Modern Josei

Josei or 女性 in Japanese, means Woman. And that's exactly what ModernJosei is concerned with, the modern woman looking for anime to watch and manga to read. Reviews, recommendations, advice and more! You can find all your otaku indulgences right here.

[modernjosei]

Your website rocks! Thank you! I was in desperate need of suggestions. And your website was an amazing source. It even made me want to watch stories I'd only glazed over. So, thanks for your work! Mirentxu.

Thank you for the kind words! I’m glad I helped you find some anime/manga you could enjoy :)

[modernjosei]

Josei Anime Movie Review: Only Yesterday

Genre: Josei, drama, romance, slice-of-life

A little while ago I had the chance to see a Studio Ghibli movie that never had an official release in North America. For its 25 year anniversary they brought it over to America, which included screenings in Canada (woot!). Of course I had to see it opening night, and I wanted to share my thoughts. Just for reference, I saw the subtitled version, although I’m positive the dub is well done as well.

Why it’s Incredibly Important

I think it’s amazing to see how anime as an entertainment platform has grown in North America. For having such a large focus on Japanese culture, I’m glad that they decided that this story was worth sharing in the west. Only Yesterday (Omoide Poro Poro) is a quiet tale with endearing elements. It’s not the show stopping Princess Mononoke or the acclaimed Spirited Away... it has its own charms that make it worth the attention it only received recently from North American audiences.

Traditional Japanese culture is at the forefront of this film. It highlights Japanese life from the 1960′s to the ‘90s, and gives western audiences an insight into that vastly different lifestyle and culture.

It tells an honest story. Only Yesterday doesn’t rely on wild antics or dramatic plot points, it understands the virtues of one’s life story, and that uniquely beautiful memories are at the core of our lives, shaping us every day.

It’s spectacularly a josei story at heart. This is huge! Josei audiences make up a large portion of anime viewers, and putting a josei movie on the big screen is helping to build legitimacy for the genre. The more josei we watch, the more we’ll get in the years to come. I’m so happy to have supported the genre through this medium!

Summary

Taeko is a single working woman who enjoys the countryside, and simpler living. Every summer she works in the fields, trading her mundane office work in Tokyo for a refreshing summer full of hard physical labour. This summer however appears to be a little different, as she realizes she’s getting older (she’s 27) and is still single/unmarried. With pressure from her family waning over her, she recalls a simpler time from when she was in fifth grade, in 1966. As she travels to Yamagata to work, she remembers childhood memories that shaped her into the woman she is today.

Taeko’s humble journey through memories helps her to make decisions over the course of the movie, and brings to light what she really wants out of life.

The Story

It understands the nuances of childhood nostalgia. I think to a certain degree we all want to relive the simplicity and easygoing nature of our childhood, but unfortunately reality has other plans. Depending on where we are in life, our childhood memories can play a huge part in understanding where we came from, and why we are the way we are today. Only Yesterday takes this idea and creates a movie out of it, and it’s something that’s incredibly relatable, no matter your age.

It appreciates the small details. From the quiet moments we experience in self reflection, to funny family interactions, Only Yesterday perfectly encapsulates those quirky moments that define day-to-day life.

It’s a story we all share. I love how Isao Takahata (writer/director) tells a story that’s incredibly human. A story doesn’t need to be complicated, littered with all sorts of conflicts in order to be great. At its core Only Yesterday understands that movies over dramatize the every day, and that a story can be beautiful through its own true-to-life merits.

The Presentation

Only Yesterday is visually breathtaking. As you would expect from Studio Ghibli, this movie is beautiful from start to finish. The backdrops for each scene are incredibly detailed, and all the countryside scenes were an absolute marvel to watch. Those scenes perfectly captured the still beauty of Japan’s quieter towns, the small details were all there, and it had some of the most beautifully animated settings I’ve ever seen.

Japan like I’ve never seen it before. The incredibly honest approach this movie takes it also displayed through its visuals. I have seen animated settings of Japan’s countryside, but for the first time I found it incredibly similar to the countryside of southern Canada. I loved how fresh, interesting, and nostalgic this movies visuals were.

The music was superb, but the quiet moments were perfect. Only Yesterday masters the art of silence. It is in the quiet moments of the movie that I found myself enthralled. Takahata’s direction made the story at the center of this beautiful movie, and through incredibly timed soundtracks that cut to utter silence, the movie highlights the beauty in the quiet details that define our life.

