Why Ghost in the Shell Manga Publisher Approves Scarlett Johansson Casting in Film

The recent announcement of Scarlett Johansson getting cast as Japanese cyborg Motoko Kusanagi in the upcoming Ghost in the Shell Hollywood adaptation has been controversial in the West. Some people described the decision as whitewashing.

Apparently though, Tokyo-based Ghost in the Shell manga publisher Kodansha, which is among Japan's largest publishers, saw nothing wrong with Johansson getting the lead role. In fact, Kodansha recently started reprinting the manga following the news of the Hollywood adaptation. Ghost in the Shell was originally released in 1989.

In light of the recent controversy, Sam Yoshiba, director of the international business division at Kodansha's headquarters in Tokyo, told the following to The Hollywood Reporter:

She has the cyberpunk feel. And we never imagined it would be a Japanese actress in the first place. This is a chance for a Japanese property to be seen around the world.

Yoshiba, who came back from the movie's New Zealand set, also put it out there that "he was impressed by the respect being shown for the source material."

Even though Yoshiba did say he "never imagined" a Japanese actress would portray the beloved Ghost in the Shell character, some people were angered last week when a report came out that the movie's producers tested out visual effects to make Johansson appear more Asian.

While some Westerners were outraged by the report, others said the casting is perfect since Motoko Kusanagi is of European descent.

Meanwhile, Japanese netizens weren't surprised by the news. Some were in fact nonchalant and didn't appear interested in seeing the film at all.

Regardless of whether the lead for Ghost in the Shell is Asian or not, I think what matters most is that the Hollywood adaptation will give justice to story and that Johansson will bring Motoko to life on the big screen.

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Read: Hollywood's Ghost in the Shell Movie Finally Casts A Japanese Actor: Beat Takeshi