Written by: Prakriti Basu Critically acclaimed for his portrayal of gender norms, Murakami poignantly approaches the gender roles prevalent in contemporary Japan. His representation of masculinity …
Dec 2, 2021 • Subscribe
More like this
A Farewell To Japan’s King of Toxic Masculinity: Shintaro Ishihara
Ishihara hated outspoken women and liberal men; he had no kind feelings for the US and refused to be enthralled or intimidated by western culture. Ishihara reserved his…
The Campy Masculinity of Steve Martin
I thrill when I drill a bicuspid.It’s swell, though they tell me I’m maladjusted…But somewhere, somewhere above me,I know,I know that my Momma’s proud of me.Excerpted from &…
Light Novels With Shonen Manga Energy
Kim Morrissy is here to introduce you to some light novels with fist-pumping action and hot-blooded energy.
Light Novels With Shōjo Manga Energy
Whether you're looking for intrigue, romance, fantasy, or just a fun female protagonist, we've got your next summer read here!
Romance Visual Novels with Black Heroines
Black girls deserve to fall in love too! So, I compiled a list of romance visual novels I've played with Black heroines.
Portrayals of Black Masculinity in Carole & Tuesday
Despite its social justice-minded storytelling, Carole & Tuesday can be a frustrating watch as it swings back and forth between exploring these characters as nuanced individuals and perpetuating…
The Beautiful Masculinity of Mob Psycho 100
At its very core, MP100 is a show that despises violence as the main means of resolving interpersonal issues, and instead invites its audience to understand each other.…
“A Man Who Can Experience His Feelings”: Fruits Basket, toxic masculinity, and mental health
Fruits Basket is a radical work regarding its treatment of mental health because it actively works to destigmatize mental illness, critiquing and dismantling ideas about toxic masculinity through…
The Best Light Novels With Horny Energy
Looking for something spicy for your late night reading? You won't want to miss this new list. Just make sure your door is locked first.
Finding models of healthy masculinity in BL manga
In retrospect, I recognize those first fanfics as something that let me safely imagine myself as a boy in a relationship with another boy. That desire to find…
SKRYU takes flight with his Balloon
I’ve gotta give it to SKRYU, he likes to lay on the levity in his music videos. In the case of his newest track Balloon, he’s gone for…
An Ode to the Women of Anime, Manga, & Light Novels
Happy International Women’s Day, everyone! In honor of the day, we here at BtT are excited to celebrate some of our favorite women working in anime, manga, and…
The Heike Story, Urusei Yatsura, Ascendance of a Bookworm, Wandering Son, Boys Over Flowers
The Origins of Visual Novels
Last year I wrote a blog post about the origins of visual novels and how I believe the term is often misused in the West to classify games…
Episode 312, "Off With His Thread" (with Daryl Surat)
On this episode of The One Piece Podcast we have special guest Daryl Surat from Anime World Order and Otaku USA Magazine joining us for the podcast! He…
Episode 312, "Off With His Thread" (with Daryl Surat)
On this episode of The One Piece Podcast we have special guest Daryl Surat from Anime World Order and Otaku USA Magazine joining us for the podcast! He…
Review: WITH THE SHEIKH IN HIS HAREM
It's Bad Romance Month once again at the Test Drive, and we're taking a spin once again through Kodansha's digital shojo offerings and fish...
Review: WITH THE SHEIKH IN HIS HAREM
It's Bad Romance Month once again at the Test Drive, and we're taking a spin once again through Kodansha's digital shojo offerings and fish...
God of Novels – Japanese Film Review
This is a title, that’s been smoldering in the back of my mind for awhile. Originally scheduled for a May screening, I thought I was going to miss…
Kevin Ishizaka – Light Novels and Lyrics – Interviews With Localizers
Kevin Ishizaka, translator of The Haunted Bookstore, talks about what he loves as a freelance Japanese to English translator.
What are some light novels with great female leads?
Favorite female lead in a light novel? Best light novel aimed at female audiences? Best wlw/yuri light novel?
Composing Music for Visual Novels— Interview with Tim Reichert
Fuwanovel's YanYan interviews Tim Reichert, the developer of the horror visual novel Mycorrhiza, about what it's like composing VN music.
Instrumentalism, Masculinity, and Humanity in Dororo
Management: This essay is meant to be less of a review and more of analysis of the show being examined. It contains plot spoilers for the Dororo anime.…
VTuber Facial Expressions For Character Reference Sheet
Looking for VTuber facial expressions for your reference sheet? Well, this post is the GOAT collection of VTuber expressions
VTuber Eyes Examples For Character Reference Sheet
If you are an individual VTuber or an artist looking to create your VTuber model's eyes, you need some reference images. We've got a lot.
Saga of Tanya the Evil Episode 2 – The Salaryman Reference Revealed!
Saga of Tanya the Evil Episode 2: Tanya's original identity revealed! Plus, can you guess who Tanya went out of her way to make her enemy?
Boys Love Visual Novels You Need to Play
So if you consider yourself a fujoshi, fudanshi, or fujin, you do not want to miss out on these boys love visual novels!
