to come home while his father is awake. However, in the true route, Tomoya is expected to forgive him because his father was trying to raise him on his own and was doing his best until he just gave up.
** In ''Manga/BinbougamiGa'', the main character is the victim of extreme neglect with her parents regularly breaking promises or failing to appear for any events in her life to the point that by the time she was a little girl she'd given up on them. When her father comes back to Japan for the first time in what is implied to be ''years'' after having fun as a musician in America, his daughter wants nothing to do with him, especially since his idea of an apology is 'Okay, now that I'm back for the first time in a decade, we can all be a family in a place you've never been apart from everyone you've ever known.' The next couple chapters are all devoted to trying to make ''Ichiko'' be more 'reasonable' and forgive her father, who is now considered the victim. Earlier, Ranmaru had been portrayed as noble for sticking up for a father that had beaten her and forced her to live a lifestyle she was not comfortable with because of his own desires.
* The phrase [[DeclarationOfProtection ''I'll protect you'']] in Japanese is often used in anime as a declaration of devotion and commitment –- especially when said to a woman by a man –- and not a petition to be her bodyguard (although that [[BodyguardCrush does come up now and again]]). It's often translated as just "I love you" in English. Because gender roles in Japanese culture are much more rigid than in other parts of the world, this is sometimes used to show a male character who has been less than macho to be stepping up as a man, and gives a tomboyish girl a chance to showcase her femininity by being protected like girls are supposed to. This can be really, ''really'' weird for Western audiences, who are left to wonder what the Hell TheHero is thinking, offering to ''protect'' his [[ActionGirl super-powered/magical/martial artist/psionic girlfriend]] if she's clearly capable of taking care of herself.
** In ''PrincessKnight'' (see more below), Sapphire says this to a female knight who is helping her escape from a dungeon, as they are being attacked by enemy soldiers. The female knight is confused, and yells at Sapphire for talking "like a man".
*** Japenese couples will often use the term ''Lover'' to innocently describe their relationship status. This is essentially telling others they are boyfriend/girlfriend in Western terms. However, with a Western context, this statement takes on a much deeper meaning, as the term ''Lover'' connotates a sexually active relationship - which can be somewhat shocking to Western audiences when high school couples use the term.
* Teacher-student romantic relationships are not ''nearly'' as forbidden in Japan as they are in the United States. It can be puzzling for Western readers of a series like ''MaisonIkkoku'' or ''MarmaladeBoy'', where relationships between high school teachers and students are treated not only as acceptable, but in some cases ''ideal'' (granted, in the latter the teacher had to leave his position, but he was also teaching middle school). Or, similarly, a case like with Mr. Kimura from ''Manga/AzumangaDaioh'', who openly acknowledges his preference for high-school girls and doesn't suffer any ill-effects from it, other than his female students being creeped-out by him. In the U.S., ''any'' hint of high school teachers and students going beyond friendly can get the former locked up, even if the student is above the age of consent. Even American ''universities'' often fire professors who sleep with their students (as it's seen as either the professor abusing his power or the student using sex as a bribe for a better grade).
* Japanese media attitudes about homosexuality differ greatly from Western views. On the one hand, it's a lot more common in anime, and they usually make less of an issue out of them; you'll find a lot less {{Gayngst}} and [[ComingOutStory Coming-Out Stories]], for example. Japanese media is also more likely to emphasize the romance in these storylines, rather than the sex. On the other hand, the apparent acceptance is largely due to seeing homosexual relationships as a fancy of youth which provides "training" for "real" opposite-sex relationships later in life; this is why you see so many SchoolgirlLesbians but not so many older ones. As recently as 2013, a lesbian couple made headlines for having a wedding ceremony at Toyko Disneyland despite the fact that same-sex marriages are not legally recognized by the Japanese government. One of the brides even stated in interviews that she hoped the attention their ceremony garnered would help convince the government to stop marginalizing sexual minorities.
** This attitude is actually discussed in ''AoiHana''. Hinako's mother tries to set her up with a male suitor despite the fact that she knows Hinako is in a live-in relationship with her longtime girlfriend Orie, and when Hinako scoffs at this, her mother dismisses their relationship since they aren't legally married. In the final chapter, the couple state that they'd be interested in getting married if they could find a way to do so, a rarity in Yuri manga.
*** Indeed, the ending drew acclaim from some LGBT rights activists for showing [[spoiler: Fumi and Akira in a live-in relationship after they graduate, making it clear their relationship is legitimate and not just youthful experimentation or "a phase"]].
** Westerners' attitudes toward anime portrayals of homosexuality have evolved a great deal over the years as Western attitudes about the subject itself have evolved. As recently as the late 90's, worries about MoralGuardians led English localizers to often turn same-sex couples in anime into opposite-sex couples or HeterosexualLifePartners (TheNineties North American dub of ''Anime/SailorMoon'' infamously did both). The fact that anime has enough homosexuality to devote [[{{Yuri}} two whole]] [[{{Yaoi}} genres]] to it was (and is) seen as progressive, but as SocietyMarchesOn (and as more Westerners find out what Japanese attitudes toward homosexuality are really like), it gets more criticism from the West for those genres being more geared toward straight people, and relying on tropes like BaitAndSwitchLesbians.
* Characters such as Chocolove from ''ShamanKing'' would likely be considered highly offensive in America or any other country with a sizable black population. In fact, in the American airings of the show, his name was changed to "Joco", while the English translations of the manga were altered to give him a less offensive physical appearance. However, such depictions of black characters are not anything out of the ordinary for Japan, which has a complicated history when it comes to things like {{Blackface}}, with heroic and otherwise sympathetic black characters often being given minstrel characteristics. As Japan lacks the racial history and context, blackface humor is often not portrayed as offensive, and indeed, can even be considered positive, shocking as that sounds.
** Another prominent example would be Cyborg 008 from ''Manga/{{Cyborg 009}}'', who despite being one of the protagonists and not a source of comic relief, was drawn as a blackface caricature in the manga and most of the original adaptations. He was finally given a normal-looking appearance in the 2001 anime adaptation and has thankfully been depicted as such in most subsequent appearances.
*** The original manga has other dissonant moments, such as [[TheAtoner Doctor Gilmore]] being much more of a {{Jerkass}} at times and Joe telling Francoise to StayInTheKitchen.
** A good example would be Episode 8 of ''Manga/LoveLab'', which contains an uncomfortable gag involving several Japanese schoolgirls in {{Blackface}}. While the scene was rightfully found offensive by a number of Western viewers, it's made clear that the girls aren't trying to be racist and actually meant to use the make-up ''[[ComplimentBackfire as a compliment]]''. They even state afterwards that they find black women to be strong and beautiful. (This scene was likely inspired by the ''ganguro'' fashion style, the name of which literally means "black face".)
** Case in point: in 2006, the Japanese government issued illustrated earthquake safety pamphlets to English-speaking tourists which, in an attempt to show diversity, included black/African-American characters. Unfortunately, these black characters were drawn in a manner which would be seen as embarrassingly outdated in Western society ''at best'', large pink lips and all. Complaints were made, assumptions were formed, and Japan was left wondering what the big deal was.
* Japan has a very odd view on humility when it comes to talking about family members within their vicinity. In places like America, we tend to agree when other people say "your child is so good at this-and-that." For Japan...when someone says your child is good at something, people respond like this, "Oh, no! She/He's such an embarrassment to the family!" This has been going on since ancient times, and this is considered the highest form of humbleness and humility, while Americans might construe it as either demeaning or even verbal abuse. The Japanese consider bragging about their child's talents to be impolite and rude. It's not restricted to children too, when given a compliment in Japan, you are expected to deny it. Agreeing makes you sound extremely arrogant. This is even {{lampshade|Hanging}}d in a comedy manga called ''My Wife Is A Foreigner.''
** The Japanese also have an odd tradition to tell any foreigner they see for the first time "Your Japanese is very good!", to which said foreigner is supposed to answer "Oh no, there are still many things I have to learn." as that is the very Japanese and polite way. As with above, agreeing it or worse admiting not to understand it are considered highly offensive.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Specific]]
* ''Manga/GunslingerGirl'': Any Italian would find all of the relationships including between the adults to be unspeakably cold and distant as the artists, due to cultural projection, have depicted them as Japanese relationships might be, instead of as the very physical Italians would act. Though that COULD be excused by thinking that they are very, very uncomfortable in dealing with those girls and it's shown this way. There's also the ''other'' [[LoliCon major]] [[BleachedUnderpants issue]] with this show.
* ''Manga/SevenSeeds'' has an in-universe example with Team Summer A and the other teams. Summer A went through [[TrainingFromHell hell]] [[HarmfulToMinors and]] [[KillEmAll back]] to be chosen for the [[TitleDrop 7 Seeds]] Project. Since they were brought up in a sheltered institution, they know nothing about the other teams but simply expect them to have gone through the same Test to be chosen, to be fully taught and trained in survival and expecting almost inhuman levels of deep knowledge or athletic abilities from everyone, including young children. They certainly see the value differences when they learn that ''the rest'' of the Teams were chosen from the [[OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent general public]] and Team Summer B is even made up of "mundanes" who were considered ''social failures''!
* Raye Penber's heavy-handed StayInTheKitchen speech to his (former FBI agent) fiance in ''Manga/DeathNote'' makes his later murder less a tragedy and more an instance of KarmicDeath in the eyes of many readers, especially because Naomi was much more competent than he was. On the other hand, it makes you really feel for Naomi – which works heavily in favor of the story.
