Without question, my favorite anime song from this season is “Love Dramatic”, the opening to Kaguya-sama: Love Is War. It was a pleasant surprise to hear an old crooner kick off the show as opposed to the typical anime pop we’ve come to expect for a romantic comedy OP. It’s fun and a bit kitschy and it sets the perfect mood for the series. I’m really into it.
The primary vocalist is a veteran singer named Masayuki Suzuki, known as “Japan’s King of Love Songs.” Between that great title and his eccentric look, I became curious to learn more about this interesting character. I did what anyone else would do and went off an a seemingly innocent Google tangent. I kind of wish I didn’t.
Mr. Suzuki’s Wikipedia page will tell you that he became famous as the leader of 1980s doo-wop inspired group Rats & Star. That sounds pretty cool until you click on Rats & Star and see the following description:
“Rats & Star, formerly called Chanels, was a Japanese male blackface pop group that specialized in doo-wop influenced music.”
Uhh… what??? I would put “blackface” on a short list of topics I’d never expect to cover in my anime writing career, and yet here we are. It’s not a topic I’m comfortable discussing, and I will link some articles by authors who are more qualified to provide cultural context specific to Japan. That said, I haven’t seen anyone mention this connection and it bothers me as I see nothing but praise for Mr. Suzuki’s current hit song. So I want to use what small voice I have to bring attention to the situation.
Suzuki with Rats and Star
First, let me note that the group Rats & Star essentially disbanded in 1986, well over 30 years ago. Masayuki Suzuki has performed solo since then, without the use of blackface. A lot has changed in 30 years and if that was the end of the story, I might chalk it up to ignorance from a different era and leave it at that. Sadly, that’s not the case. In 2006 he appeared in blackface again as a member of the group Gosperats, and found himself in the middle of a blackface controversy as recently as 2015.
Anime fans may recall that incident in which popular idol group Momoiro Clover Z faced considerable backlash from photos of the group in blackface. This came about as they were paying homage to the much older group they were scheduled to perform with. You probably guessed it: that group was Rats & Star. Front and center in one of the photos was Masayuki Suzuki, happily wearing the face paint and white gloves in 2015.
The performance was cancelled, presumably because of the negative response to the photos. In my research I have not found any apology or statement to confirm this, not from the TV station scheduled to air the performance or either of the groups. Both Momoiro Clover Z and Masayuki Suzuki continued on with their careers as if nothing had happened. And maybe that’s the problem.
Members of Rats and Star, including Suzuki, with Momoiro Clover Z
Before going any further, I want to address some of the common counterpoints that came up when this incident happened. I am aware that the understanding and perception of blackface in other countries may vary a bit from here in the USA. We are particularly sensitive to it because it ties directly to minstrel shows and other aspects of our deeply racist past. Some have also pointed out that the history of blackface in Japan is coming from a place of admiration. Any harm is unintentional, and stems from ignorance rather than bad intent.
I don’t buy that. The world has become a small enough place that ignorance can’t be an acceptable excuse. The backlash to the 2015 incident alone proves there is a high enough level of awareness on this topic. I’m not saying Momoiro Clover Z, Rats & Star, or Masayuki Suzuki intended to mock black people or meant any harm, I’m just saying they should have known better. Again, I will leave the nuances of this topic to better qualified writers, but it speaks to Japan’s ongoing problem with pretending to live in a racial bubble. That’s another topic for another time, so let’s wrap this up.
The big question at the end of all this is how should we feel when we hear that musically great Kaguya-sama OP? I haven’t seen any contrition or acknowledgement from Masayuki Suzuki on his use of blackface, and honestly I wouldn’t be surprised if he wore it again for a 2020 Rats & Star reunion or something. So personally, I have a hard time enjoying “Love Dramatic” knowing what I know now. At best I can acknowledge it’s a great song but I have to put this asterisk on it. I’m willing to draw the line on enjoying the show as a whole and will still support that, it’s just really disappointing I can’t include the OP as well.
The Glorio Blog 
Yes, such an important analysis. Sadly and ironically, I found the picture of Suzuki first without knowing, while looking for info on my Hip Hop and anime final, and stumbled upon blackface with it. At first I didn’t know it was him, but when I looked twice, researched, and found this article, it confirmed it. UGGGGHHHH it just sucks because Kaguya-sama is such a great anime, and I’m in love with both the openings by Suzuki, it’s just now I’m re-evaluating everything. How does this effect the anime? How does this effect readers who don’t even know?
I think those are questions everyone will have to answer for themselves. For me personally, I feel there is enough distance between the music choice for the OP and the anime itself that I’m willing to keep watching it, and I point this all out when I have the opportunity. If anyone did choose not to watch though, that is perfectly valid of course.
Good luck with your final, sounds interesting.
According to Wikipedia, it says that blackface in Japan was originally considered to be “cool” and a way to rebel against conformist society. Therefore, I like to compare it to pop punk/pop rock in the U.S. as it is also a way for people to rebel against a conformist society. Different cultures have different ways of expressing similar beliefs
I have read that as well and I don’t think it’s a valid excuse. Especially in this case they are doing actual blackface, white gloves and all, and not just painting their face to be cool or whatever. It’s a very specific and unmistakable cultural reference.
As I said in the post, I don’t think any harm was intended and I might be more forgiving if it was just done out of ignorance 30-40 years ago. But there was no excuse to be doing it in 2015. There is enough information out there to know that it’s insulting to the people you are supposedly paying tribute to. Even a small acknowledgement and apology would help, but as far as I could tell it has never been addressed.
I would really recommend reading the linked articles if you haven’t. There are plenty of others on that specific 2015 incident as well. They give a much better perspective than I can.
What you all ‘muricans don’t understand is that the whole world doesn’t revolve around you and your past. Something might be racist in your country, but it doesn’t mean that it’s racist somewhere else…
You might disagree with me, but I definitely addressed this in the original post and in my follow up comment.
It is certainly not a good thing to do blackface but I really do think Americans WILDLY overestimate how much other countries know about it, SPECIALLY those who don’t even speak the english language. If I asked on the street what people on the street think about blackface, my guess is half would ask “What is blackface?”. I think it’s fine to warn them as is but to put them on the same standards as someone that actually understands it is totally different.
thank you for bringing this to.I stumbled upon his photo while searching him without sunglasses it’s quite a shame i really enjoyed his music.
*To light
hello! I just found this article with a little bit of research on this group because I just saw Suzuki on tv for a new years music show and immediately noticed that it wasn’t right. thank you for writing about this. glad I am not the only one who thought it was completely and utterly wrong.
Bit late. I personally enjoy his work from Rat & Star era. I did think that what he did was wrong but i think you already mention it, I don’t think it was intentionally. He once said it is an act to pay homage. You did say that they should know better. I don’t know about that. It’s already 2022, and he did release his 40 annivesary concert album which is kinda compilation of Rat & Star and few new song. You can see it at youtube. He did not wear that thing. I’m sure he know it is wrong and he should care of his fans overseas.
And I also think that there’s nothing wrong with he as the singer of Kaguya – sama opening, It is not like he will sing the opening with blackface. Kaguya – sama opening is far from his doo wop homage music. I do respect people’s opinion on blackface but don’t t think this matter should be more exaggerated.
Yes , people should know but don’t need to banned he or anything. He is the perfect singer of Kaguya – sama opening.
That’s good to hear he has not done it since. I agree he doesn’t need to be banned or boycotted, just something to think about. I can respect if some people don’t want to listen anymore.