How Can I Connect to You? Breaking out of toxic masculinity and capitalist ideologies in SARAZANMAI
Both Kazuki and Toi emerge from similar circumstances of capitalism, oppression, and the hypermasculine coping mechanisms they’ve been given to deal with the pain of that oppression. It…
Taiyo Matsumoto talks shop with one of his favorite artists, Fumiko Takano
This conversation was published December 2006, when the Tekkon Kinkreet movie came out in theaters and Matsumoto was in the early stages of Takemitsu Zamurai. The artist he’s talking…
Jasmine Bernhardt – Light Novels and Games Translator – Interviews With Localizers
Jasmine Bernhardt talks about her career in translating light novels and games, dealing with burnout, imposter syndrome, and writing.
Being a Better Man: The healthy masculinity of MY love STORY!!
Through its characters and their relationships, MY love STORY!! supports a vision of masculinity where boys and men can be openly emotional and not be shamed for it.
The Algorithmic Rise of Isekai Light Novels
Isekai light novels are here to stay, in part thanks to retailers' own systemic recommendations. Kim Morrissy explains how Amazon and other online stores help push sales.
Our Other Favorite Light Novels of 2020!
2020 might have not been a good year in many ways, but at least for light novels, it was a great year. The two might not be unrelated,…
Masculinity in Japan + S. Korea, and Josо̄
It’s been a long time since I’ve posted anything at all, and many years, in fact, since I’ve posted anything on gender. For those new to my blog,…
Jojo's BIzarre Masculinity Makeover: an Aesthetic Analysis
Men. Muscles. Melodrama. JoJo's Bizarre Adventure has it all and more. Sources Cited 1. JoJo’s Bizarre Wiki. (n.d.) https://jojo.fandom.com/wiki/JoJonium/Special_Interviews 2. Bensound.com. “Sexy.” Bensound.com/royalty-free-music 3. Avildsen, John G. Rocky. United Artists, 1976. 4.…
Free! – Iwatobi Swim Club, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, Mirai
Anibros Podcast Episode 28 – Giant Stack of His Entirety of His Anime Collection
Laven’s cousin is moving to Japan and has given us his anime collection to keep an eye on. We take inventory of everything…
Bakemonogatari (Light Novels)
In this review of the three Bakemonogatari light novel volumes, I discuss how the novels compare to the anime adaptation.
Every Reference in the Sailor Moon Cosmos OP
Takeuchi, what the Negaverse are you doing? What am I to make of this?
Crafting The Perfect VTuber Reference Sheet: A Guide
If you need a perfect VTuber model, you need to have a perfect VTuber reference sheet! Check out this comprehensive guide.
What is Obscure Anime? It’s About Reference Frames
Once again, I am writing thoughts from something that influenced some of my reactions to Sakura-Con. You know, like the 1970’s anime post I posted about last year.…
Doing His Best to Confess GN 1
Doing His Best to Confess while it does rely on characters of unusual cluelessness, also pairs it with an incredible earnestness that ends up making things cute rather…
Hired to Edit Yuri Visual Novels for Studio Élan!
A pretty short announcement: I am now the editor for Studio Élan’s visual novels! They are the good folks behind Heart of the Woods and Highway Blossoms. all…
Want to Practise Japanese through Light Novels? Read Otaria
“What light novels should I read if I’m learning Japanese?” is one of the questions I most frequently get asked, especially by people who are visiting Japan and…
Writing Prompt: Novels you’d like to see in anime.
This one comes up every so often in tag posts, but I wanted to answer it again, because why not? Once again, I’ve got my music, I’ve got…
EVERGREEN Yojiro Noda of RADWIMPS gets his hip hop groove on with kZm.
Be it soaring, soulful ballads, hard charging rock anthems, or straight hip hip bangers, RADWIMPS lead singer Yojiro Noda can seemingly do it all. This time around he’s…
With the Sheikh in His Harem Volume 8 Review
With the Sheikh in His Harem doesn't go for a grand finale, but if this was the given amount to work with, maybe it's better this way.
An Interview with Atsuro Shimoyashiro about his film “KIDOFUJI”
Atsuro Shimoyashiro kindly answered a lot of questions about his short film “Kidofuji” in English and Japanese. A drama and comedy, it conveys the atmosphere of the titular…
With the Sheikh in His Harem Volume 1 Review
Beyond the fast marriage, With the Sheikh in His Harem is closer to a standard shoujo school romance than an average women's romance novel.
With the Sheikh in His Harem Volume 5 Review
With the Sheikh in His Harem continues to handle a sheikh x commoner romance better than a lot of its Harlequin novel cousins do.
With the Sheikh in His Harem Volume 2 Review
It's hard to dislike With the Sheikh in His Harem, as it has a heroine doing more than just be the object of the male lead's affections.
Demon Slayer Surprises Everyone With His Hidden Overpowered Strength
Anime Recap of - Demon Slayer Swordsmith Village Arc ( Season 3 Episode 1 ) #animerecap #DemonSlayer