** Especially because in ''[[Manga/DeathNote Another Note The Los Angeles BB Murder Cases]]'' [[spoiler:she just finished working with [[Franchise/SherlockHolmes L]] on tracking down and killing Beyond Birthday]].
** InUniverse (and possibly for reader) example: In Episode 23, Light refuses L's suggestion to carry a gun to assist in Higuchi's capture, citing that it's illegal for a citizen to own a gun in Japan, while L (who is of mixed ethnicity and is presumably not native Japanese) has no problem with carrying one, and neither does Watari. Similarly, earlier in the episode, Soichiro refuses to take one from the also non-Japanese career criminal Wedy, citing that he's no longer a police officer, and suggests that Wedy shouldn't have a gun, either (Aiber, however, declines to do so [[DoesNotLikeGuns for personal reasons]]).
* ''OmamoriHimari'' and the {{tsundere}} Rinko. While at the beginning it was the normal set up of "love dovey" childhood friend it has evolved into a full abusive relationship. While at the start she was no role model (throwing a cat to a person who is allergic to them... really?) she has been shown lately to punch, slap and hit him with a ''baseball bat with nails'' until he bleeds. And his transgression? To have other girls ogle him, feel herself inadequate in the chest department or show any interest in anything that is not her. And we are supposed to find it [[DudeNotFunny endearing]]... It's like with ''Manga/GirlsBravo'' and any number of works: either the Mangakas really had no idea what is a healthy relationship, the ''HaremGenre'' is heading to its breaking point, or Japanese people are kinda insane.
** That happens in 98% of harem-type series. Apparently, DoubleStandardAbuseFemaleOnMale is in effect and the male is loved by several girls.
** This same issue's roots can be followed all the way to ''Manga/LoveHina'', one of if not the first manga that turned the HaremGenre on its head by having the girls not as objects as desire to be conquered but with their own unique quirks, except that several of them are violent towards the male protagonist who is also a loser and many a MegaTonPunch happen. It became so influential that almost every harem story after it for about a decade had the same format, until people started to realize that "Hey, beating up a guy for absolutely no reason whatsoever is DudeNotFunny! UpToEleven." By now, ''Manga/LoveHina'' is generally considered SeinfeldIsUnfunny by many manga fans and mangaka are slowly turning away from the sexist idea that DoubleStandardAbuseFemaleOnMale is entirely fine.
* ''{{Pet Shop of Horrors}}'', mentioned above, runs into a ''lot'' of values dissonance, as many of its episodes have an odd, twisted kind of moral to them. They often come off as Count D being a bloodthirsty bastard rather than an Aesop-dispenser. Sometimes, it's unclear if this is dissonance between Western and Japanese values, Count D's and the other characters' values, or the readers' and the mangaka Akino's values. But in most cases, we're clearly ''supposed'' to find Count D's values unconventional and shocking.
** A good example is one episode where the man who has "vengeance" visited on him is implied throughout to have murdered his wife by pushing her over the railing of a cruise ship. [[spoiler:Turns out she jumped, because she overheard him talking to the woman he was actually in love with. It seems that she was a huge bitch who always had to have whatever she wanted, and she decided she wanted him and railroaded him into it. She became "heartbroken" at their words and killed herself.]] The story still seems to treat him as if he's to blame, and his fate is treated as a [[spoiler:KarmicDeath]].
** Things get ''really'' weird in ''Pet Shop of Horrors: Tokyo'', which starts blatantly imposing the "rules" of the animal kingdom directly on to humans. Take the first story, "Domestic": [[spoiler:A victim of domestic violence dies, but it's treated as a happy ending by Count D because she protected her son.]] The pet the woman gets is not to save her, but to ensure that she fulfills her role as a woman and mother: defending her young to the last. The Count has no remorse for his actions, [[spoiler:basically sending her to her death]], because that is apparently Nature's Way. It becomes increasingly difficult to tell if this is a strategy to dehumanize the Count after he becomes notably more compassionate in the first series (which would be in-universe Values Dissonance), or whether Akino herself supports this view. [[HerHeartWillGoOn Men don't get off lightly either]] -- see "Double-Booking".
** Also, our very first introduction to Count D in the manga chapter "Dream": Angelique's actions were no doubt seen as selfish and overly emotional to a Japanese audience, but to Americans she seemed to be motivated by love for her pet, and her punishment came across as over-top cruel. Yes, she broke the rules. But even if she hadn't, her bird would still have been eviscerated, and Count D ''never even warned her''.
* ''{{Transformers}} Anime/BeastWarsII'' will never, '''ever''' be officially translated into English for Western audiences. The reason? [[FunnyForeigner The]] [[SouthOfTheBorder Jointrons]], who act like stereotypical Mexicans, are really lazy, and transform into ''bugs''.
* ''MaisonIkkoku'' features a big one in the main character Godai's relationship with an annoying teenage high school girl who follows him around, insists they're "meant to be", and tries to ruin his maybe/maybe not relationship with his beloved out of jealousy. The problem everyone has is that she's annoying and Godai doesn't really lover her... ''not'' that she's sixteen or seventeen years old, and he's at least ''twenty''. In fact, everyone acts like he just may hook up with her anyways, and they don't particularly comment about the morality of it aside from breaking the "true love"'s heart. Even worse, his "true love" had married her ''teacher'' years earlier, when the age difference was even ''bigger'', and it's viewed as a perfect relationship.
** Must be notes than in many countries (not only in Japan) a consensual relationships between a teen-age girl and an adult is not only not taboo but very common, unlike in the US where is generally seem as abhorrent. The level of acceptance depends from country to country, in some countries won’t be an issue if the age difference is not too high (for example 16/20) but it can be an issue if the age difference is quite notable.
* In ''{{Ikki Tousen}}'', when a character is revealed to really be the incarnation of Wang Yun rather than who he had previously claimed to be, it's treated as a huge shock and evidence that he's completely evil. Wang Yun was a ''hero'' in the original ''{{Romance of the Three Kingdoms}}'', but it seems the Japanese don't think too highly of him.
** That was before, well, [[spoiler:Zuo Ci (the one who was Wang Yun) actually betrayed and manipulated his friends....]]
*** This was one of the more heavy plot rewrites in the anime, which was made after Wang Yun's identity was known to the reader, but before he revealed it to the characters. In the manga, while he's still manipulating literally everyone behind their backs, he's got good intentions, and is treated as a hero. Hell, even in the anime, he's mostly just setting the villains up to kill each other.
* ''Manga/CardCaptorSakura'' has an astonishingly casual view of May/December teacher/student relationships. Sakura's mother and father met when he was a high school teacher and she was his student. One of Sakura's prepubescent classmates has a crush on their teacher... and ''he returns it!'' But then, it's Creator/{{Clamp}}.
* In ''LightNovel/{{Toradora}}'' episode 16, Ryuji finds Kitamura sitting around with a giant bruise on his face; Kitamura reveals eventually that his father basically hauled off and punched the hell out of him because he ''dyed his hair'' (and also probably for not wanting to run for student council president); both of these were explicitly stated to be cries for help on Kitamura's part. In most Western productions, the rest of the episode would probably be about how abusive and wrong this was, both physically and emotionally. The characters don't seem to think twice about it, and Kitamura comes back to school the next day with his hair dyed back and saying he's all better now.
** The ''dyed hair'' turns up in a lot. This also is featured in ''{{The Twelve Kingdoms}}'' where [[DarkSkinnedRedhead Yohko]] is thought to be some sort of hoodlum or perhaps prostituting herself just [[EvilRedhead because her hair is red]] and not black like other Japanese students. This escalates to the point where her parents are called and she is cornered by teachers to stop dying her hair for the sake of her honor student reputation. Unfortunately for her, she is a natural redhead [[spoiler:because she is [[TrappedInAnotherWorld from another world]]]]. Even more unfortunate is the fact that she's whisked away by the golden-haired [[RapunzelHair rapunzel]] Keiki, who only solidifies suspicions of her relating with unscrupulous characters. Because, even if he's innocent, we all know [[BlondGuysAreEvil blond guys are evil]] especially when they're foreigners in Japan.
** Do note that Asians generally have black hair, as opposed to Westerners with varying colors. Dyeing your hair in most Asian countries usually means you're a rebelling teenager or a wannabe gangster.
* In ''[[Manga/{{Gon}} Gon]]'', Gon frequently eats animals, [[NoCartoonFish mainly fish]], alive, often taking one bite and leaving them to die. While repulsive to many Western audiences, this is common practice in Japanese cuisine.
* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'':
** In the RSE arc of the ''PokemonSpecial'' manga, one of the protagonists Ruby (10) runs away from home to compete in Contests. Eventually, Norman, his father, [[http://jb2448.info/Pokemon_Adventures_17/17-051 finds him]] in a ruin, and starts [[http://jb2448.info/Pokemon_Adventures_17/17-054 beating him to a pulp]]. ''[[http://jb2448.info/Pokemon_Adventures_17/17-055 He then uses his Slaking to rip out the stair his son is standing on, (almost hitting a bystander), and dangles him, over the edge of the building]]''. His son is finally forced to start fighting back, until the floor collapses, with them [[http://jb2448.info/Pokemon_Adventures_17/17-067 both dangling over the edge]], they just miss some metal debris, Ruby is knocked out, and his father stands to start battling again, before conceding [[WellDoneSonGuy his son's goal]]. Then we get [[http://jb2448.info/Pokemon_Adventures_17/17-071 this]]. [[http://jb2448.info/Pokemon_Adventures_17/17-072 To top it off, one of Ruby's companions calls him a "wonderful father" afterwards]].
** The incident had more behind it due to an event in the trio's common past. [[spoiler:A berserk wild Salamence attacked a young Ruby and Sapphire in its frenzy. Ruby took a horrible scar from Salamence's attack, and his innate gift at Pokémon battling let him repulse the frenzied beast, but he felt such influence tainted Sapphire's crystal heart. He has since shunned all forms of battle and sought instead to focus on Contests, swearing never to fight in the public square again. Norman, on the other hand, covered up the incident; not only was he banned from Gym Certification for at least five years, he also had to seek out Rayquaza (Norman had developed a way to capture Rayquaza, but the Salamence destroyed it in the attack). His sacrifice made Ruby's disdain towards his training sting that much more, and the two have been at odds ever since.]]
** In the ''{{Anime/Pokemon}}'' anime, Zoey/Nozomi's behavior and tone of voice toward Dawn/Hikari were changed in the dub. She acted pleasantly toward Dawn, had a sweeter tone of voice and constantly complemented her; it seemed like she [[LesYay had a crush on Hikari]]. Nozomi's original rough and tumble attitude could easily have been misconstrued by the censors as imitable rude behavior and a lack of good sportsmanship, so her overall manner was softened for the dub, adding yet more fuel to the shippers' fire.
** ''MagicalPokemonJourney'' has two gay characters and ''HowIBecameAPokemonCard'' had a {{Transsexual}} protagonist. Considering these manga were aimed at children, it wouldn't fly as easily in some places.
** ''Manga/PocketMonsters'' [[http://snarp.dreamwidth.org/40223.html has shown]] the genitalia of the protagonist and his Pokemon several times. While intended as nothing more than NakedPeopleAreFunny, nudity is considered ''inherently'' sexual in much of the West, making this perhaps the greatest barrier the series has to more widespread exposure.
* In TheNineties ''Anime/SailorMoon'', the romance of the story involves a junior high school student involved with a college student. In Japan, Mamoru is the butt of a few jokes at worst -- in North America, he would be arrested. In [[Manga/SailorMoon the manga]] he's just a highschooler and not much older than Usagi herself. However, Japanese culture still generally approves of relationships with a gap like this despite the jokes, as the older man is seen as more capable of protecting the younger girl.
