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Given the insane global popularity of Japanese animation and pop culture today, it's hard to believe that, once upon a time, Western marketers did everything they could to hide the fact that something came from The Land of the Rising Sun.
There's no better example of this than video games; in the '80s and early '90s, it was common to see Japanese games localised in North America and Europe with new box artwork, penned by regional artists in an attempt to cater for the (supposed) needs of players in that part of the world.
This process clearly didn't make sense to Akira Yasuda, also known as Akiman, the lead artist on Street Fighter II and one of Capcom's most famous ex-staffers.
On social media, Yasuda recalls the moment he was told why he wasn't allowed to do the cover art for the North American version:
"Back when we were developing Street Fighter II and such, there was this exchange where I was like, 'Why won't you let me handle the art for the North American version?' And this foreign spokesperson-type guy shut me down with this huge-subject opinion: "In North America, Japanese art styles like that just won't be accepted." Now I know that was a half-baked take."
The Western art for Street Fighter II was handled by Mick McGinty, who sadly passed away in 2021. While Yasuda's art is clearly amazing, I've always had a soft spot for McGinty's effort – and for many players in the West, his covers became synonymous with the game.
Would I have still bought it had Yasuda's art been used, though? Of course I would.