You should never judge a book by its cover. With today’s increasingly sensitive PC culture (ポリコレporicore in Japanese), perhaps this adage has never been more true. Appearances are powerful, but biases based upon how certain people look lead to significant problems. Current events readily attest to this.

I admit, however, I'm guilty of such a transgression. We at Grape have recently written about Ainu culture here, here, and here. Traditionally, Ainu women were tattooed around the mouth in a Heath Ledger joker kind of away. I was first taken aback by this. Only after researching the culture, and viewing numerous images, did I began to appreciate it as a unique form of body art.

Illustrator Kae Yamaguchi (@yamakae) recently touched on this topic in her piece 「ポリコレに敏感な人」(literally "someone sensitive to political correctness," in other words, a PC warrior); however, her take on the subject is delightfully uncanny. Enjoy.

Reproduced with permission from © Kae Yamaguchi (@yamakae)

Reproduced with permission from © Kae Yamaguchi (@yamakae)

Reproduced with permission from © Kae Yamaguchi (@yamakae)

Reproduced with permission from © Kae Yamaguchi (@yamakae)

It seems everyone, even the paranormal, can stand some sensitivity training. After all, we have to work for an equitable world for the living and the undead alike.

Netizens reacted:

  • “At the end they take on the older lady sprinters.”
  • “I laughed at the ‘easy to eat corn on the cob’ part.”
  • “I feel like PC culture stifles my ability to express myself.”

If you liked this manga, you can find more by Kae on her Twitter account or foriio account.


By - Luke Mahoney.