Interesting points about Diana and Jesus. Thank you Pete and Lee.

Jason, Albany, USA/Oregon

“Raoh showed us the inner strength of men and showed that power can rule the world as effectively as love” ...Gee, what a lovely sentiment. I'd like to know just when exactly it was that love ruled the world instead of power?

Bart, Starkville, MS, USA

“Raoh showed us the inner strength of men and showed that power can rule the world as effectively as love”...Gee, what a lovely sentiment. I'd like to know just when exactly it was that love was ruling the world instead of power.

Bart, Starkville, MS, USA

Why does everyone have a problem with these people?, I know it seems a bit extreem to be going to such lengths just for a fictional charecter. But if thats what they wanted to do, then there was nothing to stop them. as you may have guessed, im all for this madness, and l think that it makes you more individual if you want to do something this eccentic!

Emmeline, surrey, UK

This article is somewhat misleading.for several reasons. Raoh was already dead (no pun intended) for several years in the original manga (which ended in 1988) and the anime series that aired during the same time. The new movie is just a remake of the original story.

As for the mock funeral, it's ridiculous and an obvious marketing gimmick for the movie, bur it's really nothing that's never been done before. I'm pretty sure Marvel Comics once held a real-life mock funeral for Professor X during the umpteenth they killed his character off.

Johnny, Florida,

Who is anyone to tell another what to do what their life. If someone wants to mourn the loss of their hero let them. We only live one life might as well do something you feel like doing once in a while. It's ignorant to say that someone is wasting their time to mourn just because you don't feel the same way.

Slevin, Whiting, IN

Just wait until one of the main characters in Harry Potter dies, then we will see hysteria!

Maria, London,

Its no different than celebrating the memory annualy of another fictional character whose actions and so called activities were also constructed and described by a 3rd party. Christmas time is not fundamentally different (though obviously fundamental).

Perhaps in two millenia today will be marked as the celebration of the death and ressurection of Raoh. Hey its a comic, who knows what crazy stuff could happen?

Lee, Belfast, Ireland

The public reaction to the death of little Nell or even the killing-off of Sherlock Holmes were comparable literary precedents. So not so strange really, but perhaps taken to a new level of absurdity.

James Corbett, London, UK

Just how vastly different is it to the hysterical scenes in the UK following the death of Diana? After all, the only face that the masses saw was the fictional media-friendly PR front presented, so in essence for 99% of the "mourners", hers was the death of a fictional character....

Pete North, manchester,

I've lived in Japan for 6 years. This isn't a matter of it being a different culture. All of the Japanese folks I know think that it's ridiculous, too.

Pillar, Matsumoto, Japan

Agreed, it seems excessive, but your in the UK and I'm in the US so the culture is different. It's also worth note that this is a character that has been one of the most known characters in Japanese Manga/Anime for thirty years. Personally, I would rather people so involved with their favorite characters mourn in such a way rather than the rabid rush to buy up and resell an issue such as when Superman died. I worked in a comic shop at the time and most people I had to deal with over the matter were not fans and had little interest other than making cash when they resold the issue on ebay. This just goes to show how much the Japanese embrace the such strong and long-lasting stories and characters. (Note: unlike western comics, it is unlikely he will return in a few months.)

Jason, Pensacola, FL, United States

Madness?
This is TOKYOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Fox Kelfonne, North Haverbrook,

As someone who lives in Japan I can tell you that it most certainly *is* as ridiculous as it seems.

Ryan, Kobe, Japan

I agree with Chaz. You may not like it, but you're not part of the culture. Instead of being so fat-headed and close-minded about it, try learning about why they're doing it.

Atalanta, Marysville, USA

“I feel about him the way Westerners feel about Elvis.”

Overhyped and overappreciated? And have you seen Graceland?

Doctor G, New Orleans, USA? USA? USA?

Before people get so angry, they need to realize that this is a different culture. Just because we think it's ridiculous doesn't mean that it is.

Chaz Sylvester, Mt. Morris, USA

Especially considering Fist of the Northstar is a third-rate, hyperviolent, waste of film and paper. If these people had given even half the effort and energy to any single real-life problem in their society that they gave to this funeral, perhaps they'd figure out a way to stop their men from sleeping at the office and dying of heart attacks at 40.

Aaron, Nagasaki, Japan

This is madness and i think the world has gone crazy. Ok it can be sad when a much loved character dies but there needs to be a line drawn somewhere. If we all had funerals everytime a fictional character died we would never have time to do anything else in our lives, such as help people, fight for our country, etc. If a fake funeral is more important then any of that then i stand firm - the world has gone mad!

Rebecca, Worcester, UK

I agree with the following comment - “perhaps the most extreme blurring of reality and fantasy that Japanese pop culture has produced”. And we wonder why there are so many dangerous people in this world like this freak that has just massacared 32 people in West Virginia. My heart and sympathy goes out to all of them and my utter confusion goes out to all these fantasy mourners that have obviously lost all grip on reality.

Tricia, Boston , Lincs

Pllleease get a life. Fantasy Funerals. Is the world just getting sillier. Too much time on their hands these people. idle thumbs are the devils playground they say. Get a real hobby which involves doing exercise and recreational fun.
All I can say is these children of a lesser god.

Peter Hagan, liverpool, England