| Because of Japan's culture its very rare to see any sort of drug reference in anime. However that doesn't mean that it doesn't happen ever. Do you think that mangakas should avoid these sort of taboos when it comes their manga? Can you think of any references to real life drugs that you have seen in anime. Japan has very low drug use compared to the rest of the world...but it is on that rise. Do you we will start to see more references in the future. Do you think Marijuana reform will ever become mainstream in Japan like it is in the US and other western countries? Oh as far as drug references in anime goes the first thing that comes to mind is something from the most mainstream anime/manga series ever. During the alabasta arc in one piece....luffy eats hallucinogenic cacti...Chopper calls it the Mescal cactus. Its clearly based on peyote...and the name itself is a reference to the main psychoactive chemical in the plant (mescaline). *edit* there was also an episode where he ate a bunch of weird mushrooms...I cant help but think that its a reference to magical mushrooms or shrooms. |
astrozombie84Mar 17, 2017 1:30 PM
| Code Geass and NHK 'referenced' drugs, I cant really remember what else, Samurai Champloo and Cowboy Bebop contained episodes dedicated mostly to hallucinations. Theres also this drug making woman in Rurouni Kenshin Ginko from Mushishi is a legit drug dealer |
SpaghettiSpikeMar 17, 2017 1:32 PM
 Oshii is probably the only director that loves dogs. He thinks he's a dog himself. That's right, its slime! It will dissolve your clothing slowly before my eyes! |
| 6th episode of Mushishi is focused around drug addiction, in a mushi-like symbolic way. It's about people sniffing flowers that resemble the Morning Glory which contain LSA in their seeds. I guess there's nothing wrong with exploring such themes, especially when such works are presented more realistic and deal with the psychological aspect of drugs. I don't think Japan specifically needs them that badly, but it's ok if they make more. Marijuana is pretty tame though. |
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| samurai champloo's weed episode was one of the funniest things i've watched i think it would feel out of place to see 'heavy' drug references in anime idk |
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| Welcome to the NHK and Oniisama e... both have characters/parts where pill abuse is central. |
| I probably regret this post by now. |
tofu said: samurai champloo's weed episode was one of the funniest things i've watched i think it would feel out of place to see 'heavy' drug references in anime idk Oh yeah I remember that now....that was funny. |
| The manga Switch, and the 2 ep OVA series, focuses on the Narcotics Division of the Police and the majority of the plot centres around drugs. |
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| I wish Code Geass went deeper into the drug aspect with Kallens(sp?) mother |
cash carti |
| There's that episode of Bebop where they all get high on shrooms and there was also "purple haze" episode in Champloo. I've got a feeling Watanabe got up to some mischief in his formative years if you know what I mean. :^) Negishi also got high in an episode of Detroit Metal City, though I forgot the exact drug he took. Regardless, the results were hysterical. I also recall drugs being mentioned quite a lot in Black Lagoon, which is to be expected as the show is about smugglers. There have also been anime that feature fictional drugs (Geass had Refrain and Lain had Accela). |
Take care of yourself |
razortongue said: There have also been anime that feature fictional drugs (Geass had Refrain and Lain had Accela). damn i'm currently watching Lain and totally forgot about that part. does it ever come back after layer 02? |
cash carti |
imeli said: not many people know this about Mushishi, but mushis don't really exist, Ginko is just baked all the timeThere are plenty of drug references in anime, you just aren't watching the right ones. I'm pretty sure Ginko from Mushishi is high off whatever he is smoking, Kusuriuri from Mononoke is a "medicine seller", Euerka 7 shows one of the antagonists constantly being injected with some sort of stimulant drug... etc... |
imeli said: Not really...not very many real life drug references anyways.There are plenty of drug references in anime, you just aren't watching the right ones. I'm pretty sure Ginko from Mushishi is high off whatever he is smoking, Kusuriuri from Mononoke is a "medicine seller", Euerka 7 shows one of the antagonists constantly being injected with some sort of stimulant drug... etc... |
| Hisoka was tripping balls when he was having a match with Gon. Might have taken ecstasy before battle off scene. |
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| Shamo, Ultra Heaven, and of course Akira. |
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| I just finished watching Jinrui wa Suitai Shimashita yesterday and in the 11th Episode, the fairy called sugar "white powder" and that it makes them feel good. Cocaine reference maybe?? |
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| A big part of Jojo Part 5 is the drug trade. Also can't forget this classic from Devilman.  |
ReaperCreeperMar 17, 2017 5:46 PM
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imeli said: astrozombie84 said: Not really...not very many real life drug references anyways. Why does it need to be a real life drug reference when you're watching something in the fantasy or sci-fi genre? IMO it's better if it's made up within that setting. Nobody wants to hear about someone being injected with meth consistently or tripping balls all the time on some tryptamine laced herb in an anime. If you want stories with real life drug references, check the "drugs fourm" or Erowid. I'm not saying it does....but the point of the thread is discussing references to real drugs. Its not that hard of a concept to grasp is it? |
| Isn't it one of the taboo subjects? Some anime have major arcs focusing on drugs (Memochou comes to mind) but go around it by not using made up kinds. |
| The hentai manga Henshin by ShindoL has a very good and realistic portrayal of drug abuse (heroin) IMO. The story itself is quite notable too despite being a hentai, if not the best of its kind and pretty fucked up. |
| Gangsta has rampant drug use. One of the few things interesting about that anime |
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| Tokyo Tribe, literally about Japanese rappers/gangsters. |
Religion is a parasite, and the only way to exterminate it is to accept facts that can be proven by regular every day activities. |
| Out of nowhere in Charlotte the MC almost does cocaine. |
| "No, son, you may not have your body pillow at the dinner table!" |
| Probably it's generally avoided because it has to do with the culture. But then if you read hentai, you will find an abundance of those. If you know what I mean. On a serious note, it's not really that rare to find references related to drugs in anime and manga albeit fictional drugs. Still I think they're based off real life ones. I remember there's a story arc in Black Jack OVA about people who are addicted to a certain cactus sap that could make them high. Should be interesting to watch one that focuses on drug addiction, not those that only show a glimpse of effects of drugs in one episode. Something like Ultra Heaven. Must read it's brilliant. Shame it got axed(?) |
| Ren from Nana is addicted to cocaine, or white China heroine. The manga never really stated which drug it was. |
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400degrees said: razortongue said: There have also been anime that feature fictional drugs (Geass had Refrain and Lain had Accela). damn i'm currently watching Lain and totally forgot about that part. does it ever come back after layer 02? If I recall correctly it doesn't come back. |
Take care of yourself |
| Every time you watch CGDCT... You feel that "high". I know y'all feel it... ;) |
| The seventh Kara no Kyoukai movie referenced drugs and drug dealing but they only used it as a plot device iirc. |
 "... Because when you live in this world of my closed eyes... ... Being alone is very lonely...". |
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