Final Thoughts

A refreshing watch, uniquely honest and fascinating. This story is in many ways, something we can all relate to. It goes at the pace of real life, and makes the choice of slowly revealing the inner workings of the main character Taeko. It’s through her childhood memories that we see her true personality, and how it mirrors the humble woman she’s become. In many ways we don’t have major personality changes over our lifetime, and our inner child remains the honest voice within us. Taeko is a true embodiment of that, and through understanding her past she comes to know the woman she is today.

Simple and subtle; a different way of telling a story. I loved how subtle the humour was in Only Yesterday, I loved how relaxing the pace was, and I loved how I’d never seen a movie like it before. The two hour timespan kept me interested from start to finish, and it made me interested to see where Taeko’s journey would take her next.

Only Yesterday receives an 8.5 out 10. To summarize my points from above, the original yet relatable story, the stunning visuals, the incredibly honest direction... they all make this movie a worthwhile watch. I highly recommend this movie for josei enthusiasts, and anyone looking for something incredibly unique in their anime library.

I hope you enjoyed my review! Have you seen Only Yesterday? Let me know your thoughts!

[modernjosei]

do you have any recommendations for manga/anime that features a relationship like momo/sumire in tramps like us? So like age gap, caring, somewhat dominant partner, interesting power dynamics and domestic fluff? Thanks!

I’ve always got recommendations :) Thanks for sending in your question.

First there’s Itadakimasu. I did a review on it a little while back. It’s a love story between two characters with a large age gap. It tackles the question of an older woman with a much younger man. It’s a cute story, worth checking out.

There’s also Anata ni Hana o Sasagemashou which includes supernatural elements. The romantic interest is not younger, but his personality is quite immature and needy. He deals with a family curse, and only Seri (the female lead) can save him. She takes on a mature role, making this dynamic similar to one you’d see with an older woman/younger man.

Lastly I’ve been reading Kyou wa Kaisha Yasumimasu, which follows the soltera-type woman who falls for her younger colleague. Soltera is a Spanish word that means single, unmarried and the type of woman who prefers to be alone. It’s got a nice pace to it, and definitely falls into this category.

I hope those recommendations suffice! They’re all mangas I’ve enjoyed. I hope you enjoy them too :)

[modernjosei]

Horror Profile: Junji Ito, Horror Manga Master

Born: July 31st 1963 in the Gifu Prefecture of Japan.

Married to:  Ishiguro Ayako (painter and manga artist).

Notable Wicked Works: Tomie, Gyo, and Uzumaki (all of which have theatrical releases).

Inspirational Influences: Kazuo Umezu, Hideshi Hino, , and Shinichi Furuka.

Favourite Novelists: Yasutaka Tsutsui and H.P. Lovecraft.

He Fears: Ghosts.

Beastly Beginnings: Ito was drawing by age five, and already had the knack for horror, even at such an early age. He drew mostly horror manga, but also enjoyed creating gag manga as well. The first manga he ever read was given to him by his older sister, and was written by the macabre mangaka, Kazuo Umezu. From there he worked on his passion in his spare time, and began taking it seriously while working as a dental technician. As his work was often stressful and demanding, he put more effort into doing his passion, horror manga, full time.

First Frightening Publications: In 1987 while the magazine Gekkan Halloween was relatively new he submitted his first published work titled Tomie hoping to win the coveted Umezu Award (titled after his favourite mangaka, and horror master, Kazuo Umezu). That year no winner was declared, so he shared the award with the other published candidates. He serialized Tomie as a series in Gekkan Halloween, and continued to produce manga for them, as well as other magazines such as Shougakukan's Big Comic Spirits Weekly and Nemurenu Yoru no Kimyo na Hanashi (Strange Tales of Sleepless Nights).

How He Writes: Before he begins the writing process he draws inspiration from daily life. He picks out the peculiarities he comes across and exaggerates them. If he creates something interesting he will run with it, and add the horror later on. Occasionally he’ll draw inspiration from a frightening dream. Once the concept is created he draws up the plot. He tries not to plot out the whole story from the beginning, but rather creates ideas that grow with time. He’s admitted that he doesn’t enjoy coming of age stories, so he tries to avoid anything that is too drama oriented.

