One intensely passionate fan took the news of their favorite anime changing their broadcast times really, really hard.
For the most part, the broadcasting times for anime episodes rarely change, making it one of the reliable things fans could count on to ensure they could record episodes of their favorite anime. The few times there are changes are because some other event is happening that takes precedence, like sporting events. According to Cola (@melonc0la), in 2006, that event turned out to be a table tennis match of the World Table Tennis Championships and one Inukami! fan became so enraged about the change in broadcast time of Episode 4, “Unwillingly Wearing an Apron!” they sent a parcel to TV Tokyo that included not only a handwritten letter of protest but a bag of, what appeared to be real human bones.
About the Inukami Human Bone Incident
A Japanese blog briefly summarized what has now become known as the “Inukami human bone incident.” The World Table Tennis Championship in April 2006 had to be extended for an hour, resulting in an interruption in the broadcasting of an Inukami! episode, which airs every Thursday at 1:00 AM, and consequently the fan’s recording time. After some investigation, the package contained at least 10 pieces, around three to four centimeters. According to the broadcasting station, they believed the bones were cremated and postmarked in Yokohama. It is unclear whether police authorities managed to find out the identity of the fan.
Nowadays, rather than sending broadcasting stations or studios questionable physical parcels to indicate their displeasure, fans take to the internet to voice their thoughts. In December 2022, one fan did not agree with the direction of the Chainsaw Man anime adaptation and created a petition, calling for a remake with a new director and new voice actors. Fans of another MAPPA production, Yuri!!! on Ice launched a petition #MappaWhereIsYOI to demand the studio give a status update on the animated film Ice Adolescence which has been delayed for unknown reasons.
A light novel series written by Mamizu Arisawa and illustrated by Kanna Wakatsuki, Inukami! follows an Inukami-tamer Keita Kawahira, who has trouble finding an Inukami, which literally translates to “dog god,” to bond with. Eventually, he bonds with the beautiful Inukami Yoko but soon finds her extremely difficult to control. Much of the comedy from the series comes from Yoko’s jealousy over the other Inukamis who have shown an interest in Keita. Seven Arcs adapted the light novel into the anime where it ran for 26 episodes until September 2006.
Thanks to modern technology, fans no longer have to wait for a new episode to come out every week. Inukami! is available to stream on Crunchyroll.
Source: Twitter, YouTube, Blog
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