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Controversial busty manga girl Red Cross poster’s artist donates blood

Casey Baseel Oct 31, 2019
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And it wasn’t the Uzaki-chan Wants to Hang Out creator’s first time, either.

Earlier this month, an online debate broke out regarding one of the Japanese Red Cross Society’s current blood-drive promotions. Until October 31, volunteers who donate blood can receive a plastic clear file decorated with characters from manga series Uzaki-chan Wants to Hang Out, but some questioned whether the titular star’s depiction was too titillating for a mainstream humanitarian organization to be employing.

▼ Character Uzaki Hana, as she appears on the clear file and in posters advertising the blood drive

The selection of the busty Uzaki as spokescharacter first attracted criticism on English-language social media, with the debate later spreading to Japanese-language media outlets. However, the Japanese Red Cross Society has since asserted that it does not feel that its use of the artwork constitutes sexual harassment. The promotion has neither suspended nor altered, and this week a rather appropriate donor contributed to the cause, as Uzaki-chan Wants to Hang Out creator and artist Take himself made a blood donation.

担当にばかり痛い思いさせるのも申し訳ないのでやっとこさ僕も献血してきました pic.twitter.com/pq3BK1Ypy7

— 丈(たけ) (@syokumutaiman) October 28, 2019

“I’m sorry for having put the people in charge of the blood drive in such a difficult situation,” Take tweeted through his official account (@syokumutaiman), “but I finally went to donate blood.” A look at his post-donation receipt shows that Take supplied 400 milliliters (13.5 ounces) of type A positive to a facility in Tokyo on Monday, October 28.

Fans were happy to see Take putting his hemoglobin where his character’s mouth is, thanking him for contributing to the life-saving efforts of the Japanese Red Cross Society. Mixed in with all of the “Nice” and “Otsukaresama” comments, though, was one sharp-eyed commenter who noticed that Take’s receipt shows that this was his 14th time to donate blood.

▼ Seen at the very top of the receipt photo, 献血回数：14回 translates to “Number of blood donations: 14.”

担当にばかり痛い思いさせるのも申し訳ないのでやっとこさ僕も献血してきました pic.twitter.com/pq3BK1Ypy7

— 丈(たけ) (@syokumutaiman) October 28, 2019

As also noted on the receipt, this was Take’s first donation since 2015, and his last before that was in 2008. While his 14 donations show he’s aware of the need for blood, those long gaps also speak to how even considerate, informed individuals can get out of the habit of making donations. That could be a contributing factor in the Japanese Red Cross Society’s desire for eye-catching, visual anime/manga partnerships to keep the issue actively in people’s minds, especially if it helps them get some of that highly desirable otaku blood.

Source: Twitter/@syokumutaiman via Otakomu
Insert image: Japanese Red Cross Society
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