How He Draws: Ito loves to draw extremes, whether it be extreme beauty or extreme ugliness. He doesn’t consider what will scare the reader, but rather takes enjoyment from the process and creates something he likes. With time his drawings become more and more complex until there are finished, becoming horrifying masterpieces. He doesn’t want to create work that is “fashionable” or “trendy”, so he purposely uses a style that is rough looking. Fun Fact! While Ito was still an amateur his mother and sister helped him by shading his work. His mother still helps him, along with his wife.

His Advice for Working Mangakas: “Keep your own point of view, but always welcome advice from others.”

His Inspiration for Uzumaki: It came to be through the idea of a tall tower where strange occurrences would happen to its residents. He figured he could make the tower even taller if it was in a spiral. Ito believes that spirals are symbolic of infinity. The different stages of the spiral were directly inspired by the mysterious novels of Lovecraft.

His Inspiration for Tomie: Ito was inspired by the idea of regeneration, specifically the phenomenon of lizards regenerating their tails. The story evolved into a person returning to life like nothing ever happened.

His Inspiration for Gyo: Ito took direct inspiration from Spielberg’s Jaws. He loved how the essence of fear was captured through a man-eating shark, so he evolved it into a man-eating shark who could travel not only in the sea, but also on land.

Where is He Now? Ito continues to create manga, but has since branched out, working with video game companies, as well as creating gag manga for fun side projects. In 2008 he published Junji Ito’s Cat Diary: Yon & Mu, a tale about living with two peculiar cats. More recently he was also working alongside Hideo Kojima and Guillermo del Toro on the video game reboot of Silent Hills (which has since been canceled). As well as Konami, Ito also collaborated with Nintedo last year for their Kowapoke feature on the Pokemon website.

My Thoughts on His Work

I stumbled across Uzumaki years ago, and was instantly entranced by the spiral. His work is unparalleled, being incredibly detailed and morbidly creative. He captures the Japanese horror genre perfectly by being so off-the-wall and bizarre. He creates an amazingly tense atmosphere through a slowly progressing story that climaxes with a grotesque and horrifying conclusion. Every October I find myself drifting to his work, mostly reading short stories from his Kyoufu Collection. If you’re a lover of horror, you can’t afford to miss his work, it’s just too good.

Sources

http://fuckyeahjunjiito.tumblr.com/post/55163529496/the-junji-ito-interview-a-conversation-with-the https://nostroblogs.wordpress.com/2015/02/11/junji-ito-entretien-avec-un-maitre-de-lhorreur/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHmE-u5LR2o http://www.78magazine.com/issues/03-01/arts/junji.shtml

[modernjosei]

Anime & Manga to Prepare You for the New School Year

The sad truth is, summer’s over. That means it’s time to hit the books! So what better way to inspire yourself towards a studious school year than to watch and read some invigorating school life series? Here’s a list of some of the best school-oriented anime for young adults. They cover all the awkward first days so you don’t have to feel so bad about yours.

Honey and Clover

So maybe you’re not quite a freshman, but not quite graduated yet either. Perhaps you struggle with difficult roommates. Or maybe you struggle making it on time to class. Either way, at least you’re not falling for a girl who looks a quarter your age... right? That’s basically Honey and Clover in a nutshell, and it’s as odd and wonderful as you may be guessing. It deals with unrequited love, difficult friendships, and finding purpose; many quintessential aspects of any young adult’s life. If you’re looking for something to watch in between your classes definitely check this one out. It’s a relaxing watch that’ll deliver a few giggles.

Genshiken Nidaime

If you’re a freshman in college you better find that one anime club to join. And then you must join it because this anime will essentially become your life. What’s better than meeting people with like-minded interests? This series follows the story of an otaku club in university, and depicts the ideal otaku lifestyle of young adult women (with a couple of transgenders and men thrown in for good measure). It’s a fun watch, and definitely inspires us all to be a little more nerdy. And if you’re not satisfied with just Genshiken Nidaime then check out its prequel, simply titled Genshiken.

Nodame Cantabile

So maybe you’re going to an arts school instead, and there’s no anime otaku fan club. Why not instead find a super-talented prodigy senpai like Nodame in this adorable musical anime? Nodame Cantabile reminds us of the fun-loving aspects of band practice along with the ups and downs of the university lifestyle. From teachers who party like students, to all those crazy drinking benders with your friends, this anime is a great watch to get you excited for hitting the music sheets.