** Also in the German dub: In the beginning of the [=SuperS=] season Usagi remarks how she is now 16 years old, thus old enough for a "real love" – which implies that she and Mamoru – which age was left as it was - did not consummate their relationship yet, since Usagi was too young. In Germany the age of consent is graduated - 14 years is the age of consent with other minors. 16 for sex with adults. (And with 18 you're an adult.)
** Furthermore, there's the lesbians Haruka and Michiru. In America, they became the [[HideYourLesbians cousins]] Amara and Michelle. But you could still tell Amara and Michelle were lesbians, making this a case of KissingCousins. Both lesbians and cousins being romantically involved aren't looked down upon quite as much in Japan as in the USA (though see below), so...
** Also, the fact that ''Anime/SailorMoon'' was viewed as a children's series surprises many Western viewers. The show's sexuality did cause some controversy in Japan (including the aforementioned lesbians), which caused [[ShesAManInJapan Toei to change the Sailor Starlights into boys]].
** Interestingly enough, given how much the gay rights movement has advanced in the U.S. since ''Sailor Moon'' first aired there, the decision by Creator/DiC (with Zoisite and Malachite in the first season) and Cloverway (aforementioned example) to HideYourGays in TheNineties American dub is ''itself'' quickly approaching ValuesDissonance. They'd still likely make the same decision now due to fear of MoralGuardians, but it would be met with considerably more controversy now than it was. With more and more gay teens choosing to [[ComingOutStory come out]] younger and younger, the old American idea that homosexuality is a child-unfriendly topic has been increasingly challenged in recent years. Fans are hoping [[Anime/SailorMoonCrystal the remake]] will handle things differently, especially if they decide to aim things at adolescent and adult fans of the original rather than children.
*** When the original anime was licensed and redubbed by Creator/VIZMedia in 2014, they proudly proclaimed that [[https://twitter.com/VIZMedia/status/467444847084064769 Uranus and Neptune won't be cousins]], and that [[https://twitter.com/VIZMedia/status/467472846265270272 Kunzite loves Zoisite]], [[ShesAManInJapan who is very much a guy.]]
** The first episode includes a scene where Usagi fearfully shows her mom that she has failed her test, only to have her mom verbally berate her and kick her out of the house to "think about what she's done." To Japanese audiences, this is seen as strict, but appropriate punishment for her perceived laziness. To western audiences, looks an awful lot like child abuse.
** The diet episode early in the anime is representative of the extremely thin-obsessed culture of Japan...and all the negative body issues that comes along with it. It comes off as even harsher a good twenty years later when body image and eating disorders are gathering far more media attention in the west.[[note]]The English dub has one of its few fine moments by altering this to the more American-friendly lesson about the dangers of exercising until you drop, urging more healthy methods of getting in shape.[[/note]]
* This contributed to the commercial failure of ''Manga/DetectiveConan'' in the US. The anime ''is'' supposed to be a children's show, aired at 7:30pm Mondays for most of its televised history, and the structure of the story is along the lines of a children's show. However, the sheer amount of {{Family Unfriendly Death}}s (many episodes revolve around murder cases) caused serious problems to the West, and importers were given the choice of cutting or timing out of its intended demographic... Interestingly, though, it was quite successful in Europe, at least in the German-speaking countries, where the MoralGuardians only during the last decade started to raise their voices against anime, but seeing as there are lots of detective stories that get released there (even on TV) it is prety much a given.
* PlayedForLaughs in ''Manga/KatekyoHitmanReborn''. In the Italian mafia, a subordinate kissing their boss on the cheek is not unusual. In Japan (and done to [[LauncherOfAThousandShips Tsuna]] by newly introduced [[TheChick Chrome]]), it's a ShipTease.
* In ''PonyoOnACliffByTheSea'', a mother leaves her five-year-old son alone in a typhoon in order to take supplies to elderly women in the old-folks home, who seem to already have others taking care of them. This looks like child abuse from a Western perspective, instead of dedication to her job and trust in her son's maturity as was probably intended.
** Also, elders in Japan are viewed with great respect and their well-being is important. While in the West, it wouldn't be uncommon to hear "They're going to die soon anyway; shouldn't you be focusing on your FIVE YEAR OLD SON?" In Japan, it's a completely different attitude. Mixed with the dissonance above and it really is a case of culture shock.
** ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'' has a similar case where, with a little convincing, Madoka's mother allows her to go out alone into a dangerous superstorm with no explanation beyond "I need to save a friend." It's hard to imagine a Western parent accepting such a thing from a 14-year-old girl, even without the extra factor of [[spoiler:Madoka's best friend having recently died]] in mysterious circumstances which the mother (correctly) suspects her daughter knows something about. This can put viewers in an awkward situation, because the audience knows Madoka really does need to go on this dangerous quest [[CassandraTruth for ridiculous-sounding reasons]]--her mother made the right decision, irresponsible as it may seem on the surface.
* Japan definitely has a more accepting – even positive – attitude toward suicide than the West, and one series in which you can see this is ''Anime/IrresponsibleCaptainTylor''. When desperate situations happen in early episodes, basically every single character except Tylor himself start talking about dying a heroic death, and Tylor's self-preservation instinct is treated as a sign of his incompetence. What makes this weird is that, while it would be perfectly in-character for someone like Yamamoto – who was TheAce until Tylor showed up – to act like this (and he does), it even extends to the Marines on the ship who are the kind of malcontents you wouldn't expect to be so eager to die.
* There is a manga titled ''SuicideIsland''. The premise is that hospitals in Japan are so overwhelmed with attempted suicides that the Japanese government decides to wash their hands of this and simply send the suicidal people to an isolated island. Oh, the suicidal people are given a choice and have to sign a form if they choose to die. Of course, the protagonist, who is suicidal, does not know that when he signed the form, he was going to be put on this island, rather than be killed off shortly afterwards. The story contains elements comparable to ''Literature/BattleRoyale'', only the government is not forcing the people on the island to kill anyone. There is obviously a large amount of ValuesDissonance here, but this manga is clearly examining the concept of suicide from the Japanese perspective.
* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'':
** Momo Hinamori has loved and respected Aizen even before she became his lieutenant, and he used this to manipulate her into trusting him unconditionally and essentially worship him. After discovering Aizen's (fake) corpse, she attacked Gin (of whom her childhood friend Hitsugaya had warned her about earlier). Not long after she received Aizen's last letter addressed to her in which he named Hitsugaya as the murderer. Half-crazed from pain she tried to fight him but had a breakdown in the middle of the fight. Later on, she was informed of Aizen's deceit by the man himself, who went on to stab her. Yet even after this she still couldn't accept the fact that Aizen betrayed Soul Society and believed that he was framed - behavior in line with the YamatoNadeshiko characterization female characters often receive in Japanese entertainment. American fans [[TheScrappy hate her for this]] and think she's a stupid, weak woman; Japanese fans think she's a [[TheWoobie woobie]] and love her.
** A teenage Masaki downplays rumors of her involvement with her secret fiance [[spoiler:Ryuuken]] by stating that they're cousins. The reactions of her friends range from "yes but more importantly he's not your type and you're not his" to "WHO CARES HAVE YOU SEEN HOW HOT HE IS". J-fandom vs. some parts of the American fandom reaction to this reflected the strong taboo against cousin marriage in American culture vs. the Japanese attitude that cousin marriage is somewhat odd but generally acceptable.
** As noted in the "General" section above, the Japanese attitude towards child abuse is that it's best left as a private issue. To Western audiences, Chad and Orihime living alone without any adult guardians before they even turned 15 is...fantastical...at best and breathtakingly irresponsible at worst. In America, the acceptable response to Chad losing his parents and guardian would be foster home or group home placement; to Orihime's parental abuse, giving physical custody to her out-of-town aunt. RealityIsUnrealistic, in many Western countries, even the US, there are many officially or de facto emancipated minors.
** Manga/{{Bleach}} really really likes JapaneseSpirit type development, and there are many instances where characters will [[TimeToUnlockMoreTruePotential manifest new abilities or powers through sheer force of will or just by wanting it hard enough]]. While in Japan this is generally accepted, a lot of western fans view these developments as {{Ass Pull}}s.
** A more specific example occurs in the Hueco Mundo arc when five characters come to a crossroads with five different paths. Ichigo says that they should pick a path to go down, but Rukia and Renji insist that they split up and go down different paths, because wanting to stay in a group is an insult because it implies that they aren't strong enough to be self-sufficient. While the characters immediately accept this and split the group, many western fans view it as a WhatAnIdiot moment, because Ichigo is ''right'' that their enemies are extremely powerful and splitting the party reduces their chances of success. [[spoiler: And they all end up getting their asses kicked anyway, and have to be saved by reinforcements from Soul Society.]]
** Similarly, Ukitake (and Rukia) both have a scruple that if a person is fighting for the sake of their personal pride, you should ''never'' intervene, even if they're going to be killed. While this is tied to the Japanese sense of honor, fans from other background often have a less positive view of it, because honor doesn't mean anything when you're dead, and because sometimes some other goal is more important than one person's personal pride.
