When discussing how contemporary manga both reflects and contributes towards a growing awareness of disability in Japan, you are forced to carefully select what works you refer to support this argu…
Apr 23, 2022 • Subscribe
More like this
Which anime and manga handle depictions of mental illness well?
Which series focuses on a character’s mental health struggles and does it well? Is there a character whose struggles you’ve connected with, even when the depiction is uneven…
Cannibalism in Two Contemporary Japanese Novels
Futakuchi-Onna from Ehon Hyaku Monogatari (絵本百物語, “Picture Book of a Hundred Stories”) Like many other countries, Japan has its own body of folklore with cannibalistic monsters. Fo…
Famous Kitsune Characters in Anime and Manga
Kitsune characters, the legendary fox spirits of Japanese folklore, captivate anime fans with their charm, mystery, and emotional complexity. Representing both benevolence and mischief, these fox spirits are…
Inu X Boku Secret Service, InuYasha, Kamisama Kiss, Naruto, The Helpful Fox Senko-san
The Evaporated People in Contemporary Japanese Literature
Each year in Japan, thousands of people disappear. They haven’t been kidnapped. They haven’t been murdered. (Japan has one of the lowest murder rates in the world. An…
Writing Prompt: What are your thoughts on depictions of Western culture in anime?
Alright, let’s tackle another question that I think is a pretty good one. It’s been on the list for a while, so it’s about time I chose this…
Contemporary art in Japan: a roundup of weird, wonderful exhibits and installations
As world-famous art collective teamLab celebrates its 20th anniversary, we’re rounding some of our favourite Japanese art encounters.
Contemporary art in Japan: a roundup of weird, wonderful exhibits and installations
As world-famous art collective teamLab celebrates its 20th anniversary, we’re rounding some of our favourite Japanese art encounters.
Mega Moose #16 — The Importance of Coup Planning
About as long a reign as Truss. Impressions: Yawn. Dude tries to do a two-man coup which mainly consists of standing around pointing a gun at people…
Female Voices of Japan: Contemporary Film Directors & Screenwriters
Female-led films help challenge conventional portrayals of women on screen. These female film directors are taking the lead in Japan.
Tatami Room: The Heart Of Japan’s Contemporary Home
A luxury that only the wealthy could afford, a tatami room retains its exclusivity today, now treasured for its tradition and adaptability.
Tokyo Art Scene: An Anthology of Contemporary Art
From graphic design to contemporary art, here are three curated exhibitions to visit this month which features works by an array of artists.
The Roles of “Characters” in Mecha Anime
Sometimes, you’ll see a wild claim about mecha anime, like “Gurren-Lagann was the first giant robot series to be about characters instead of the robots,” and it inevitably…
Planning my First Live Stream!
Hi everyone! I am planning to do my First Live Stream. I did some testing and it looks okay. If you are interested in a live chat with…
Protected: [REVIEW] Intimate Disconnections: Divorce and the Romance of Independence in Contemporary Japan
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
Samurai Society: An Exploration of Japaneseness in post-war Jidaigeki and Contemporary Anime
One of the defining images of Japanese history and culture, is that of the samurai, warriors with a strict code of ethics, and a singular dedication to mastering…
Akiba Maid War and the Rare Representation of Disabled Joy
No amount of blood splattering across the screen or sudden, emotional character deaths hit me quite as hard as the post-credits scene of the finale. It took just…
Olympic Scandal: Musician Oyamada Keigo’s Horrific Abuse of Disabled Classmates
Highly disturbing elements of famed guitarist Cornelius' past have now come to light - and enveloped the Olympics in yet another scandal.
Magical Revolution #08 — The Importance of Planning a Coup
"I declare a coup!" is not a good plan. Impressions: At least a sucking chest wound is something that somewhat livens things up, even if it's obvious…
Queer time and the quarter-life crisis in contemporary yuri
Series that focus on queer adult characters open the door to a storytelling niche that’s still relatively underrepresented despite the rich narrative potential it offers: the post-adolescence queer…
13 Contemporary Fantasy Anime With Magic in a Modern World
There is magic in a good chunk of anime these days. While there is certainly some charm to enjoying fantasy anime set in a fantasy land filled with…
A Certain Magical Index, Blood Blockade Battlefront, Flying Witch, The Irregular at Magic High School, Witch Hunter Robin
Five of the Most Interesting Characters in Anime
Discussing five of the most interesting characters in all of anime.
Letter from the Editor: 2024 Planning
Hello, Everyone! It is a little early for this, but here are some of our plans going into 2024: EDITING OVERHAUL Remember back in July when I told you all that we…
Letter from the Editor: 2024 Planning
Hello, Everyone! It is a little early for this, but here are some of our plans going into 2024: EDITING OVERHAUL Remember back in July when I told…
Planning A Move To Greener Pastures
For a while now, even before I started blogging, I wanted to have my own domain for hosting AMV’s, short movies and other kinds of stuff. I had…
[AniFemTalk] Who are your favorite trans characters in anime and manga?
