Kishimoto's Controversial Comment On Sarada's Design: A Case Of Mistranslation Or Misinterpretation?

During a recent visit to France to promote the physical publication of Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, the sequel to Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, manga creator Masashi Kishimoto found himself at the center of a social media storm.

At a press conference attended by both Kishimoto and Boruto artist Mikio Ikemoto, a comment made by Kishimoto about the character design of Sarada Uchiha sparked a significant controversy online.

When asked which of Ikemoto’s designs he favored the most, Kishimoto reportedly responded by saying, “I would say Sarada in a young woman version, because she is sexy. I could never have drawn her.”

The comment, initially translated and circulated by several fan accounts, led to Kishimoto being labeled a “pedo” by some social media users, resulting in widespread backlash against the veteran manga artist.

The fan accounts that posted the translations also faced criticism from certain sections of the online community, as they were accused of spreading misinformation.

The backlash intensified as the phrase “sexy” became a focal point of the controversy. Many fans expressed outrage, accusing Kishimoto of inappropriately sexualizing a young character.

However, others quickly pointed out the possibility of a mistranslation, suggesting that Kishimoto may have used the Japanese word “kakkoi” (cool) rather than “sexy” when describing Sarada’s design.

This theory gained traction as some Japanese-speaking fans and translators asserted that “kakkoi” was more likely what Kishimoto intended, given the cultural nuances involved.

Naruto diehards used this as a means to fend off criticism regarding their favorite author, which resulted in this version of Kishimoto’s comment spreading more.

The whole reason for the confusion was the fact that the press conference was a highly controlled event, accessible only to a select group of journalists, videographers, and influencers who were required to submit their questions in advance.

As the debate raged on, conflicting narratives emerged, leaving many neutral fans confused about what to believe.

While some supported the idea of a mistranslation, others pointed to reports from attendees who insisted that Kishimoto did, in fact, use the word “sexy.”

One such attendee, a popular influencer known as Lisez Boruto on X (formerly Twitter), addressed the controversy, explaining that Kishimoto’s use of “sexy” was meant in a humorous context.

In their post, they criticized those who were spreading what they described as twisted interpretations of Kishimoto’s comment.

“I’m blown away by people who post about Kishimoto’s ‘revelations,’ who twist the answers in a way that gets people to like them, but it’s very far from the truth, it’s modified, over-interpreted, it’s really a shame.“

Lisez Boruto promised to release a video of the interview with English subtitles to provide clarity.

Another report from Manga News, which provided a full transcript of the interview, also confirmed that Kishimoto had indeed used the word “sexy” in his description of Sarada.

The controversy further highlighted the complexities of language and cultural differences.

An X user Vortexoo provided additional context, noting that in Japan, the word “sexy” (セクシー, sekushī) often has a broader meaning than its English counterpart.

While in English, “sexy” typically implies physical attractiveness in a sexual manner, in Japan, it can be used to describe something that is stylish, cool, or visually appealing without any sexual connotation.

This cultural nuance suggested that Kishimoto’s comment might have been a compliment on Sarada’s design as aesthetically pleasing rather than an inappropriate remark. Check out their thread below:

Furthermore, the Japanese translator, whose post fans were using to claim that Kishimoto actually meant “cool,” provided additional clarification.

According to them, while Kishimoto’s words literally translated to “sexy,” he didn’t mean it in that way—similar to what others who attended the press conference mentioned.

They also pointed out how literal translations sometimes fail to convey the author’s true intent, emphasizing the importance of accurately capturing what the speaker or author really means in translations.

Image from Vortexoo’s thread.

The incident underscores the volatile nature of online fandoms, where mistranslations or misinterpretations can quickly spiral into widespread outrage.

Why do I say this? Because as Kishimoto’s incident was unfolding, Naruto fans defended their icon by shifting the blame to One Piece author Eiichiro Oda for being acquainted with Rurouni Kenshin

creator Nobuhiro Watsuki.

While Animehunch Pvt. Limited was not present at the press conference and cannot verify the exact wording used by Kishimoto, this episode serves as a reminder of how easily comments can be misconstrued in the age of social media, where agendas and sensationalism often overshadow nuanced understanding.

The fallout from Kishimoto’s comment also raises broader questions about the intersection of cultural differences and global fandoms, where what is said in one language or context can take on entirely different meanings in another.