Golden Time

Perhaps you’re leaving your high school sweetheart behind, and maybe you’re not too happy about it. Golden Time will remind you how nice it is to find new love if you’re getting down in the dumps about it. A new school year means new adventures, new people to meet, and new love to be found. And if your school life isn’t giving you enough drama, this show will satiate your drama needs. While being funny and heartfelt, this anime is a great watch for the romantic as well as the dramatic.

[modernjosei]

Josei Profile: Ogawa Yayoi

Known for Tramps like Us, Kiss & Never Cry, and Ginban Knight.

Born: December 1st, (year unknown) in the Kanagawa Prefecture of Kantō Japan.

Interests: Writing, drawing, figure skating and blogging.

Married to: Shinji Asano (artist, painter).

Inspirational Influences: Year 24 Group, Moto Hagio, and her husband.

Her Aspirations: Ogawa grew up alongside her elder sister, who was nine years her senior. At a young age she saw her working for the infamous Moto Hagio as an assistant. Seeing this was difficult for Ogawa, and deterred her from pursuing her own dreams of being a mangaka. She heard how difficult the life of a mangaka was, and decided to pursue something more realistic.

Her Education and Career: She studied at the Tama Art University of Tokyo, Japan. After graduating she began working for the national newspaper, the Yomiuri Shimbun as a reporter. She worked with them until 1998. 

New Beginnings: During her time at the newspaper she worked a night shift, which became increasingly difficult when her husband made his debut as an artist. Inspired by her husband’s accomplishments, she decided she wanted to work for herself, and began entering contests with her own manga submissions.

Her Early Work: In 1994 she won the first-manga award Mimi & Kiss from Kodansha. This spawned her debut work, Kiss the Unpainted the Face also published in 1994. Once she left the Yamiuri Shimbun she published another work Baby Pop in 1998. That year she began working as a mangaka full-time and has created many notable series since. 

Critical Success: Ogawa’s most popular series, Kimi Wa Petto, not only received an award from Kodansha in 2003 in the Josei category (tying for first place alongside Chika Umino’s Honey and Clover), but was also reimagined for a theatrical release in South Korea in 2011, as well as for a TV drama in Japan in 2003.   

Her Work Schedule: For her bi-weekly serials she drafts the story at home for the first week, then works on the animation at her workplace with the help of her assistants the following week.

Her Advice for Drawing: Her backgrounds are inspired directly from photos she takes. This makes them more realistic and accurate.

Her Personal Life: Ogawa appears to travel a lot, going to countries like South Korea and France, which she documents in her personal blogs. She notes that this was made possible when she decided to work independently, leaving the Yamiuri Shimbun. She also frequents art galleries, which is likely due to her having a painter husband. She will occasionally hold meet and greets in Japan, and continues to work on her manga throughout the year.

Her Health: She broke her right wrist in July of 2013 which caused a small hiatus in her work. But as of late 2013, she went through surgery and was back to work shortly afterwards.

Her Interests: Art galleries, traveling, food, the Silent Hill series and shoes (according to her blog posts).

Where is She Now? She is currently working on Ginban Knight which is serialized in the magazine Kiss by Kodansha. It is now on its sixth volume and is ongoing.  She also blogs infrequently on her own personal pages, (links here and here).

Notable Works 

Baby Pop (1998) 2 Volumes  Kimi wa Petto/Tramps like Us (2000) 14 Volumes Baroque (2005) 6 Volumes Kiss & Never Cry (2006) 11 Volumes Ginban Kishi/Ginban Knight (2012) 6 Volumes ~ Ongoing

My Personal Thoughts on Ogawa's Work

Ogawa’s work is mature, unconventional and honest. She draws from different scenarios, making for interesting dynamics among varying ages, classes etc. She’s not afraid to get her hands a little dirty, and it makes for more engaging reading that resonates with older audiences. Her art style reflects this, as her characters have drastic contrasts in style; their hair styles, dress and overall design makes them stand out amongst one another. She might not be the most prolific josei manga artist, but she definitely has note-worthy works that deserve to be looked at. Tramps like Us is one of my favourite manga series of all time, and I’ve admired her work ever since I stumbled across it years ago. Check out her work. You won’t be disappointed.  

