Thank you!!!!!! I was exactly thinking the same thing !!!
Yes!!!! Thank you! People are too focused on how long it's been going on - probably because they're too used to instant gratification (youtube shorts and tiktoks) - that they ignore the plot... or they just assume that romance is the plot because they can't seem to understand that it might be about something else (slice of life).
On to your thoughts on the current arc - I agree. Though I do think we'll finally get the rest of Ren's backstory... I don't imagine it will continue too much longer after that - we'll see her continuing on her acting path, and once everything comes to light, she'll become even more popular - the director already has his eye on here from when he saw her in that samurai movie.
agree about the first part tbh I'm so done with people moaning about the span of the show. I saw the anime when it first aired at like 13 and I'm 30 now and Idk I think there's something real fun about being able to come back to something every once in a while, I don't care to have this conversation anymore tbh.
As for the Japanese acting, do you mean irl? Or are you maybe talking about tv comedy dramas? Japanese cinema is one of the most globally influential actually, with Kurosawa films being a big inspiration to the classic American western movie structure, or our contemporary cinematic understanding of horror cinema whether supernatural stuff or body horror, and I could go on and on. A lot of the best films of our contemporary times come out of Japan as well. Japan definitely has a very distinct culture and tradition when it comes to its arts and definitely in film, and that includes acting as well, so probably what you are describing is that you can sense that difference. The same is true for how in old Hollywood you had more "classically trained acting" derived from the british Shakespearean tradition whereas now what is universally dominant in the states is different delineations of what was once called method acting (which itself was derived from the Stansilavski method). Think of it like how a musical theater trained actor acts very different from a traditional theater actor, to a film actor or a performance artist or dancer. Similarly most countries and parts of the world have slightly different interpretations of what is considered "convincing" acting or what a film is supposed to be like/accomplish.
I would encourage you to seek out different forms of cinema to experience and understand that difference, instead of interpreting it as "not convincing" or inferior. It's honestly very fascinating, at least in my opinion, and it makes you appreciate even more the art you grew up with and the way it relates to you and your own culture. Sorry for the nerdy rant, I work in cinema so this is something I'm very passionate about I hope I wasn't too annoying lol
I wish there were more people talking about what is currently going on instead of how long this manga has been running.
Here, I'll start:
The hostility between the Americans and the Japanese actors makes logical sense within the narrative, but it still comes off as kinda goofy from an outsider's perspective. It's also dragging a bit, considering we all knoe how it's gonna end. The Japanese actors are gonna show their skills, and the Americans will gain a grudging respect for them/realise that they were being excessively prejudiced.
Irl, from what I've seen at least, Japanese acting does come off as a bit corny to me. Like, you get real "I'm acting right now" vibes from the characters, and it's hard to get immersed. I'd love some recommendations if you think I'm completely wrong, I'd love to have my mind changed about this and see some convincing Japanese acting!