* An interesting case is that of Shizuru Fujino of ''[[MaiHime Mai-HiME]]''. Fan opinion on her seems divided after her FaceHeelTurn over her feelings being rejected, but the image portrayed in the ''same scene'' seems to depend on background. In Japan, Shizuru is confronted for three major breaches of behavior: abandoning her position as student council president to take care of Natsuki, being a [[SchoolgirlLesbians Schoolgirl Lesbian]], and "taking advantage" of Natsuki as she slept. The first is a dereliction of a duty Shizuru willingly took up, which is a big thing in Japan's duty-centered society. The second is a sign of immaturity, as detailed in SchoolgirlLesbians, implying that Shizuru is acting childishly by pursuing this kind of thing at her age. The third is both true and false: while Shizuru ''did'' kiss Natsuki while she was sleeping, the greater implication of ThisOrThat going on was incorrect and Natsuki's misunderstanding/jumping to conclusions. Nonetheless, stealing Natsuki's SacredFirstKiss without her consent is a serious faux pas. However, in many a Western market(except [[AmericansHateTingle Italy]]), Shizuru's status is more ambiguous. The first charge of dereliction of duty seems rather frivolous, as most would consider saving a friend from potentially life-threatening or major injury to be more important than student council duties. The second is similarly frivolous to most, with Shizuru's biggest offense being CanNotSpitItOut. The third, again, is generally misinterpreted to imply that Shizuru actually ''did'' rape Natsuki, but the concept of kissing her while she's asleep is not considered a big deal. This ironically leads to a conflicting view of Haruka who is accusing Shizuru. Either she's being a dutiful, proper moral standard calling her rival out on her misbehavior, or she's being a cruel, oversensitive shrew blowing the whole thing out of proportion. There's her later snap and killing spree, but even ''that'''s a debate for [[NotHimself another page]].
** Interestingly enough, Yukino and Haruka call out Shizuru on different issues in [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WeCbzUxiRA this scene]]. Haruka is the one who complains about Shizuru abandoning her duties, and when Shizuru merely replies that she will give up her position to Haruka, Yukino complains that Shizuru has not properly acknowledged Haruka as a rival despite her efforts. Yukino then mentions that she saw Shizuru kiss Natsuki as she slept, as well as something else earlier (although the word "rape" is never used). After Shizuru mocks Yukino for voyeuristic tendencies, Haruka slaps Shizuru and then says ''she and Natsuki'' are disgusting for acting in such a way with each other (by contrast, Yukino is implied to have an un-admitted and most likely unrequited SchoolgirlLesbians crush on Haruka), and then Shizuru slaps her in response and says that it was only something she did on her own. One has to wonder why Haruka would blame Natsuki if Yukino is correct that it was rape, unless both have different ideas about what happened. Compare the following quotes.
-->'''Yukino''': I saw what you did, like how you kissed her back there. I saw what you did to Natsuki as she slept. How could you do that, to someone who trusts you as a friend?
-->'''Haruka''': Two women behaving like that with each other, you're filthy. Both you AND[[note]]emphasized in the dub[[/note]] Natsuki Kuga!
** If an English-speaking viewer has seen only the dub (in which Shizuru has a cultured Southern accent) one gets the impression that her descent into [[PsychoLesbian Psycho Lesbianism]] is more a result of "I'm a lesbian, and all lesbians are psychos, so that means I'm a psycho" kind of deal, with the conservative implications of her accent accounted for. Note that Japan has some slightly... dated views on homosexuality, as discussed under SchoolgirlLesbians. Also see ''MaiOtome'', which takes place in a world where lesbians are much more accepted, and Shizuru is a significantly more sane character – [[TheTease as well as a shameless flirt]].
* The final saga of the original ''DragonBall'' series focuses on Goku and Chichi learning to be a respectable married couple, but specifically on teaching Chichi subservience to her new husband, a trait rather out-of-fashion in Western society these days. And that's not even getting into the mountain that actively repels any female that attempts to climb it, a fact which only "bad girl" Mai seems to have a problem with.
** Master Roshi's [[DirtyOldMan perverted tendencies]], all the sexual jokes (most of which involve Bulma), and Goku sometimes going nude would be seen by Westerners as very crude and inappropriate for a series aimed at preteens.
* In ''TokyoMewMew'', one possible reason why [[StalkerWithACrush Quiche]] is the [[FanPreferredCouple fan preferred pairing]] for Ichigo in the West is that his EstablishingCharacterMoment, stealing Ichigo's SacredFirstKiss, is far less shocking to Westerners than it is to the Japanese.
** Also, Bu-ling is seen as silly and fun in the West, and that's true to an extent in Japan too, but she also comes off as somewhat of an EthnicScrappy. This is lost in translation because the stereotypes she plays into (large family, loud, does ridiculous things, left alone by her lone parent, etc.) are the exact opposite of the stereotypes Chinese people have to deal with across the ocean (only child, TheStoic, suffering under an EducationMama).
* In an early scene of ''Anime/GraveOfTheFireflies'', the mother of the two main characters goes off to a shelter, leaving her son to carry his toddler sister around while the town is under attack. While Westerners would probably consider this to be an appalling act of abandonment and reckless endangerment, the original intention was more likely to be that the son the man of the house since his father was away fighting and was old enough regardless, so his mother trusted him to take care of things.
** According to the [[{{AllThereInTheManual}} bonus material]], this careless behavior was explained by the fact that previous American bombings had been relatively light and aimed at industrial sites only. "Just another raid. Nothing to be worried about. Let's do what the government ordered and get to the holes in the ground that have to pass for shelters." Oh boy...
** In what turned out to be both a Cultural ''and'' Generational Dissonance, most younger and (especially) Western viewers side with Seita when he decides to leave his Aunt's hours after a fight. The Director's intent was for Seita to be seen in the wrong for not sucking up his pride.
* Any time Patrick "Panther" Spencer shows up in ''{{Eyeshield 21}}'', and they begin talking about [[PositiveDiscrimination the "black man's" superior genes and body]]. If you tried doing something like that in Western culture, well... just look at Jimmy The Greek. Many of the initial instances are from the mouth of Leonard Apollo, who is plainly shown to be a scummy racist, but by the final arc in the series, seemingly every character (and even the narrator) start to do this every time Panther is involved in the game.
* ''Manga/AirMaster'': Maki, the main character has a NearRapeExperience with her StalkerWithACrush. Her friends and ''members of said stalker's harem'' immediately take her out to eat to make her feel better. Everyone else is acting normally, she spends the meal looking traumatized. Even if the emotional dissonance is meant as a joke, it's still jarring to a Western viewer as (female) rape jokes are only the realm of BlackComedy.
* ''Manga/{{Papillon}}'', a manga about a handsome guidance counselor who helps a young girl gain confidence in herself, contains quite a lot of scenes wherein he makes very sexual comments, grabs her breasts or butt, puts his head in her lap, etc. When she screams or gets mad, says that he's only joking. It's always played for laughs, and the girl is attracted to him, so it supposedly seems like harmless flirting to a Japanese reader. However, it looks like nothing but sexual harassment to a Western audience, especially because the man is one of her teachers and almost ten years older than she is.
* The general attitudes on sexuality is always a bit played for laughs in Takahashi's ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'', but there are some [[UnfortunateImplications cringe-worthy moments]]. Most notably, a short arc concerning a StalkerWithACrush named Tsubasa Kurenai, who was obsessed with Ukyo. The on-going gag was that everybody assumed Tsubasa was a girl, and 'her' lesbian crush on Ukyo was PlayedForLaughs. Towards the end, male!Ranma attempted to ''cure'' Tsubasa's lesbianism by asking her out on a date.
** The anime's slightly different take on the Kasumi/Tofu "relationship" (mainly A: keeping Tofu around and thus giving him the occasional chance to pop up and be stupid because of Kasumi, and B: having Akane be a ShipperOnDeck for the "couple") in Manga/RanmaOneHalf could be viewed in a similar fashion to the way Manga/MaisonIkkoku handled its MayDecemberRomance.
** Nodoka Saotome and her {{seppuku}} pledge; a Western attitude would have been to dismiss the stupid thing on several grounds (she never agreed to it -- it was Genma who declared he'd do it and then wrote it up before running off, she really does love her son and doesn't want to have to kill him, the pledge is so ambiguous as to be impossible to live up to it). The Japanese attitude is that Nodoka is, while suffering, a good, loyal, dutiful woman to keep it alive and be consoled to murdering her own family if she decides they haven't lived up to it. Being willing to commit suicide herself after executing them is seen as romantically tragic.
** The teenage characters given or buying alcohol (such as from a vending machine or to celebrate like how alcohol was around to party during the Orachi arc) can be ValuesDissonance for places that have strictly enforced no drinking/selling to policies for teens.
* The dissonance happened earlier in Takahashi's earlier series, ''Manga/UruseiYatsura''. In this one, secondary character Ryuunosuke Fujinami is a girl who has been raised as a boy by her father (because he wanted a boy). Once she hits adolescence, she becomes torn between [[{{Bokukko}} her ingrained nature]] and her desire to embrace her gender, something which her father ''violently'' opposes (and she ''violently'' counter-opposes). Naturally, being a Takahashi series, the whole thing is PlayedForLaughs, which would be fine, except that nobody in the cast even ''considers'' calling child services for Mr. Fujinami's years of abuse. Even the teachers refuse to help... except for that one time when Onsen-Mark tried (and failed) to teach Ryuunosuke how to be a proper lady (that episode itself has issues due to looking ''way'' too much like he's dating her, which is – as mentioned above – a ''huge'' no-no in the West).
* Evoked in-universe in ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion''. Asuka (who is half-white and grew up in Germany) is utterly baffled when she discovers that her bedroom door has no lock, which Misato states is in keeping with Japanese customs. This practice would likely seem very bizarre to most Western viewers, German or not. ''Especially'' Americans, who famously place great value on their privacy.
** Well that explains why a lot of those AccidentalPervert moments happen in anime (the typical boy goes inside room and finds out girl is changing clothes).
* An unusual reversal with ''HighschoolOfTheDead''. In the midst of a ZombieApocalypse, the teenage protagonists learn to use guns, drive without licences, [[BlackAndGreyMorality steal things to survive]] and essentially rely on themselves rather than authority/government figures. Not unusual to Americans, but in Japan (where the story takes place)? Definitely.