Sources

http://wol.nikkeibp.co.jp/as/cfl/0710/ http://ogawayayoi-ehsblog.blogspot.jp/ http://www.linkclub.or.jp/~asasin/archive.html

[modernjosei]

Hi! I am writing to you because I am a HUGE Nana fan and while browsing the Ai Yazawa tag I saw your profile on the author. I noticed you included that Nana resumed from the 5 year hiatus from May through September of 2014, I live in Los Angeles and find it very hard to hear any news regarding this subject and was wondering if you had any scans or any sources about the newest manga pages. I would appreciate this more than words can say, thank you ❤️!

I apologize for the very late answer. I hope it may still be relevant. I recently had to re-dig into the news I had found regarding Yazawa sensei’s resurfacing. She had done some small works called Junko’s room for the magazine Cookie, for a few issues. That was back in 2014. I had found a Tumblr page by Takrai-tama that contained all of these issues scanned and translated… but it is offline O_o. So more digging!Some of what I found is reblog’s of Takrai-tama’s old posts. One is here. And another here. This is not a completed set sadly. But it was the best the internet had to offer for me. Maybe you can do a little more searching and see what you come up with?The initial post I found had news as well as links. If you want to see more about the news, or somewhere you can go to find some guidance, check that post as well.I hope this helps, and that this reply isn’t too too late! Take care :)

[modernjosei]

How Japanese Entertainment Promotes Healthy Relationships

Even though Valentine's day has passed, I'm still in that lovey-dovey mood as I've been thinking a lot about how love is represented in anime and manga. Japanese culture approaches relationships in a different way that most Western audiences might not be accustomed to. Confessions, sex, sexual orientation and power dynamics are all quite different from what we are used to in North America, and I love how Japan has a refreshing take on the whole thing. Japanese culture has allowed me to enter into a different mindset, one that isn't bogged down by the insecurities and problems that North Americans might have with relationship customs. Today I want to look at why Japan gets relationships right, and how Western audiences can take a note from Japan; maybe even opening their minds to look at love in a refreshing way.

Sexual Orientation is Not an Issue

This is first on my list, and is arguably the most important one of them all. It's just a fact that sexual orientation in Western society is a touchy subject. In Canada there are a lot more freedoms for exploring your sexuality, but if you live down south (the United States) it's still very difficult to have a normal life because homosexuality is so condemned. It's foolish to hate on people for who they love, and what's great about Japanese entertainment is that it doesn't stigmatize homosexuality in the slightest. A great example of demonstrating the two different mindsets is through the way Sailor Moon was localized for Western audiences. Zoesite is a gay man in the Japanese original, but is made to be a woman in the dub for North America. Sailor Neptune and Uranus are a lesbian couple, but are demeaned to being merely cousins in the localization. North Americans are afraid to even broach the subject so we tuck it away instead.

Many animes/mangas also have characters exploring their sexuality through cross-dressing, relationships/friendships, and many other ways that Western entertainment is afraid to approach. Japan opens up the conversation and doesn't shy away from showing homosexual relationships to their audiences so why are we so afraid here? I realize that we're getting better every day, but Japan has us beat by about 50 years or so. It's time to catch up!

Harems/Reverse Harems

All right, this may come off as a little strange, but hear me out. Why are harems/reverse harems a good thing? My opinion is that it empowers those watching, and shows many facets of all types of relationships in one go. Sometimes what you're reading/watching can be a simple guilty pleasure, and why not really go all out? Why bother boxing in a character when they can explore themselves through many relationships? We're so bent on monogamy that we're afraid of other relationship dynamics out there. I'm not saying monogamy is a bad thing, but polygamy isn't necessarily a bad thing either. It's fun to explore the idea of relationships with multiple people, and it's great fun to live it vicariously through an anime or manga, or even a dating sim. It's fun to be the center of attention, and Japan gets it right by exploring a taboo that Western audiences aren't accustomed to.

Girls Confess, Boys Confess

Have you ever liked a boy/girl and waited forever for them to make a move on you? Why does it even have to be that way? Why not make the move yourself? Western culture often promotes the idea that the man make the first move, but in turn it makes women afraid to approach men as they are subject to social criticism. Although we're breaking free of that idea it continues to persist despite our best efforts. In Japan, confessions are a cute way of telling someone you like them, and it's not partial to men or women. It's often seen in anime and manga, and exists as a cliche within those mediums. Anyone can declare their love, and anyone can be the instigator for a relationship. Japan promotes equal opportunity this way, and it's great that so many animes and mangas encourage girls to not wait around. Sometimes to make relationships happen you have to do it yourself, and we ought to encourage young girls to do the same in Western culture.

