AniFem Spherical-Up
Immaturity and Impunity: Performative Masculinity in Baki the Grappler
With its hyper-swole dudes and strength-above-all storyline, Baki is an interesting examination of poisonous masculinity.
Love Him to Heal Him: Heterosexual wish-fulfillment in Mars and I Bought My Life For 10,000 Yen Per Yr
“Girl nurses emotionally wounded man” is a standard fantasy, however the way it’s executed–and the way the girl is handled–can range wildly primarily based on supposed viewers.
Chatty AF 202: Revolutionary Woman Utena Watchalong – Episodes 13-20
The watchalong dives into the Black Rose Saga, Anthy’s deepening characterization, and Wakaba’s devastating two-parter.
What bodily manga do you wish to see obtainable digitally?
Older titles are nonetheless falling by way of the cracks.
February 2024 Patron E-newsletter and Employees Suggestions
Information on what the staff’s been as much as and a few bonus manga recs.
Past AniFem
‘No tub for nearly a month’: Sexual minorities battle at shelters in Japan after quake (The Mainichi, Miyuki Fujisawa)
Some shelters have divided loos and baths into women and men.
On Feb. 16, Matsunaka and others compiled a request relating to help for sexual minorities in catastrophe areas, which they submitted to Ishikawa Gov. Hiroshi Hase. A part of it learn, “Along with the particular nature of the disaster-stricken areas and evacuation facilities, the folks involved and people round them within the Hokuriku-Noto area, the place human relations are very shut, are discovering it harder to talk up.” The governor responded, “We wish to take applicable measures.”
Azusa Yamashita, 40, an assistant professor at Hirosaki College in Aomori Prefecture acquainted with the wants of sexual minorities in occasions of disasters, commented, “Even with restricted sources, there are issues that may be achieved to deal with their varied issues.” These embody establishing occasions when baths and altering rooms can be utilized individually, and when there are a number of bathrooms obtainable, posting an indication on one among them saying that it may be utilized by “anybody” no matter gender.
Yamashita additionally identified, “There are additionally folks with particular person wants moreover sexual minorities, equivalent to folks with a caregiver of the other intercourse.”
Concerning gender points, there have been circumstances in previous earthquakes the place same-sex {couples} couldn’t enter evacuation facilities for worry that others would pry into their relationships. In 2016, Iwate Rainbow Community, which Yamashita presides over, compiled a “Rainbow Catastrophe Threat Discount and Administration Information” relating to the issues confronted by sexual minorities plus countermeasures, which it has launched on-line in Japanese and English.
Anime Producer Kouichirou Itou Faces New Accusations of Obscene Acts With a Minor for Cash (Anime Information Community, Anita Tai)
These prices are along with the preliminary accusations for which Itou was arrested.
Itou was first arrested in late February for allegedly soliciting a 15-year-old highschool woman residing in Nagano for nude photos of herself. Itou admitted to the cost, although in keeping with authorities he claimed that he had “achieved it with different folks, so (he couldn’t) inform if it was this woman or not.”
Itou allegedly paid the minor 12,500 yen (about US$83) in digital cash for the photograph or pictures in keeping with TBS Information. The outlet additionally acknowledged police discovered different movies and pictures on Itou’s laptop and are investigating them.
In response to the authorities, Itou requested the woman for the images in September 2021, with full information that the woman was a minor on the time. Police mentioned that Itou’s alleged crime was found as a part of a unique prostitution investigation. The police are investigating if there are different victims that had been concerned with Itou.
Japan’s large airline cabin crew costume codes get gender-neutral revamp (The Mainichi, Tadakazu Nakamura)
A number of different main airways even have variations of gender-neutral uniform guidelines.
ANA amended its rules in November 2023 to largely get rid of gender distinctions for hairstyles, make-up, nails and equipment. Beforehand prohibited, male make-up equivalent to basis, primer and lip gloss is now permitted. So long as the looks is clear, basis is suitable, as are nail colours inside specified limits. An ANA spokesperson defined, “We needed to reduce gender variations. We comprehensively assessed components equivalent to buyer notion and societal values by way of cleanliness. That is an period the place males’s make-up is changing into commonplace as a part of private grooming. For each women and men, make-up that compromises cleanliness will not be allowed.”
In response to the airline, suggestions from its male flight attendants has been optimistic, together with, “Making use of pure basis to hide pores and skin blemishes has brightened my impression and temper,” “Letting males select make-up could have a optimistic influence as our numbers enhance,” and, “This (coverage) is in tune with the occasions.”
The pants possibility for girls is, the truth is, a revival; ANA’s feminine flight attendants sported bell-bottoms from 1974 to 1979. An airline consultant mentioned, “It’s fascinating to supply choices that make it straightforward to work.” Suggestions has included, “They’re purposeful as it’s straightforward to maneuver in, particularly when squatting, sitting or stowing baggage,” “These are one thing I’d prefer to put on throughout flights to chilly areas or on long-haul routes,” and, “It permits for a private type.”
Anime to Watch on Funimation Earlier than They Disappear from Streaming (Anime Information Community)
A number of stone-cold classics are set to change into unavailable in lower than a month.