Who are your favorite explicitly trans characters? Has the answer changed over the years? Who are your favorite trans-coded characters? For trans readers, which characters helped you understand…
On Female Bonding and Bathing Culture in Contemporary Japanese Women’s Writing
“The Europeans are compelled to take [a] bath in order to clean off the filth… on the contrary, bathing of the Japanese is far beyond the simple object…
[Review/Analysis] Editorial Depictions & Sekaiichi Hatsukoi/Junjou Romantica
Source: Sekaiichi Hatsukoi, Chapter 2 By: Peggy Sue Wood | @pswediting Sekaiichi Hatsukoi (and it’s related series Junjou Romantica) has always been an interesting series to me because…
Junjo Romantica, Sekai Ichi Hatsukoi - The World's Greatest First Love
A Celebration of Black and POC Characters in Anime
A celebration and exploration of Black and POC characters that thrive within the anime landscape, from Jet Black to Michiko Malandro.
Matchmaking Party Promoted by Tokyo Rejects Disabled Man
Tokyo is doing its damnedest to get people to marry. But is it rushing forward at the expense of people with disabilities?
The Day I Became a God and the mistreatment of disabled people
The Day I Became a God, while not featuring representation of a specific, real-world disability, features a lot of insidious ableism in its last few episodes. This final…
A New Grendizer is in the Works? Dynamic Planning Announces “Project G”
There has been a steady resurgence of Super Robot properties in the last several years. From Mazinger Z INFINITY to last year’s anime adaptation of Getter Robo Arc…
Day 3 of Otakutober: Mostly Ghostly! Ghost Characters in Anime
Hello and welcome back to 13 Days of Otakutober! I hope you all have been enjoying our haunting content (and are prepared for so much more). Today we’re…
[Review/Analysis] Editorial Depictions & Sekaiichi Hatsukoi/Junjou Romantica
Source: Sekaiichi Hatsukoi, Chapter 2 By: Peggy Sue Wood | @pswediting Sekaiichi Hatsukoi (and it’s related series Junjou Romantica) has always been an interesting series to me because of the...
Junjo Romantica, Sekai Ichi Hatsukoi - The World's Greatest First Love
Around the World in 36 Characters
Plus: retro ads and global animation news.
Best Anime Characters of 2022
BEST MALE CHARACTER Bojji (Ranking of Kings) In a massively oversaturated field of boy adventurers and princes with great destinies, it’s easy for a hero to get lost…
Best Anime Characters of 2019
BEST MALE CHARACTER Wataya Arata (Chihayafuru Season 3) I’ve always liked Arata since the original Chihayafuru, but it’s in Season 3 that he’s really won me over. As…
Best Anime Characters of 2020
BEST MALE CHARACTER Sorano Appare (Appare-Ranman!) Having the protagonist of a racing anime be a serendipitous inventor makes for an interesting dynamic. Appare chafes against the cultural norms…
Best Anime Characters of 2022
BEST MALE CHARACTER Pluto (Pluto) In a series full of excellent characters who are each a master class in storytelling, the one who stands out to me the…
Best Anime Characters of 2023
BEST MALE CHARACTER Pluto (Pluto) In a series full of excellent characters who are each a master class in storytelling, the one who stands out to me the…
Best Anime Characters of 2021
BEST MALE CHARACTER Ikari Shinji (Evangelion 3.0+1.01: Thrice Upon a Time) For as many strong and unique characters as there were this year, there’s really only one right…
Tokyo Marathon 2025 To Include Nonbinary and Disabled People
The Tokyo Marathon, saying it wants to be the most inclusive race in the world, is adding nonbinary and Duo categories this year.
Sailor Moon Musical: Nelke Planning 30th Anniversary Exhibition
Nelke Planning is a stage musical production company that has been fundamental in reviving most...
Gundam A Project Planning Document (09/28/1998)
Gundam A Project was an early codename for Turn A Gundam used during planning and pre-production (the pipeline was Ring of Gundam -> Gundam A Project -> Turn…
Bad Characters and BAD Characters
Just because an anime character is bad doesn't mean that they're BAD!
Manga awards multiply in age of digital manga
Plus: Japanese printing giant diversifies into anime; Last year's highest-grossing anime film; Aniplex boss foresees more industry consolidation; and more
Day 7 of Niji Nights: Representation! Characters of Color in Anime Part 4
Welcome back, to yet another night of Niji Nights! We’re bringing in another year of Characters of Color in celebration of Juneteenth. There’s nothing more that I love…
Akudama Drive, Bleach, Children of the Whales, Stars Align, Kuroko's Basketball
Day 5 of Niji Nights: Queer Characters in Anime Part 4
Welcome back, it’s another day of Niji Nights! This is a great place to highlight some of the greatest Queer characters in Anime! And just like the term,…
Niji Nights Day 7: Characters of Color in Anime Part 5
Welcome to the last night of Niji Nights 2024 our PRIDE event here on We be Bloggin’! There’s no time like the present to appreciate when creators add…
Day 5 of Niji Nights: Queer Characters in Anime Part 3
Hey all! Welcome to another day of Niji nights! I’m here bringing the 3rd year of Queer characters here is another 5 to our roster! If this interested…