Sex is Not a Touchy Subject

Has your parent ever given you "the talk"? Have you ever had a sex ed class? We all went through that awkward teenage phase, and luckily I survived it (I hope you did too, god it was awkward). The funny thing is that in Japan the age of consent is surprisingly low, at 13, whereas Canada is 16. I'm not arguing whether this law is a good thing or not, but it definitely changes the way sex is portrayed in anime and manga. Christian traditions continue to shape Western mindsets, and often times we believe that you have to wait for the right person before you give away your virginity. In Japan virginity is not such a highly held virtue, and teenagers engage in it without feeling guilt. Japan also has one of the lowest teen pregnancy rates, so they're doing something right here. I'm not ready to argue how Japan keeps their rates low, as it would take a plethora of research to begin approaching the subject. What I am saying is that by taking  stigmas away from sex, they open up young people to engage and practice safe sex without social condemnation. Rather than pointing the finger at young people for engaging in sex, let's point the finger at some textbooks so they can learn how to protect themselves. It's great that Japan has never taken a stance on shaming sex, and it's about time we do the same.

Thanks for Reading!

What do you think about relationships in Japanese culture? Do you think I'm on the money here or am I missing something? I realize that taboos and stigmas surrounding relationships are constantly evolving and becoming better, and it's great that we've come such a long way over the years. Lately we've been opening up more and more, and making touchy subjects a thing of the past. It's time to look forward, and make opportunities more accessible, and the first way to do that is to break down the walls of tradition. Here's hoping Japanese culture has an influence on Western audiences, and opens up the dialogue even more.

[modernjosei]

I wonder, why isnt there many josei manga or anime? I am too old to be watching high schoolers romance lol :( Maybe i should just watch jdramas :)

It is quite lame! I totally agree. Some high school romances tackle mature problems, but more often than not they can be a little shallow. Consider checking out my list of seinen titles that a josei fan can enjoy. Most of them are not about high school and are appealing for josei fans. Other great seinen titles you could consider are Golden Time, Servant x Service, and Mushishi. Don't limit yourself to just josei titles as it can be disappointing.

[modernjosei]

Beat the Valentine's Day Blues, A Josei Guide

So this is the first Valentine's Day in a while that I'm single, and what better way to spend it than with some guilty pleasures? You don't have to be taken to enjoy Valentine's Day, and here are some reasons why!

Binan Kōkō Chikyū Bōei-bu Love!

This anime is all about love! Spreading love, and helping those who need it most! Maybe you'll need it this Valentine's Day. Let the boys from the Earth Defense Club warm your heart with their over-the-top antics and hilarious banter. It's one of my favourite animes this season, and it's one I'll definitely be enjoying this Valentine's Day.

K-ON!

Who says you need men anyway? Why not enjoy an anime that's women-centric and adorable to boot! This easy-going anime is a lot of fun for a light watch, and will have you wanting your own all-women band. There's not a single guy in sight in this anime, and why would you need them anyway? These girls do just fine on their own!

TokiMeki Memorial Girl's Side Series

I can't have a guilty pleasure list without putting these games on here. Whether you're taken or not, there's something highly addicting about these games. The Japanese know exactly how to rope you in with a dating sim that's full of charm and fan service. There are fan translations that exist for the first, second and third games (I've linked them for you). So check them out if you're looking for something fun to play this Valentine's Day.

Ouran High School Host Club

Another fantastic series of the fan servicey kind, Ouran is hilarious and will keep you smiling all day long this Valentine's Day. Each character has their own weird quirks that make fun of the ideal guy types that exist in Japanese culture. They poke fun at the fleeting feelings that come along with superficial love, while also offering a deeper perspective on high school life. There's nothing weirder in Japan than the host industry, and this can give you some insight into what it means to buy love. This series is also on Netflix, so it's an easy watch if you're looking for something accessible!

Choyaku HyakuninIsshu: Uta Koi

Who knows love better than traditional Japanese poets? If you're feeling unlucky in love this series can revitalize your senses and help you remember what true romantic love looks like. While taking some liberties, Uta Koi remembers what is at the heart of romance. Each episode tells a new story, so you can enjoy some Japanese history while getting a dose of love!