* ''ArashiNoYoruNi'' is a [[WhatDoYouMeanItsForKids family film]] about a [[LGBTRomance gay romance]]. ...You can guess where a truckload of ValuesDissonance comes in. It also features a somewhat gory scene early on, and implications of suicide, which doesn't fair well with western audiences.
** Whether it's a romance between the characters is highly debated by the fans, however.
* In VisualNovel/HigurashiNoNakuKoroNi, [[FanNickname Detective Delicious]] asks people to come into his car to talk about crimes because it's air conditioned. Most of the time though, we see one of the five kids enter the car. In the United States, kids are drilled early on to not talk to strangers, don't go into their cars, etc. Seeing as the PedoHunt isn't as strong in Japan, you can see where the ValuesDissonance comes in. It helps that the series takes place in 1983, and that the detective is, well, a policeman.
** Also of note is that the two youngest cast members Rika and Satoko (who are both 9, if the Visual Novel is to be believed) live alone in a storage shed beside Rika's family's shrine; it's especially obvious in Minagoroshi-hen; after Social Services take custody of Satoko - who had just come from several weeks of being abused by her uncle - they promptly dump her back with Rika in the storage shed without any explanation or sign of a social worker or foster parent. Then again, in this series, social services are established has being highly incompetent at their best and downright malicious at worst.
** In a different vein is how the religion of the insane cultists comes across. Combining {{Squick}} with ImAHumanitarian provides pretty graphic and disturbing imagery. In the West, it would certainly be seen as gross, but it's got more impact with the East. The cultists are perverting the Shinto religion, which is the dominant faith in Japan, so it would be seen as incredibly blasphemous. A Western equivalent would be someone claiming to be Jewish while sacrificing a pig in a Jewish temple; it violates so many of the core rules and tenants that it can't even be called that faith anymore.
* In ''Manga/{{Bokurano}},'' a twenty-something yakuza member falls in love with a student and marries her.
* ''{{Godannar}}'' where the 29 year old main character, marries a 17 year old highschooler. Everyone is shocked that he ''got'' married, but no one seems to care that said bride isn't even old enough to drink.
** What's considered another dissonance about the marriage is how quickly it happened, considering the death of his previous lover. Generally widows are expected to grieve for a very long time in Japan before remarrying, if they do at all.
* ''MaicchinguMachikoSensei'', a kids show about 8 year olds sexually molesting their teacher, who can't keep her clothing on or [[ClothingDamage intact]] for more than a few hours. Somewhat tame to be honest, although the ParentService is blatant, and the show ''completely'' averts BarbieDollAnatomy – Machiko's nipples are visible in the opening credits.
* In ''Anime/{{Doraemon}}'', Shizuka had {{ShowerScene}}s with BarbieDollAnatomy [[AvertedTrope averted]] as a RunningGag. The remake added CensorSteam, which was considered a bit of an outrage on [[ImageBoards 2ch]] and the like due to how it instantly shed the previous scenes in a different light when they were mostly just [[NakedPeopleAreFunny intended as comedy]].
* Young Goku in Dragonball and young Gohan in DragonBallZ both on several different occasions end up running around completely naked, BarbieDollAnatomy averted.
* ''Anime/EsperMami'''s main character worked as a nude model ''for her father'' throughout the anime's run. SceneryCensor was ''completely'' ignored (although BarbieDollAnatomy came into play, except for her [[NippleAndDimed nipples]], and in the [[ArtShift finished paintings]]), and Mami, as a model, had [[InnocentFanserviceGirl no real nudity taboo]], to boot. It did help that the finished paintings were done in a very artistic style, and the {{Fanservice}} aspects of something like that were completely averted.
* ''Momotaro's Divine Sea Warriors'' is a World War two propaganda film that features Japanese folk hero Momotaro and loads of adorable animals going to war and brutally killing British soldiers. Japanese viewers of the time would see Momotaro as a hero. Modern Japanese, citizens of a country that officially doesn't have an army, cringe.
* ''BitterVirgin'' goes into the topic of AbusiveParents. Very early on, Hinako Aikawa reveals how she was raped more than once by her stepfather and was made pregnant ''twice''. The first time she miscarried. The second time the doctor said that she would never be able to have a child again if she has an abortion. So she gave birth to the baby via cesarian section, and gave him away to be adopted. Her mother was in denial over it, but after the second time, she could deny it no longer. Her mother drove the stepfather out of the house with a knife. Needless to say, Hinako has a ''load'' of issues. By Western standards, it would be considered horrible that the stepfather was apparently never punished and society seems to be mostly against Hinako. By Japanese standards, Hinako would be considered DefiledForever, and Hinako would probably be blamed for the abuse and be unable to seek help.
* The level of independence the ''WanderingSon'' cast has can be a bit awkward to some viewers. For example a nine year old being left at home alone, told by her mother to open the door to a stranger and give them money. In the West this goes against several rules that children are taught; when left alone don't open doors to strangers and just tell them to put whatever they've brought at the door. The children are also allowed to roam wherever they please (and without telling their parents either), hang out with [[IntergenerationalFriendship adults]] their parents don't know, and ''stay over'' at said adults' places. [[CoolBigSis Yuki]] has behaved toward Takatsuki in ways that seem like sexual harassment, or she's sexually attracted to him; her blatantly flirting with Takatsuki in their first meeting doesn't help. Her boyfriend once gave Takatsuki a CrotchGrabSexCheck when they first met, and touched his chest to confirm his physical sex; he's at least twice as old as him.
* A good number of [[RivalTurnedEvil Sasuke]] [[RevengeBeforeReason Uchiha's]] actions from Manga/{{Naruto}} might fall under ValuesDissonance between Asia and the West. One can argue his quest for revenge falls under filial piety rather than [[ItsAllAboutMe self relief]]. Filial piety is a critical feature of Eastern civilizations (including Japan). It basically means honoring and respecting the parents and ancestors above all else. Hence, the only people he will ever recognize allegiance to are his dead parents and clan. He basically lives for the dead ones. The fact that he totally ignores Itachi's will can also be explained this way, because Itachi was only one among many others. Pretty much confirmed after he [[spoiler:kills Danzo, where he rants about how good it feels to clear his clan's name by killing people, and sees it as his mission to do so]].
** Recently, Sasuke declared that seeing Itachi courtesy of Edo Tensei has only made him want to kill all Leaf Villagers even more, but he has set off with Orochimaru to... do something else first. We're not told what. But apparently, he wants to know more about the whole situation before making any decision. Why the sudden uncertainty? Because Itachi showed him a memory of his parents accepting Itachi's decision and not being bitter at all. This goes with the filial piety discussed above, since Sasuke is not sure exactly what his parents would have wanted.
** Many fans groaned at a flashback showing Kurenai's father telling her to [[StayInTheKitchen stay out of the fight with the Nine-Tailed Fox]] because she must one day have children. While this is ''extremely'' sexist from a western viewpoint, it is somewhat different for Japan. Namely, perpetuating one's lineage is seen as ''extremely significant'' in Asian cultures, and having one's bloodline die out is seen as equal to ''not existing''. Not to mention the series' overarching theme of passing the Will of Fire to the next generation...
*** Its telling that, while the 'have a child' speech was seemingly only directed at Kurenai, there were plenty of '''male''' characters prevented from fighting too. Conversely, some female ninja, such as [[ParentalAbandonment Iruka's]] [[MissingMom mother]], went into battle and died.
* In ''Anime/GreatMazinger'', lots of people don't understand why Tetsuya feels so '''horribly''' jealous of ''[[Anime/MazingerZ Kouji]]'''s position as Kenzou Kabuto's true firstborn son, to the point of refusing to help him in battle at some point – [[spoiler:which causes Kenzo's death in the end.]] This is because Tetsuya is an orphan, and in a society where family and stability are all, orphans are extremely looked down upon even in adulthood. Therefore, when the full-blooded son and heir of the man who raised him came in, Tetsuya was shit scared of being abandoned again and he thought that if that was the case, the still very traditional Japanese society would likely make him a pariah. It was was, WAY more complicated that mere jealousy between two adoptive brothers.
* In ''OniisamaE'', [[spoiler:Nanako]] sometimes angsts about being an adoptive child, for similar reasons to Tetsuya's (though not half as intense). Even more so, [[spoiler:her stepbrother Takehiko (the "Oniisama") is taken away from his dad/Nanako's adoptive father when his parents get divorced and they're not in contact for years: this is because Japanese divorce laws are ''very'' different from those in North America and Europe, and since Takehiko's mother was the one who filed for divorce, she got full custody and Takehiko simply was ''not'' allowed to meet with Professor Misono.]]
* In "Remote Island Syndrome" of ''The Melancholy of LightNovel/HaruhiSuzumiya'', the main characters, who are around 16/17 are served alcohol by their host. While acceptable in Japan[[note]]the legal drinking age in Japan is the same as the age of Majority there – 20[[/note]] and legal in countries with a low drinking age (i.e most of Europe), this would be absolutely unacceptable in US-produced media.
** While this happens in the light novel, it's conspicously absent from the anime adaptation – Japanese law forbids showing underage drinking or smoking in public TV.
** In ''MaiHime'', a similar scene happens in one of the sound dramas, with the characters 15-17 drinking alcohol on Mai's birthday. However, in this case, Natsuki is shocked that Aoi has alcohol in her room, some of the people present point out that it's not allowed under school rules, and ''[[EvenEvilHasStandards Nagi]] [[CrowningMomentOfFunny of all people]]'' [[BreakingTheFourthWall tells the viewers]] that they should only drink once they're 20.
* ''Anime/HellGirl'' has a lot of ValuesDissonance, though interestingly, some of these values are also criticised. Recurrent themes are how molestation, rumours and bullying are treated. One of the most striking examples is the reveal in season 3: [[spoiler: Yuzuki's father was a bus-driver. One day, an accident was caused due to a malfunction, which resulted in numerous deaths, among them Yuzuki's father. However, since the malfunction could not be proven, the father was blamed, and by extension, his family. Yuzuki and her mother were completely shunned by the public. The mother died from a cold because their doctor would not treat her, and Yuzuki died alone in their home.]]
* What kick-starts the plot in KareKano is Arima discovering Yukino's "secret", namely that she isn't as perfect as she pretends to be. Yukino fears that her entire reputation will collapse and people will shun her. Western readers may be confused as to why such a huge deal is made of this; being seen in your comfy clothes in an unusually cheerful mood might be mildly embarrassing, but certainly not something that will forever tarnish your reputation or that someone could even use to blackmail you.
