An acquaintance of mine once told me that Code Geass, at least in the beginning, is an allegory for Japanese Manchuria in the 1930s.  Apparently Japanese territories in China, along with the people in them, were referred to as “Eleven.”  I couldn’t verify it, but it’s quite interesting if true.

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Here’s one I’d like to add to the pot: In 1990, a high-profile cult called Aum Shinrikyo attempted to have its members elected to the Japanese Diet.  They failed.  Five years later, Aum Shinrikyo released sarin, a lethal nerve toxin, into the Tokyo subway.  Twelve people died, hundreds were injured.  Asahara Shoko, the leader and self-proclaimed Messiah, is currently in prison awaiting a death sentence.

The Snakes in Canaan are a strange organization, aren’t they?  We don’t know what country they hail from, or what causes they support.  Money obviously isn’t the issue, because their front organization is a wealthy security corporation.  All we know is that they’re dedicated to spreading mayhem, and that Alphard, a Middle Eastern (?) girl, was chosen to lead the Snakes and be their savior.  They’re like some odd cross between a jihadi cell and a James Bond antagonist.

I’m almost tempted to call them unrealistic.  But just now I watched them release a deadly super-virus into a sealed building.

The multicultural milieu of Canaan is probably what I find most interesting about this show.  It feels global in a way that makes it stand out.  But when it comes to questions of terrorism, I think it’s clear that the creators have been heavily influenced by Japan’s uniquely horrifying experience.

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On a lighter note, I’m digging the insert song by “Nene.” It makes me miss my car.