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Just because he isn't speaking in Engrish doesn't mean he isn't dancing in an uncomfortable area with the pointy facial hair intentionally styled as if he were Japanese, wearing Kenzo Suzuki's old robes, having kanji written all over his head and speaking exclusively Japanese in the ring/on the mic.
As Noid said, should give him more "reason" behind his cosplay besides "he conquered Japan, so now he dresses like that".
Its not as if people don't pretend to be from other countries or races in wrestling. Happens all the time. Everyone from Jay Strongbow to Baron von Raschke. Kofi's horrible Jafakin accent... hell, even Santino was a Russian guy for awhile.
But this gimmick seems to be walking a line with what it's getting away with. It doesn't seem as much as him "honoring their culture" as much as it feels a bit disrespectful, sorta that same line Vince walked with Akeem the African Dream. We have fond memories of that, but it was still on that border of discomfort and could have easliy gone very, very wrong for One Man Gang's career.
Of course, I knew that discord in my choice of wording was coming, which is why I stated that would happen. Since I always seem to have to explain crap instead of taking what I'm getting at...
Maybe "blackface" was too strong with the cultural and historical implications that carries with it. Think of it this way, then:
Albert still goes to Africa in the same scenario I listed before, where he "dominates" there as the same as his current gimmick. Only when he comes back, he has a Ugandan equivalent of Sakimoto and comes to the ring dressed like Kamala. I mean, grass skirt, spear, sheild, and all.
You can't seriously tell me how you can completely miss how people could percieve this as disrespectful.
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