It’s hard to talk about anime and United States politics in the same breath without bringing up that recent Attack on Titan incident, but for once we’re not here to talk about that bit of pettiness as we have bigger fish to fry… like the United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken revealing that he has the occasional penchant for J-Pop.
In a tweet from his official Twitter account, Secretary Blinken revealed his “On The Road” Spotify playlist, which features the songs that he’s been listening to the most for the last year while traveling all over the world. As you’d expect from someone who meets with foreign dignitaries regularly, the list is a solid mix of tracks from all over the world. However, did you spot anything interesting about that list? Like maybe number nine on the list?
That’s right, Secretary of State Blinken is a fan of the pop song Homura by famed singer LiSA from the Demon Slayer movie soundtrack. Now, this doesn’t automatically mean that he is an anime fan himself, nor does it mean that he’s even seen the movie. It’s entirely possible that since Demon Slayer is literally everywhere right now and has been for over a year that he just heard the song in passing somewhere and decided that he liked it enough to add to his playlist.
Just for funsies though, let’s spin that argument around and wonder out loud if it’s possible that the United States has a secret otaku in the highest levels of its government. It’s very possible that right as you’re reading this article, the President of the United States is being advised by someone whose heart swelled with pride the day that President Obama personally thanked Japan for anime.
If that is the case and Secretary Blinken is in fact a secret otaku, I’d like to invite him into the community. While we’re vast in numbers, our message of peace and love for the medium is universal and we shall count you as a brother amongst our ranks. Please Secretary Blinken, take the hand that is being extended to you and step forward from the darkness of obscurity and open your eyes to a whole new world beyond Demon Slayer.
Normally, anime and politics get along about as well as fire and water, so it’s nice to see a high-ranking U.S. politician showing some love for the medium, even if it’s just a subtle nod via his Spotify playlist.
Source: SoraNews24
