I don't even know where I first came across a review of this anime -- it might've been on animenewsnetwork -- but out of curiousity for the description, I tracked it down. It's a short series, clocking in at only 12 or 13 episodes, and only 9 have been subbed so far. (There looks to be one group doing it, and they're releasing in batches.)
It's called Senkō no Night Raid, and frankly, by the 7th episode, I was wondering whether the broadcasting news station was picketed the day after the broadcast. No, really. I mean, really.
...err, let me revise that reaction. Turns out episode7 was, according to animenewsnetwork's notation, "streamed exclusively online and in its place, a special recap episode" was aired instead. GEE QUELLE SHOCK. *cough*
Here's the gist, per wiki: "Set in Shanghai in 1931, the Imperial Japanese Army has been dispatched to mainland China due to the relatively recent First Sino-Japanese War, Russo-Japanese War, and World War I. In this cosmopolitan city of intrigue, there is a special military spy organization called "Sakurai Kikan" that has since been buried in history."
Okay, first: Shanghai. 1931. ( If you're not aware of your Japanese early 20th century history -- and believe me, you WILL BE by the time you get to episode 8 -- the first half of 1931 was leading up to some pretty intense changes in the Asian landscape... a little history, some linguistics comments, and the revelation of the WORST SEIYUU EVER in an otherwise awesome series. )
Plus, the images of Shanghai are so very very pretty.
* this is not to say that everyone believes everything they read in textbooks. well, let's hope not. I think it goes without saying that access to the internet has played a major role in my generation and younger being exposed to alternate, non-nationalistic points of view, whatever country we're from. And I suspect this external influence may also be the reason a show like Senko no Night Raid was even able to get funding, given its content and context; that is, that it's not quite as controversial now as it might've been, say, twenty years ago. Maybe even only ten years ago.
All the same, textbooks written under heavy political influence probably still should not be allowed to operate heavy machinery or make important legal decisions. I'm just sayin'.
It's called Senkō no Night Raid, and frankly, by the 7th episode, I was wondering whether the broadcasting news station was picketed the day after the broadcast. No, really. I mean, really.
...err, let me revise that reaction. Turns out episode7 was, according to animenewsnetwork's notation, "streamed exclusively online and in its place, a special recap episode" was aired instead. GEE QUELLE SHOCK. *cough*
Here's the gist, per wiki: "Set in Shanghai in 1931, the Imperial Japanese Army has been dispatched to mainland China due to the relatively recent First Sino-Japanese War, Russo-Japanese War, and World War I. In this cosmopolitan city of intrigue, there is a special military spy organization called "Sakurai Kikan" that has since been buried in history."
Okay, first: Shanghai. 1931. ( If you're not aware of your Japanese early 20th century history -- and believe me, you WILL BE by the time you get to episode 8 -- the first half of 1931 was leading up to some pretty intense changes in the Asian landscape... a little history, some linguistics comments, and the revelation of the WORST SEIYUU EVER in an otherwise awesome series. )
Plus, the images of Shanghai are so very very pretty.
* this is not to say that everyone believes everything they read in textbooks. well, let's hope not. I think it goes without saying that access to the internet has played a major role in my generation and younger being exposed to alternate, non-nationalistic points of view, whatever country we're from. And I suspect this external influence may also be the reason a show like Senko no Night Raid was even able to get funding, given its content and context; that is, that it's not quite as controversial now as it might've been, say, twenty years ago. Maybe even only ten years ago.
All the same, textbooks written under heavy political influence probably still should not be allowed to operate heavy machinery or make important legal decisions. I'm just sayin'.