My Hero Academia Backlash
The My Hero Academia Backlash. My hero academia is facing major backlash over the name of one of the manga's villains. The backlash is so great that it has prompted the creator and publishers to issue a formal apology. Many Koreans and Chinese are mad due to the wicked historical significants the name holds. According to Abacus News "Maruta was a Japanese code name for victims of human experimentation during World War II, which killed thousands of Chinese and Korean people."
With this knowledge its clear and understandable why people are angry, I would like to think its just art and the creator didn't have any disposable intentions. However, I am not as close affected as the Chinese and Koreans are so it's easy for me to say that. Below is the written apology from the creator and publisher of My Hero Academia.
Shueisha formal Apology over My Hero Academia Name
Formal apology for the name used in My Hero Academia in Weekly Shonen Jump Issue 10, 2020 pic.twitter.com/W9H1sTZJJe— 少年ジャンプ編集部 (@jump_henshubu) February 7, 2020
Below apology Source: Anime News Network
Regarding the character "Maruto Shiga--which appeared in chapter 259 of My Hero Academia (Weekly Shonen Jump Issue 10, February 3, 2020), a large number of readers from China and other countries have pointed out that the name evokes memories of the tragic past. "Shiga" is part of another character's name, and Maruta (kanji: round + fat) reflects the appearance of the character in question. Any apparent reference to historical events was wholly unintentional. Despite this, the character's role as a doctor for the evil organization, combined with his name, ended up being hurtful to overseas readers in China and elsewhere. The editorial department out to have taken the time beforehand to put more thought into this. We did not, and for that, we are profoundly sorry.
With all sincerity, we realize the gravity of this issue and will change the name both in the physical volume release and, as soon as possible, in the digital version of the chapter.
So that this kind of issue does not occur again going forward, we intend to devote our energies toward deepening our understanding of a variety of historical and cultural matters. By being more intimately aware of the thoughts and feelings of those from all walks of life, we will deliver manga that can be loved by all.
February 7th, 2020
Shueisha
Shueisha's message also included an additional apology from My Hero Academia creator Kōhei Horikoshi.
By using the name "Maruta Shiga" in chapter 259 of My Hero Academia, I deeply offended a great number of readers. I am truly sorry about this. The character--with deep reverence and wanting to feel closer to the League of Villain's former boss, All For One--decided to take part of All For One's last name (Shigaraki) and make it his own (Shiga). I gave him the first name "Maruta" because he's round and plump. Any other meaning is coincidental, and I had absolutely no intention of hurting so many readers, which I now know that I did. I apologize from the bottom of my heart.
Going forward, I will do my utmost to make sure that this sort of thing never happens again.
Kōhei Horikoshi"