Disclaimer: In Real Life is a platform for everyday people to share their experiences and voices. All articles are personal stories and do not necessarily echo In Real Life’s sentiments.
Kuantan has been trending on social media lately, due to a shoutout in the anime Jujutsu Kaisen where one of the characters mentions it as his preferred place to retire.
But aside from Kuantan, did you know that there are multiple aspects of Malaysia that have been highlighted before in other Japanese anime?
Image: The mention of Kuantan appears in Jujutsu Kaisen episode 18, season 2. Source: Netflix
Here are 5 unique Malaysian foods, animals, sports, and landmarks that have been given a shoutout in some Japan’s most popular anime:
#1. Curry Laksa, as seen on Food Wars!: Shokugeki No Souma
In Food Wars! contestants battle it out in an Iron Chef-esque cooking competition. During a round based on the theme of curry, contestant Sagatsuka Nao’s dish was revealed to be a variant of our own curry laksa which the show calls “Jet Black Curry Laksa”.
Aside from the unusual ingredients used by Sagatsuka (mahi-mahi and flying fish), the show makes references to real laksa ingredients: shrimp paste, coconut milk, and noodles.
The taste is also similar to our experience of curry laksa: a strong umami flavour of the sea. Despite their initial reservations, the judges found the taste not just tasty, but absolutely addictive – which comes as no surprise to us Malaysians. That’s curry laksa for you!
Image: Curry laksa appears in Food Wars! episode 21, season 2. Source: gifs.com
#2. Malay Tapir, as seen on Yakitate!! Japan
Yakitate!! Japan is another food-centric show, about a budding chef who can make bread rise with his hands. In episode 58, a Malay Tapir shows up wearing spectacles to the confusion of everyone involved.
It is revealed that the show’s writers wanted to make a pun, because Malay tapir (マレーバク marēbaku) is apparently phonetically similar to Japanese curry bread (カレーパン, karē pan) in Japanese. You’ll have to ask a Japanese linguist to explain in this one for you, because we’re still confused!
Image: The Malay tapir appears in Yakitate!! Japan episode 58, Yakitate!! 9 arc. Source: X
Absurd Japanese humour might be an acquired taste, but it’s still a rare treat to see one of our lesser-known animals making the spotlight.
Speaking of rare, did you know that there are less than 2,500 Malayan Tapirs left in the wild? It’s listed as an endangered species by IUCN, and the main threat to its survival isn’t hunting as you might expect, but deforestation and loss of habitat. If you’re interested in volunteering, Zoo Negara is always looking for volunteers.
Image via r/awwducational
#3. Sepak Takraw, as seen on Nichijou: My Ordinary Life
Nichijou: My Ordinary Life is a comedy/slice-of-life anime that features exaggerated and absurd scenarios made out of normal everyday interactions.
In one skit, the main character wakes up late and is upset to find that her mother, instead of waking her up early, went out with her neighbors to play (of all things) the Malaysian sport sepak takraw.
The implied humour in this scene comes from the absurdity of an average Japanese housewife being involved in a very energy-intensive sport like sepak takraw, which requires strong leg muscles, precise coordination, and great flexibility to kick the ball high in the air.
Image: Sepak takraw appears in Nichijou: My Ordinary Life episode 5. Source: Youtube
By the way, did you know that Sepak takraw is a sport that has been around since the time of the Malaccan Sultanate? That means it’s over 400 years old! Sepak takraw has a rich cultural history of being played in Malaysia, Indonesia, and even Thailand.
Sepak Takraw in real life. Image via Utusan Malaysia.
#4. Durian, as seen on A Place Further Than The Universe
The king of fruits deservedly gets a mention in A Place Further Than The Universe, an anime about four teenage girls who decide to go on a very casual expedition to Antarctica.
For the first leg of their trip, the girls stop by Singapore for a 2 day layover, where Hinata misplaces her passport. As punishment for making them search for it, the girls were made to eat durian at a roadside stall. This scene would be a familiar one for durian lovers everywhere in Malaysia.
Although eating the fruit is framed as a punishment by the girls in the show, one of them does mention that she might enjoy it once she gets used to it. It’s a sentiment that many Malaysians can relate to!
Image: Durian appears in A Place Further Than The Universe episode 6. Source: Crunchyroll
#5. KLCC Petronas Twin Towers, as seen on Cowboy Bebop and Mayonaka No Occult Koumui
Of course this list wouldn’t be complete without a mention of the Petronas Twin Towers. From 1998 to 2004, Malaysia held the honour of it being the tallest building in the world!
As such, it’s a famous landmark in lots of movies and TV shows, such as Kiefer Sutherland’s 24 and that Sean Connery spy movie Entrapment. Specifically in anime, it’s been featured on the likes of Mayonaka No Occult Koumuin and the 80’s cult classic, Cowboy Bebop.
In Mayonaka No Occult Koumuin, a goddess takes pity on a woman with feelings of lost love in her heart and returns her to “where she wishes to be” – which turns out to be the Petronas Twin Towers in KL!
Image: The Petronas Twin Towers appears in Mayonaka No Occult Koumuin. Source: desu zone
In Cowboy Bebop, the main cast of space-faring bounty hunters visits Earth in search of an old video cassette player to play back Faye’s memories of her childhood. Their search takes them to the streets of Kuala Lumpur, where the Petronas Twin Towers are visible in a brief cameo.
Image: The Petronas Twin Towers appears in Cowboy Bebop episode 18. Source: gifs.com
Our Malaysian culture is recognised internationally, and that’s amazing!
Next time you take a bite of that curry laksa, go shopping at KLCC, visit the National Zoo, watch a game of sepak takraw, or enjoy a piece of durian, remember that these everyday things we take for granted are often seen by foreigners as evidence of a nation rich in culture and diversity.
At the same time, there are many Malaysian foods, cultural heritages, landmarks, animals, and sports that should get more visibility on the international scene. Which ones do you think should be more visible?
What unique Malaysian things should we introduce to foreigners?
Share your thoughts in the comments!
Submit your story to hello@inreallife.my and you may be featured on In Real Life Malaysia.
Read also: Why Malaysia is the No. 1 Choice For Retirement Among Japanese Expats
Why Malaysia is The No. 1 Choice for Retirement Among Japanese People
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