I hope you all have a wonderful Valentine's Day! Whether you're with someone special or not, this day is all about love! Love for your friends, family, and for anime! I love all of you guys for continuing to support my blog! Your wonderful comments keep me motivated, and I'm lucky to have such a loving community of anime fans :) I hope I can send some love back your way!

[modernjosei]

Hey there!!! Im so glad i found your blog!!! Im reading nana right now and i was freaking out about the whole hiatus thing :( This manga is brilliant oh my god I'm obsessed and frustrated at the same time... Its just so confusing !!! Also thanks for the josei list :) i was trying to find a new story lol By the way, your blog is awesome!!!

Thank you for the kind words :) I'm glad you're enjoying my blog. It's too bad that NANA went on hiatus, but Yazawa-sensei has many great series that you should check out if you like her work.

[modernjosei]

You haven't posted anything these past 2 weeks. Are you watching or reading anything?

Well, I've been going through a lot of personal garbage unfortunately. It's pretty much dragged everything down, but something that's helped me through is anime! ^_^ I'm planning on doing a post on mid-season thoughts soon, so I can list the anime I'm currently watching as a teaser: Binan Kōkō Chikyū Bōei-bu Love!, Death Parade, Akatsuki no Yona, Parasyte, Tokyo Ghoul Root A, Sailor Moon Crystal, Shirobako and Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso. I must admit that Binan is definitely my guilty pleasure, and it's surprisingly hilarious. I definitely recommend it if you want a good laugh!

[modernjosei]

Josei Profile: Ai Yazawa

Born: March 7th, 1967 in the Hyogo Prefecture of Osaka Japan.

Interests: Piano, fashion, manga.

Favourite Books: Bonjour Tristesse by Francoise Sagan, Eien No Ko (The Eternal Child) by Arata Tendo.

Favourite Movies: Gattaca, Death in Venice, Velvet Goldmine.

Inspirational Influences: Ryo Ikuemi, Satosumi Takaguchi, Taku Tsumugi.

Her Aspirations: She studied piano when she was younger, leading her to aspire to be in a band (potentially her inspiration for the creation of the Black Stones in NANA). She also wanted to be a fashion designer, but ultimately decided that she had a future in creating manga.

Her First Publications: She drew her first manga when she was 13. Her first official publication however, was not much later. She had her first published manga in the magazine Ribon when she was 18, (published in the spring issue of 1985). The manga was titled Ano Natsu. Her first commercial success was with 15-Nenme, a shoujo series that involved the love life of Hitomi with her teacher. Gokinjo Monogatari, published in 1995, was her first manga to be produced into an anime. The anime aired for a year starting in September of 1995. This series is a prequel to the events of Paradise Kiss.

Favourite Character from NANA: Takumi. She believes that he feels a lot like a real guy, (involving his motivations etc). Her second favourite is Shin.

Her Inspiration for NANA: She wanted to create a story that everyone could relate to. She has many characters that explore all facets of emotions so that she can reach the widest audience.

Her Reason for Creating Two Nana's: She came up with the idea of having two women with the same name, but completely different personalities. She believes most women relate to Hachi (Nana Komatsu), and most admire Nana Osaki.

Her Work Schedule: While working on NANA she was averaging 3 hours of sleep a night. She says she would get 6 hours on a good day.

How She Writes: Yazawa believes people carry contradictory feelings within themselves. The characters are the foundation of her writing. Their actions change and mold the story through their motivations that stem from their personalities. She admitted that even she's surprised at where the story takes her because of this.

Her Advice for Writing: Create characters with standout features (physical style, personality etc.) so that they remain etched in the reader's minds.

Her Health: In 2009 NANA was put on hiatus due to personal illness. Her illness was never made public, and she remained off the radar for many years to follow.

Where is She Now? In May of 2014 Japanese magazine, Cookie, featured a small comic of Junko's room. It was the first time a NANA comic had been published in over 4 years. The manga continued until September of 2014, when it was put back on hiatus.

Notable Works: 15 Nenme (1986) 1 Volume, Ballad Made Soba ni Ite (1989) 2 Volumes, Marine Blue no Kaze ni Dakarete (1989) 4 Volumes, Tenshi Nanka Ja Nai (1991) 8 Volumes, Gokinjo Monogatari (1995) 7 Volumes, Paradise Kiss (1999) 5 Volumes, NANA (2000) 21 Volumes.