* ''HououGakuenMisoragumi'' is about a ButchLesbian who gets sent to an all-boys school by her abusive mom hoping that she'll become straight and give her grandkids. The story is on ''her side''. Western audiences didn't bite, and it bombed so badly the english publisher discontinued the release after the ''first volume''.
* Given that it was written in TheFifties, ''PrincessKnight'' suffers quite a lot from this. The series operates under the idea that men and women are naturally inclined to act in certain ways, with Princess Sapphire only being able to do "manly" things (sword fight, adventure, etc) because she was given the "hearts" of both a boy and a girl. If her boy heart is removed, she instantly becomes timid and prone to swooning. If her girl heart is removed, she derides anything remotely feminine as "girly". This belief carries over into several other of Osamu Tezuka's works. ''ApollosSong'' has a woman train the protagonist to be a professional runner, because it's not safe for a woman's health to participate in competitive running (which is odd, seeing as she outruns him several laps around the lake and isn't even winded). In ''Manga/BlackJack'', a boy is considered odd for enjoying and being good at feminine things like sewing. He later discovers that [[spoiler:as an infant, a doctor saved him from dying of a brain injury by transplanting pieces of a recently-deceased woman's brain to his (though the doctor does say the woman's brain cells ought to have completely merged with his, by the age he is when he learns this).]]
* Part of the drama of ''Manga/KotouraSan'' comes with the fact Haruka doesn't (and can't) use [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tatemae Tatemae]] for keeping her (and others) secrets for herself, due of [[PowerIncontinence the way]] her [[{{telepathy}} Mind-reading powers]] works--she couldn't turn it off nor can she distinguish between words and thoughts--and being the Tatemae an important part of the Japanese culture, it's no wonder why she's rejected by her peers.
* The scene in ''Anime/HanasakuIroha'' where Minko cuts up a fish to demonstrate her skills to some more experienced chefs. She does it very well as far as an untrained eye can tell, but the older chefs react, with dead seriousness, as if she had shoved it through a paper shredder, and tell her she must be a moron for thinking she could ever be a chef. Presumably, this was meant to inspire her to work towards even greater heights of perfectionism, but to a non-Japanese viewer it seems cruelly harsh and, well, perfectionistic. Another scene has Ohana fangirl over someone ''putting on their work clothes'' and gush about how she did it with "not a single wasted motion," which seems weird for the same reason.
* A BreatherEpisode in ''{{Soul Eater}}'' in the manga [[spoiler: just before Maka Albarn discovers that the Kishin is hiding on the moon]] features the gang taking a trip to a Northern-European looking village...to hunt a whale. Whaling in Japan (and by extension, Iceland, Norway and various Inuit tribes around the northern hemisphere)? Acceptable. Whaling in other countries? Frowned upon, often heavily criticised due to certain species being increasingly rare and ''illegal''.
* This may be why ''SugarSugarRune'' never really found much of an audience outside Japan, as it has very Japanese views on femininity (NoGuyWantsAnAmazon is ''very'' prevelant, in fact it's ''one of the main aesops of the series'') that can come across as odd and even offensive to Western readers. And it doesn't help that in the series, people in the human world generally agree that NoGuyWantsAnAmazon, even though that actully varies from country to country and person to person.
* The Saiyans of DragonBallZ tend to be viewed much more sympathetically by American fans despite them being a race of space mercenaries who slaughter other races for glory and a paycheck, most likely due to a combination of American respect for [[RatedMForManly manliness]], them rebelling against an oppressive dictator, and dubtext that made out the Saiyans to be more sympathetic. For example, in the English dub it's spelled out that Vegeta only worked for Freeza because he threatened that he would kill his father and people if he didn't (and then did it anyway) when this was only implied in the Japanese.
* No one in ''KoiKaze'' seems uncomfortable by the fact that Nanoka is sixteen and her boyfriend is twenty-seven, they only ever bring up the fact they're [[BrotherSisterIncest siblings]]. A large amount of the {{Squick}} the series induces comes from the age gap combined with the incest; if Nanoka was six years older it wouldn't be nearly as uncomfortable.
* Sinon's treatment in ''LightNovel/SwordArtOnline''. She was a victim of armed robbery when she was eleven, and in the ensuing struggle managed to get a hold of the robber's gun and shoot him, killing him. This would be traumatic enough on its own, but Sinon is treated like a pariah by pretty much everyone, including her own ''mother'', simply for having handled a gun and used it to kill in self-defense. Even the therapists she's mentioned to have seen treat her as though she's committed a grave sin by handling that weapon. This comes across as extremely cruel and nonsensical to American fans, most of whom would consider Sinon a hero for what she did, and would treat the killing much more favorably, as it was in clear self-defense and therefore justified by American standards.
** There is also the fact that some Americans take Sinon's treatment as evidence of Japanese gunphobia (given that firearms are basically banned in Japan), when this is not really the case. Japan has rather set ways of viewing children (see - Highschool of the Dead example above) - where children are expected to be innocent and reliant upon adults. The fact that Sinon killed a person at such a young age (even in self defense) is what is at issue to Japanese society, not that a gun was used. The fact that a kid could even be '''able''' to pull the trigger seems to them as meaning she's essentially got the mindset of a cold blooded murderer. ''As a child.''
* An in-universe case in the "Little Army" prequel manga for ''Anime/GirlsUndPanzer''. Emi Nakasuga, a girl whose ethnicity (German-Japanese) and temperament are not unlike Asuka from Neon Genesis Evangelion (see above), has a difficult time in Japan due to her BrutalHonesty not sitting well with most of her [[JapanesePoliteness Japanese classmates]].
-->'''Emi''': I hate lies and flattery. There's no point in wasting praise on the selfish. That's why I hate this country.
** During a tournament, an allied tank falls into a river, and Miho abandons her own tank to rush down to the river and rescue the crew of the other tank. This costs their team the match. If this were America, Miho would be lauded as a hero for selflessly putting aside a trivial title and risking life and limb for others. Instead, Miho is treated as a Pariah due to her causing the team to lose, and eventually quits the school she was at to transfer away (and is thereafter treated as a Black Sheep). Given that these are Japanese characters...''no one'' says anything to the effect she was justified, because to Japanese society duty is more important than friendship.
* Mikasa from ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'' sometimes receives flak from Western audiences concerning her [[IOweYouMyLife devotion]] to Eren. This generally stems from a misunderstanding of her devotion, which is driven by the PillarsOfMoralCharacter. She owes him a debt for coming to her aid, helping her to accept the [[CrapsackWorld harsh]] reality of life, and adopting her into his family. To repay her debt to him, she has become his [[TheChampion champion]] and protects him with her life. This reversal of roles, with the heroine protecting the hero, is incredibly progressive for a Shonen series. Her honor-driven devotion also doubles as FridgeBrilliance, as the lone character of Asian heritage in a European-styled society. However, some viewers' confusion may also stem from the slight romantic undertones that Mikasa is shown to have towards Eren (who only views her as a sister), which is considered quite {{Squick}}y by Western standards since they're introduced as adoptive siblings. Anything remotely sexual or romantic between adoptive siblings is just as taboo as between blood siblings in the West.
** Mikasa's devotion to Eren is somewhat mediated by the fact that Eren has a nasty tendency to get himself in fights he cannot finish, and as such, she needs to bail him out. This is alike to how an older sibling protects the younger from danger. It's because of this quality that another camp of fans in the west hate Eren for constantly endangering himself and forcing Mikasa (or anyone else) to come and save him.
* In what's probably a case of DeliberateValuesDissonance, the popular manga ''Manga/KoeNoKatachi'' has a main character who is deaf. She is bullied relentlessly throughout her elementary school life, her father and paternal grandparents abandon the family for her deafness, and her mother is cold to her, even though she's trying to work on rectifying this. In reality, situations like this occur in various parts of Japan, since kids with disabilities are looked down upon due to the belief that they are incapable of living on their and can't do anything for society. Not to mention that it is also wildly believed that disabled children should be taken care of "out of sight" and not interact with those considered "normal", which is why Shouko is viewed so much like an alien by her classmates and why her school doesn't offer much support for her deafness. It's a side of Japan that most Westerners don't get to see often, which is why there was a lawsuit to try and prevent the manga from being published.
** Shouko is long since revealed [[spoiler:to be suicidal and in fact tries to kill herself in one chapter. The protagonist saves her but in turn gets injured and ends in a coma.]] Afterwards Shouko is constantly blamed and berated for her behavior, with almost no one thinking [[spoiler:to get her help or sympathize with her]].
* Curiously alluded in ''Anime/DigimonTamers'', when Takato's parents discuss if they should let their pre-teen son and his dinosaur pet go to an strange world where God Knows Which Dangers Lurk.
-->'''Mother:''' (angsted) But he is only ten years old! He's just a kid!\\
'''Father:''' (stoic) There was a time not long ago where he should have been old enough to travel alone.
* A filler episode of ''Manga/FairyTail'' has Lucy, Natsu and Happy stranded in an ice labyrinth, having been unable to eat or sleep for three days and are slowly succumbing to hypothermia. Lucy established earlier on that her celestial spirits are [[ItMakesSenseInContext on vacation]]. Considering how she and two of her closest friends are explicitly dying due to their dire situation, it can seem somewhat frustrating to a western viewer that Lucy is ''that'' unwilling to risk being rude by disturbing a spirit.
* Similarly, in a filler episode of ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'', Ash becomes trapped in a blizzard with his Pokémon. When Charmander's flame grows weak and they all huddle on top of one another, it can be viewed as an act of togetherness... or a pact to all die together.
* Occurs in-universe in ''Literature/TheHeroicLegendOfArslan'' as one of the main themes in the story. Lusitania's religious war against other nations is the main conflict. Arslan struggles against his own country's tradition of slavery. Etoile despite his religious bigotry is a good person. Gieve hates mindless servitude while Elam actually wants to work for Narsus.
[[/folder]]

