>>114446660As a general rule (and there are obviously exceptions, so don't even fucking bother with that shit) Japanese heroes are sourced from externalized powers and American heroes are sourced from internalized powers.
The American ideal hero has amazing power and says "I, personally, am fucking awesome. That's why I can fly and shoot lasers and and immune to bullets. Because I am the most specialist boy."
The Japanese ideal hero has the same powers, but says "I get these powers from a THING. I am a normal person, but with this transformation belt/magical girl rod/robot suit I gain the powers to fly and shoot lasers and be immune to bullets. Because this power fell into my hands and changed my normal life forever."
This is largely because Japanese power fantasy is about accessablity. DC wants to sell you a Superman toy, but they are not selling you the dream of BEING Superman. Whereas in Japan every little kid gets the sales pitch of "If only I had the transformation belt, I could be a Kamen Rider too".
Notably, even when american heroes have externalized powers (see: Iron Man) they still usually double down on said character being a Very Special Boy even without them (Tony Stark was a super-genius billionaire long before he had a robot suit).
Giant robots are just another way of externalizing the power: anyone can pilot the Gundam. You could do that. Wouldn't that be cool?
