Is City Hunter without “mokkori” still City Hunter?

Creating a live-action adaptation of a classic Japanese manga for a global audience is challenging, especially with a protagonist known for questionable behavior. This was the dilemma faced by Japanese actor Ryohei Suzuki in the new Netflix film adaptation of the 1980s manga hit “City Hunter,” which premiered on Thursday, April 25.

Set in Tokyo, the story follows Ryo Saeba, a detective and assassin charged with eliminating criminals from the city’s streets. The manga, created by Tsukasa Hojo, has sold over 50 million copies and has been adapted into an animated TV series as well as several films, including a 1993 Hong Kong movie starring Jackie Chan. In the original manga and anime series, Saeba’s character is marked by crude humor and sexism.

Understanding contemporary sensitivities, Suzuki, who plays Saeba, implemented specific changes to the character for the film.

“We established a rule that Saeba would not touch anyone without their consent,” Suzuki explained in an interview with the Associated Foreign Press, speaking of his collaborative work with director Yuichi Sato.

This adaptation is part of a broader effort to update the manga for modern audiences, including toning down explicit content and ensuring the character did not make jokes about sexuality.

 An intimacy coordinator was also involved in the production.

Additionally, the film portrays Saeba’s partner, Kaori Makimura, as a strong and independent woman, more proactive and capable than in the original manga.

Suzuki, a lifelong fan of “City Hunter,” also contributed to the script development, drawing inspiration from a successful 2018 French adaptation by actor and director Philippe Lacheau.

“City Hunter” is part of Netflix’s ongoing strategy to adapt manga and anime, which Roland Kelts, author of “Japanamerica,” suggests are “relatively safe bets” due to their established audiences in Japan and Asia.

However, not all adaptations succeed. For example, the 2009 Hollywood version of “Dragon Ball” was heavily criticized for not staying true to its source, leading its writer to apologize.

The Netflix adaptation also navigated how to handle Saeba’s use of “mokkori,” a slang term for noticeable male arousal, which is a recurring element in the original manga.

“We felt it is tolerable, given Saeba doesn’t always use the word sexually but almost randomly,” Suzuki said. “It is, after all, his identity.”

Still, one must wonder how the infamous Ryu Saeba could achieve “mokkori,” being that Sato and Suzuki have so cleanly removed Saeba’s balls.

For better or worse, the latest live-action adaptation of City Hunter is currently streaming on Netflix, worldwide.