----

** The treatment of sexual harassment is another issue that can raise more than a few eyebrows in Western audiences. In Japan, [[TheChikan "inappropriate touching" on trains]] is so widespread that some stations and trains have ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frotteurism signs warning women about perverts]]''. Yet, women are ''not'' supposed to raise a fuss about it should it actually happen to them; it's the emphasis on dignity coupled with an attitude of female subordination. The most the train stations do to prevent this is offer women-only cars, thus continuing to place the responsibility on the victim to stay away from men rather than on men to not attack them. There is still great controversy in Japan over the legality of this, the lack of prosecution in all but the clearest of cases, and the lenient punishments of those who actually do get convicted.
*** It certainly doesn't help that one of the main reasons behind the creation of the separate train cars was an incident where it was found that 3 high school girls were essentially blackmailing a salaryman into getting money or saying that he tried to molest them. So, it doesn't paint a particularly nice picture when it can be viewed as protecting the men from such situations (admittedly, the girls were committing a crime).

* Japan definitely has a more accepting – even positive – attitude toward suicide than the West, and one series in which you can see this is ''IrresponsibleCaptainTylor''. When desperate situations happen in early episodes, basically every single character except Tylor himself start talking about dying a heroic death, and Tylor's self-preservation instinct is treated as a sign of his incompetence. What makes this weird is that, while it would be perfectly in-character for someone like Yamamoto – who was TheAce until Tylor showed up – to act like this (and he does), it even extends to the Marines on the ship who are the kind of malcontents you wouldn't expect to be so eager to die.

* Nudity in Japanese culture is viewed ''very'' differently. While it's used for plain old FanService, it's also used to convey innocence and purity. This ''really'' causes a problem with children -- a nude child or a panty shot is not intended to be sexual at all in Japanese culture and in fact, a nude child is often intended to emphasize their ''lack'' of sexuality. Consider, for example, the bathing scenes in ''Anime/MyNeighborTotoro'' ([[BathtubBonding in which the father is bathing with his preteen daughters]]) or the ''numerous'' panty shots in ''KikisDeliveryService''.[[note]]On ThisVeryWiki, there was -– [[Administrivia/PermanentRedLinkClub once upon a time]] –- a page called "InnocentPanties", which were just that. It had to be cut because... um... [[Administrivia/TheGoogleIncident well]]...[[/note]] This does ''not'' translate well to a pedophile-wary West, in which any instance of this is thought of as child pornography. Parents bathing with children, even fathers and daughters, is not uncommon in Japan, up to a certain age. Girls taking baths together is considered more a relaxing social thing than anything else, especially if they happen to be visiting an [[HotSpringsEpisode onsen]], even (stereotypically) comparing bust sizes and curves and such while in the bath. Even mixed sex baths are OK, as it's not really a sexual thing, just a chance to relax and chat with friends.

* HellGirl has a lot of ValuesDissonance, though interestingly, some of these values are also criticised. Recurrent themes are how molestation, rumours and bullying are treated. One of the most striking examples is the reveal in season 3: [[spoiler: Yuzuki's father was a bus-driver. One day, an accident was caused due to a malfunction, which resulted in numerous deaths, among them Yuzuki's father. However, since the malfunction could not be proven, the father was blamed, and by extension, his family. Yuzuki and her mother were completely shunned by the public. The mother died from a cold because their doctor would not treat her, and Yuzuki died alone in their home.]]

* In an early scene of ''GraveOfTheFireflies'', the mother of the two main characters goes off to a shelter, leaving her son to carry his toddler sister around while the town is under attack. While Westerners would probably consider this to be an appalling act of abandonment and reckless endangerment, the original intention was more likely to be that the son the man of the house since his father was away fighting and was old enough regardless, so his mother trusted him to take care of things.

* In ''{{Bokurano}},'' a twenty-something yakuza member falls in love with a student and marries her.

* In ''{{Doraemon}}'', Shizuka had {{ShowerScene}}s with BarbieDollAnatomy [[AvertedTrope averted]] as a RunningGag. The remake added CensorSteam, which was considered a bit of an outrage on [[ImageBoards 2ch]] and the like due to how it instantly shed the previous scenes in a different light when they were mostly just [[NakedPeopleAreFunny intended as comedy]].

*** Sango of ''Manga/InuYasha'' typically responds to Miroku's groping by slapping him, though the whole thing is {{played for laughs}}.

