No Game No Life Author Criticizes Brazil

Yuu Kamiya, known for his work as the author of the popular light novel and anime franchise “No Game No Life“, has become a trending topic on social media after sharing a reflection on his official Twitter account about the reality of Brazilspecifically in relation to its high crime rates.

The author, whose real name is Thiago Furukawa Lucas, was born in Brazil, spent part of his childhood in the United States and moved to Japan at the age of 7, where he currently resides. Despite having spent much of his life outside his native country, Kamiya maintains Brazilian nationality, which allows him to have a unique perspective on the situation in his home country.

In the tweet that quickly went viral, Kamiya shared a personal experience he lived with his wife during a trip to Brazil:

«When we went to Brazil with my wife, I told her: 'We are about to arrive at the airport in Brazil. Change into the oldest clothes we have prepared. Take off all watches and accessories. Take three wallets, two of which we will consider lost in case we get robbed. And don't speak Japanese until we get to the car. Don't let go of my hand..' She looked at me and asked, 'What kind of country is this?' I replied, 'It's a country with a crime rate 102 times that of Japan.'».

The author went on to describe the situation: “Don't use your iPhone or Apple Watch outside, they sell for a good price, and the latest models are stolen as if by magic. My wife said, 'Oh, that's why you're carrying this cheap old Android…' At least that's how it was five years ago. I don't know if it's improved, but I doubt it…»

Elsewhere in the thread, Kamiya mentioned the impact that the sounds of gunshots had on his wife during their stay in São Paulo, leading to a discussion about security in the city: «My wife asked me if they have fireworks so often in São Paulo, since she heard them every day. I had to tell her that they were actually gunshots.».

However, the author also wanted to qualify his comments to avoid being perceived as a total criticism of his country of origin: «I don't want this to sound like I'm campaigning negatively against my country. It's true that safety in Brazil is an issue, but it depends on the place. There are safe areas (although not as safe as Japan), the food is delicious and there are many good things. Personally, I like the relaxed and carefree attitude of Brazilians, although it can also be somewhat negative.».

Kamiya's post quickly sparked a wave of reactions on social media, especially from Japanese netizens:

«Decades ago, Brazil was already dangerous. The guide told us in Rio: 'There are no safe places here, there are only dangerous areas, very dangerous and extremely dangerous'».
«By the way, the Japanese are considered rich, and when a resident was assaulted, he was told: 'If you are Japanese, you should have more money' and even given a reprimand.».
«When you hear this, Brazil sounds scary, but among all the countries I have visited, it is my favorite. In fact, I like it more than Japan and I would even consider living there permanently because it is a country full of charm.».
«This is absolutely true. A Brazilian who worked for my company was assaulted and killed when he returned home because he was walking around in the street dressed up. If you travel there, don't get too excited about your trendy clothes, it's better to look like you don't have any money. Also, when you go to the United States, you should carry $30 in loose cash in your pocket.».
«My brother, who lived in Alabama, came back with torn shoes and a worn-out T-shirt and shorts, saying, 'Only gays dress well.' But after a while, he realized, 'When I went back to Japan and saw the people, I realized that the average redneck's clothing there was almost at the level of a hobo.».
«An easy-to-understand example: In Japan, the homicide rate is 0.23 people per 100,000 inhabitants per year. In Brazil, it is 20 people. In a city of one million inhabitants in Japan, there would be two homicides per year, while in Brazil there would be four per week. Of course, this is an average, there are safer places and more dangerous ones. By the way, in South Africa it is 45 people, more than one homicide per day.».
«About 20 years ago, the mother of a Brazilian friend who lived with us was assaulted and beaten when she returned temporarily to Brazil. Also, a relative lost an arm in a bus hijacking… I thought it was a happy country with relaxed people, but I realized that it is actually very dangerous.».