Otona Joshi no Anime Time & the state of women in Japan

I am a 24 years old woman and, as the years pass by, I find more and more myself wanting grown-up protagonists with whom I can relate easier. Josei, a demographic targeted at women is relatively small, especially when we talk about anime. So it’s always more than welcome when a series appears in my radar.

With this title I was a bit hesitant, since I watched its very first episode, Kawame o Suberu Kaze, 2 years ago, but the anti-urban sentiment in it annoyed me. Now it was clearly stated though that these new stories would be based on awarded novels written by women, and the artwork was very appealing, too. Thus, I had to give it at least a chance. Three episodes all in all. Unfortunately, I got spades of housewifery stuff instead of work related troubles and successes. 

Queerness in Go Nagai’s work: Introduction

Introduction

Go Nagai is a classic mangaka who started publishing his work in the late 1960s; since then he has designed and authored stories whose value is timeless; Devilman, Mazinger Z, Cutie Honey are just three of the many examples. Though almost none of his manga have ever been published in English (1), there is a great underground fanbase in the U.S.A. that worships his titles. Thanks to the fandom’s efforts it is that we have so far managed to know of Nagai’s masterpieces.

As a Nagai fan who cares a lot about LGBTQ depiction in Japanese comics, one of the things I found attractive in many of them was the diverse depiction of homosexual desires and relationships. There are numerous characters that either love people of the same gender or consider themselves to be between the two genders or belong to both at the same time; many times their sexual orientation plays an important role to the plot.

Artistic worries and other stories

Being an artist is not all that easy…

*The following post is full of artistic rant and nudity. You have been warned.*

I have been a fan of visual art, especially comics and illustration, for most of my life. Thankfully, this love led me to becoming a (book) designer and so for the past few years I can do what I have fun doing. That being said, I am now in the stage of my life where all that is changing.

Kaori Yuki: 5. Beautifully Imperfect

The following article has been written by Phoenix, a dear friend of us who and also our main editor for our first book, “Just a Little taste of Journey“.

“We are all wonderful, beautiful wrecks. That’s what connects us–that we’re all broken, all beautifully imperfect.” 

Emilio Estevez

As a writer, one has to deliver different stories, different characters and different sins. As an artist, the writer has to make the stories extraordinary, the characters believable and the sins mortal or venial.

What is a writer, though, that creates different stories, with sinful characters that the audience turns out to like and relate with?

Skillful.

Talented.

Gifted.

I have read many of Kaori Yuki’s manga. I believe that she has that distinct and rather adept ability to create some of the most imperfect but real – actually real- characters out there.

Kaori Yuki: 4. A Blend of Liquid Crystals- a Perfume Master review

What will you get, if you mix Perfume: A Story of a Murderer with Sherlock? But of course Perfume Master or Parfum Extrait 0 by Kaori Yuki. 

Kaori Yuki: 3. The Roar of an Angel’s Soul

The following article has been written (after many threats and blackmails) by Raistlin , a wizard who loves books and good stories. Regarding Angel Sanctuary, Raistlin believes in the supremacy of Michael. If you haven’t read the manga yet, dive right into it. Beautiful pictures await you in every page. 

Kaori Yuki MMF: Archive