** Master Roshi's [[DirtyOldMan perverted tendencies]], all the sexual jokes (most of which involve Bulma), and Goku sometimes going nude would be seen by Westerners as very crude and inappropriate for a series aimed at preteens

** Master Roshi's [[DirtyOldMan perverted tendencies]], all the sexual jokes (most of which involve Bulma), and Goku sometimes going nude by Westerners as very crude and inappropriate for a series aimed at preteens

* In many anime, a character will be reprimanded for laughing loudly, crying, or generally showing an "excess of emotion." While this may be universally understood in certain places (such as in an important meeting, in the cinema, or in a library), it can be confusing if the character is just sitting with friends or talking to their parents. It only makes sense once you realize the emphasis Japanese culture puts on Dignity, and [[ItCantBeHelped not bothering other people with your personal problems]]. It works both ways, of course. The stereotypical American's emotional and dramatic nature, as well as their infamous Constitutional right to own a gun, is absolutely shocking to the Japanese population. This resulted in "[[{{Eagleland}} half-crazy, gun-toting American]]" characters appearing in anime. Examples: Leon of ''{{Pet Shop of Horrors}}'', K from ''{{Manga/Gravitation}}'', and most of the cast of ''{{Manga/FAKE}}'' (except Ryo, who's [[ButNotTooForeign half Japanese]]). Another example happens when laws allowing citizens to own guns are passed: ''BakuretsuTenshi'', for example, depicts Tokyo as slowly becoming a more rotten place than [[ViceCity the lowest]] ''[[ViceCity favelas]]'' [[ViceCity of Rio de Janeiro]] after one of these laws was enacted.

* Japan has a very odd view on humility when it comes to talking about family members within their vicinity. In places like America, we tend to agree when other people say "your child is so good at this-and-that." For Japan...when someone says your child is good at something, people respond like this, "Oh, no! She/He's such an embarrassment to the family!" This has been going on since ancient times, and this is considered the highest form of humbleness and humility, while Americans might construe it as either demeaning or even verbal abuse. The Japanese consider bragging about their child's talents to be impolite and rude. It's not restricted to children too, when given a compliment in Japan, you are expected to deny it. Agreeing makes you sound extremely arrogant. This is even [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] in a comedy manga called ''My Wife Is A Foreigner.''

* ''GunslingerGirl'': Any Italian would find all of the relationships including between the adults to be unspeakably cold and distant as the artists, due to cultural projection, have depicted them as Japanese relationships might be, instead of as the very physical Italians would act. Though that COULD be excused by thinking that they are very, very uncomfortable in dealing with those girls and it's shown this way. There's also the ''other'' [[LoliCon major]] [[BleachedUnderpants issue]] with this show.

* Difference in the AOC (Age of Consent) in relation to female anime characters, have also caused some cultural shock among Western Audiences since the 90s. In Japan, the minimal age of consent for a Japanese girl [[http://www8.cao.go.jp/youth/kenkyu/jourei/pdf_index.html is 13]], and anything above that is a free for all. Heck, in Japan, girls can already get married at the age of 16 (though recently this act has been frowned upon by modern Japanese society). And since Japanese AOC's minimum is 13, there'll be a lot of "underaged" school girls wearing painfully sexy short skirts (with emphasis on [[ShesGotLegs legs]]), tight blouses, [[ZettaiRyouiki long socks or stockings]], SchoolSportUniform, and off course SchoolSwimsuit (see {{Joshikousei}}). {{Fanservice}}s are occasionally put up to placate viewers who have fetishes on these objects. Worst case scenario happens when these underage schoolgirls are treated to malicious and perverted incidents; even rape. Off course, for the Japanese, these are all normal. They don't see these characters as being sexualized or anything, they just think they're cute.

* Difference in the AOC (Age of Consent) in relation to female anime characters, have also caused some cultural shock among Western Audiences since the 90s. In Japan, the minimal age of consent for a Japanese girl [[http://www8.cao.go.jp/youth/kenkyu/jourei/pdf_index.html is 13]], and anything above that is a free for all. Heck, in Japan, girls can already get married at the age of 16 (though recently this act has been frowned upon by modern Japanese society). And since Japanese AOC's minimum is 13, there'll be a lot of underaged (In Western standards off course) school girls wearing painfully sexy short skirts (with emphasis on [[She'sGotLegs legs]]), tight blouses, [[ZettaiRyouiki long socks or stockings]], SchoolSportUniform, and off course SchoolSwimsuit (see {{Joshikousei}}). {{Fanservice}}s are occasionally put up to placate viewers who have fetishes on these objects. Worst case scenario happens when these underage schoolgirls are treated to malicious and perverted incidents; even rape. Off course, for the Japanese, these are all normal. They don't see these characters as being sexualized or anything, they just think they're cute.
** It's most famous and well-talked about example is ''SailorMoon'' when it first aired in the West during the 90s. The show's emphasis on female sexuality and fanservices were particularly loved by male audiences. However, things went downhill when Western viewers learned that many of the female characters whom they have been jacking off too where in their teens. The main character, Sailor Moon, who was given so much visual focus, was fourteen. It caused an uproar in America at that time, and networks broadcasting the show changed Sailor Moon's age from 14 to 16, and made some frowned upon changed in its format as well.

* Difference in the AOC (Age of Consent) employed among female anime characters have also caused some cultural shock among Western Audiences since the 90s. In Japan, the minimal age of consent for a Japanese girl [[http://www8.cao.go.jp/youth/kenkyu/jourei/pdf_index.html is 13]], and anything above that is a free for all. Heck, in Japan, girls can already get married at the age of 16 (though recently this act has been frowned upon by modern Japanese society). And since Japanese AOC's minimum is 13, there'll be a lot of underaged (In Western standards off course) school girls wearing painfully sexy short skirts (with emphasis on [[She'sGotLegs legs]]), tight blouses, [[ZettaiRyouiki long socks or stockings]], SchoolSportUniform, and off course SchoolSwimsuit (see {{Joshikousei}}). {{Fanservice}}s are occasionally put up to placate viewers who have fetishes on these objects. Worst case scenario happens when these underage schoolgirls are treated to malicious and perverted incidents; even rape. Off course, for the Japanese, these are all normal. They don't see these characters as being sexualized or anything, they just think they're cute.

* Difference in the AOC (age of Consent) employed among female anime characters have also caused some cultural shock among Western Audiences since the 90s. In Japan, the minimal age of consent for a Japanese girl [[http://www8.cao.go.jp/youth/kenkyu/jourei/pdf_index.html is 13]], and anything above that is a free for all. Heck, in Japan, girls can already get married at the age of 16 (though recently this act has been frowned upon by modern Japanese society). And since Japanese AOC's minimum is 13, there'll be a lot of underaged (In Western standards off course) school girls wearing painfully sexy short skirts (with emphasis on [[She'sGotLegs legs]]), tight blouses, [[ZettaiRyouiki long socks or stockings]], SchoolSportUniform, and off course SchoolSwimsuit (see {{Joshikousei}}). {{Fanservice}}s are occasionally put up to placate viewers who have fetishes on these objects. Worst case scenario happens when these underage schoolgirls are treated to malicious and perverted incidents; even rape. Off course, for the Japanese, these are all normal. They don't see these characters as being sexualized or anything, they just think they're cute.

* This may be why ''SugarSugarRune'' never really found much of an audience outside Japan, as it has very Japanese views on femininity (NoGuyWantsAnAmazon is ''very'' prevelant, in fact it's ''one of the main aesops of the series'') that can come across as odd and even offensive to Western readers. And it doesn't help that NoGuyWantsAnAmazon is stated by the characters to be how the human world in general works, when it's really only true for some countries, and not for every single guy in those countries either.

* As some specific examples below can show you, Japan has a... different way of dealing with child abuse than the West. Child abuse is treated as something the family themselves should deal with, and that it's no one else's business. Several series where a teacher or fellow student tries to tell someone has the speaker shot back down, told to not get involved, or worse, which is pretty much exactly what happens to them in real life; [[http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/02/14/japan.child.abuse/index.html?hpt=C2 unfortunately for many Japanese children, this real-life "tradition" is putting tremendous strain on Japan's social services...]]

* This may be why ''SugarSugarRune'' never really found much of an audience outside Japan, as it has very Japanese views on femininity (NoGuyWantsAnAmazon is ''very'' prevelant, in fact it's ''one of the main aesops of the series'') that can come across as odd and even offensive to Western readers.
* The Saiyans of DragonBallZ tend to be viewed much more sympathetically by American fans despite them being a race of space mercenaries who slaughter other races for glory and a paycheck, most likely due to a combination of American respect for [[RatedMForManly manliness]], them rebelling against an oppressive dictator, and Dubtext that made out the Saiyans to be more sympathetic. For example, in the English dub it's spelled out that Vegeta only worked for Freeza because he threatened that he would kill his father and people if he didn't (and then did it anyway) when this was only implied in the Japanese.

* Nudity in Japanese culture is viewed ''very'' differently. While it's used for plain old FanService, it's also used to convey innocence and purity. This ''really'' causes a problem with children -- a nude child or a panty shot is not intended to be sexual at all in Japanese culture and in fact, a nude child is often intended to emphasize their ''lack'' of sexuality. Consider, for example, the bathing scenes in ''MyNeighborTotoro'' ([[BathtubBonding in which the father is bathing with his preteen daughters]]) or the ''numerous'' panty shots in ''KikisDeliveryService''.[[note]]On ThisVeryWiki, there was -– [[Administrivia/PermanentRedLinkClub once upon a time]] –- a page called "InnocentPanties", which were just that. It had to be cut because... um... [[Administrivia/TheGoogleIncident well]]...[[/note]] This does ''not'' translate well to a pedophile-wary West, in which any instance of this is thought of as child pornography. Parents bathing with children, even fathers and daughters, is not uncommon in Japan, up to a certain age. Girls taking baths together is considered more a relaxing social thing than anything else, especially if they happen to be visiting an [[HotSpringsEpisode onsen]], even (stereotypically) comparing bust sizes and curves and such while in the bath. Even mixed sex baths are OK, as it's not really a sexual thing, just a chance to relax and chat with friends.