Fujiko F. Fujio's classic "Doraemon" is a cherished childhood memory for many. When "Gian" (Takeshi Goda) comes to mind, you probably picture his ear-splitting singing and his constant bullying of Nobita.
However, a recent discovery shared by a user on X (formerly Twitter) in Japan has revealed that the Goda siblings, Gian and his sister Jaiko, actually harbor a surprisingly deep subculture background, sparking a lively discussion among Japanese netizens.
The user who ignited the discussion retweeted a 2016 post where a netizen pointed out a manga panel showing Gian wearing a "Led Zeppelin" shirt. He's sporting a glam rock look, yet his musical style leans towards enka. Talk about range!
The post highlighted a discussion from a university seminar where it was noted that "the Goda siblings both follow subculture paths: the brother loves Western music, and the sister is obsessed with manga, a stark contrast to Suneo's ostentatious display of cultural capital."
(Note: Gian in the Led Zeppelin shirt appears in "Doraemon" Volume 19. Netizens speculate it might have been drawn by Kenji Takaya, Fujiko F. Fujio's former chief assistant, who was also a big rock music fan.)
Another spotlight shines on Gian's sister, Jaiko. In the series, she's been creating doujinshi (fan comics) since childhood. She's even submitted her work to a newcomer's award, and while she didn't win, she received a direct call from the editorial department praising her talent.
Netizens mused, "If we were to put it in today's terms, Gian would be a singer-songwriter, and Jaiko a doujinshi artist. If these siblings collaborated, creating a Vocaloid song with a music video, they'd totally dominate the internet!"
The discussion also branched out to other characters. Some pointed out that while Suneo flaunts his wealth, it's more about "consumer culture" from a privileged background. Shizuka's father is a university professor, and Nobita essentially has Doraemon as a live-in tutor. Many netizens concluded that the main characters of "Doraemon" actually grew up in environments with relatively "high cultural capital."
What's truly intriguing is that the Goda family runs a humble general store in the series. Many netizens were surprised that such an seemingly ordinary family could raise siblings with such deep interests in both Western music and manga, boasting an incredibly rich subculture background.
This recent discussion among Japanese netizens suggests Gian might be more than just the "sings-so-bad-it's-scary" comedic relief; he's being reinterpreted as a "subculture icon" blending Western music, enka, and rock elements. And with his sister Jaiko's aspiring manga artist background, this "creative sibling duo" truly offers a fresh perspective on the characters.
via： togetter