If there are two issues Kunihiko Ikuhara is understood for as an anime director, it’s being extremely obtuse, and shilling lesbians. Whereas Revolutionary Woman Utena stays his most iconic outing within the latter class, Yuri Kuma Arashi represents his most direct try at tackling the topic of queer romance. The sequence takes place in a world the place humanity has created an enormous wall to defend themselves from the specter of bears who’ve come from one other world and might disguise themselves as human ladies. A pair of bears named Ginko and Lulu infiltrate an all-girls academy for Ginko to reunite with a woman named Kureha who she met as a toddler, however Kureha hates bears and desires revenge on them for taking her “pal” Sumika away from her.
Whereas that premise looks like a mouthful, the precise plot of the present is fairly secondary to what it desires to convey. The idea of “schoolgirl lesbians” is one which’s been utilized in Japanese society to deal with attraction to different ladies as simply “a section”, and the present overtly tackles that notion. Most of the ladies inside Kureha’s faculty are fairly deep within the closet, and hiding their needs out of worry of exclusion for not following societal norms. Because the present goes alongside, it turns into more and more obvious that the menace these ladies worry from the bears is much less bodily, and extra in being open with their sexuality, and all the things that comes with it. It’s a messy story and one whose obtuse nature and barrage of visible metaphors require a number of viewings, but it surely’s extraordinarily compelling and serves as a shining instance of why Ikuhara has maintained such a robust fame as a director.
100 Porn Stars March Japan’s Streets Protesting New Regulation (Unseen Japan, Himari Semans)
In apply, a well-meant legislation has interfered with many grownup actors’ skill to work.
The legislation got here into impact in 2022 when Japan’s age of maturity shifted from 20 to 18. The objective was to intervene between underage ladies and predatory AV productions. It stipulated that filming can solely begin one month after a star indicators their contract. Moreover, an organization can’t launch movies till 4 months after manufacturing ends. Producers even have a authorized obligation to provide a duplicate of the contract to the signee.
Legislators supposed the legislation to guard girls from showing in AV with out understanding the total phrases. Particularly, it focused unscrupulous corporations who would coerce younger girls into showing in porn. A standard sample was forcing girls to signal a contract earlier than they learn it after which threatening authorized motion if the sufferer didn’t carry by way of on the phrases.
Nonetheless, the AV business’s actresses and producers say it’s inflicting extra hurt than good for working professionals who rely upon the business for his or her livelihoods. Protestors say that the months-long bans are too restrictive and violate their constitutional proper to work.
AV actress Yatsuhashi Saiko, 30, participated in final month’s march. She instructed reporters that when contemplating “freedom of speech and freedom of alternative in employment, the truth that these legal guidelines could be made arbitrarily is problematic.”
Japan overseas minister says girls’s involvement key to peace efforts (The Mainichi)
Kamikawa is the primary lady to change into Japan’s overseas minister in 20 years.
She additionally referred to as for pressing consideration to guard and supply reduction for girls and youngsters who’re in weak circumstances amid Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine and conflicts within the Center East.
Concerning help for Ukraine, Japan plans to concentrate on offering shelters and safety for victims of sexual assault, alongside academic help for youngsters, amongst different points, the minister mentioned.
“From the preliminary phases of humanitarian assist by way of the longer-term objectives of rebuilding folks’s lives, we’ll take the WPS method at each stage and promote concrete measures,” she mentioned.
When requested about her expertise with gender points on the diplomatic stage, Kamikawa recalled a Group of Seven assembly she attended final 12 months in New York. There, she famous that the eight overseas ministers, together with from the European Union, had been evenly break up between women and men, a growth that members welcomed.
“The feminine overseas ministers are all very articulate and have wealthy personalities,” she mentioned. “I additionally see many ladies in diplomatic delegations. I strongly really feel the necessity for extra energetic participation of girls.”
Oni Onsen BL Demo Evaluation – Creating Steam with a Hunky Harem of Oni (Blerdy Otome, Naja)
A hefty demo for the sport is at present obtainable.
The oni inform Mina they’re trapped within the onsen till they will get a member of the Hayashi household to provide them “love”, a sentiment they take actually. As a result of Mina is the individual operating the onsen, they mistake heras the inheritor to the Hayashi household, and instantly set their sights on wooing her. Mina will not be right here for any of that and units the oni to doing guide labor across the onsen.
To make issues even messier, the true inheritor to the Hayashi household, Asano arrives on the onsen together with his eyes set on revenge. His feeble makes an attempt to destroy the onsen fall flat, however appeal to the eye of the oni who discover the good-looking unhappy boy…cute? And they also got down to seduce him as an alternative…
I do know, it sounds bonkers. That is undoubtedly probably the most excessive recreation premises. Nevertheless it sort of works if you happen to don’t take it too critically. Simply sit again and benefit from the journey. Oni Onsen reads extra like a comedy packing in additional jokes to steadiness out a number of the darker parts. To name the connection between Asano and his former mentor, Sukuna icky is an understatement. However, with the playful anachronisms like feudal dick pics and sacred Brittney Spears posters, Mina’s IDGAF perspective, and Asano’s melodramatic emo soliloquies it’s straightforward to miss the “drama”.
Aku, contributes to a majority of the slapstick together with his weird mannerisms and hijinks (I imply he’s a chaos oni afterall). However, who might overlook Shudo the Kyoto oni with a Scottish accent or Nensu, the reformed baddie who has discovered faith of all issues… always spouting doctrine from a number of main and minor religions.
VIDEO: Depictions of Black womanhood in anime.
VIDEO: Miyazaki’s influence on the battle for honest wages for animators.
VIDEO: Berserk’s Guts and PTSD
AnIFem Neighborhood
Yeah, we had been all desirous about Fantagraphics slightly bit.