My Personal Thoughts on Yazawa's Work

She has a brilliance that cannot be surpassed. Her characters are some of the most real, most dynamic characters that I have ever encountered. Her stories are honest and don't dance around issues, instead they tackle them head on. They represent reality for what it is, a difficult struggle. My personal favourite work of hers is Paradise Kiss, as it tells an honest love story, as well as a coming of age story. Yukari is a relatable girl, but gives strength to those who might not know what to do when life and love gets difficult. I'm saddened by the hiatus of NANA, but its story is still worth looking into despite it being incomplete. Where the manga is many volumes long, the anime finishes the story at just the right moment (if you want a story with decent closure). Her work is admired by many, and as an aspiring writer I look up to her writing finesse. I hope her illness subsides, and that she lives a healthy life.

Sources

http://www.damagedsoul.net/nana/yazawa/yazawa.html, http://nana-nana.net/news51.html, http://aiy.wikia.com/wiki/Ai_Yazawa

[modernjosei]

Notice Anything Different?

With the new year I wanted to rejuvenate ModernJosei with a clean fresh look. I heavily edited the Minimalist theme to suit my website, and I hope you all enjoy the new look! It's easy to navigate, and I'll be adding new sections as well, so keep checking back for those.

I'd also love to know your opinions on the new look. Please shoot me a message with any suggestions you have!

[modernjosei]

Oh! I second the recommendation for Cat Street! It's my favorite manga. I can't even begin to explain how amazing it is.

I'm starting to think I should check this out! Thanks for the seconding!

[modernjosei]

The Essential Josei List *UPDATED*

Remember when I did an essential josei list over a year ago? Well I've watched a lot of anime since then and it's in need of an update! There's been a lot of great animes that have come out since then, and quite a few are josei friendly. If you're looking for something new to watch keep reading for my personal josei recommendations!

Genshiken Nidaime

Comedy, Drama, Slice of Life

The original Genshiken dealt with the male side of otaku college/university life, while Genshiken Nidaime deals with the female side. It centers around a club of otaku who just enjoy anime and manga, discussing it as well as creating it for themselves. Each character shows a facet of the otaku lifestyle, while also tackling the issue of sexual identity in the character Hato who is a transgender. It's a great comedy that explores school life as well as young adult romance in an honest way. While being a little bit nerdier than other animes on this list, it's an enjoyable watch for anyone who identifies with the otaku lifestyle.

Shirobako

Comedy, Drama, Slice of Life

Golden Time

Romance, Drama, Comedy, Seinen

This series is considered a seinen, but in my own personal opinion it has many josei elements that break it away from being typecast into a single genre. It follows the romantic life of Tada Banri, a relatively normal university freshman. He makes many new friends in his first year, including the elusive Kaga Kouko. It deals with love, friendship, and anxiety all in one, dealing with a lot of the issues we all face coming into adulthood. It does it all with a dramatic finesse that is rarely seen in comedies. If you're looking for a romantic drama that keeps you on your toes, then definitely check out Golden Time.

NANA

Drama, Romance, Josei, Music

How could I not put NANA on the first list?! Well that's simple, for the longest time I never watched NANA. A looong time ago I watched the first couple episodes and then stopped watching it altogether. However, over this summer I started reading the manga, and that's a whole other animal. While this is primarily an anime list, I do recommend that you check out NANA. While it wasn't on my initial list, every josei fan has at least heard of this series, making it something that doesn't necessarily have to be mentioned. My suggestion however is to read the manga over the anime. Its presentation is superior overall, and while it's nice to sit back and watch an anime, NANA's bland backgrounds and lack lustre presentation were what originally turned me off the anime in the first place. NANA is a fantastic romantic drama that every josei fan should check out. Its honest and heartfelt storytelling is up there with Paradise Kiss in my opinion. Unfortunately, NANA went on hiatus when series creator Ai Yazawa became ill, and hasn't seen a completed story since then. If you're willing to overlook its failings, it's still a great josei series that I recommend, even if you've heard of it before.

Nodame Cantabile

Music, Drama, Comedy, Romance

Here's another one that should've been on the original list. The biggest reason why I didn't put it on there was because I didn't love this anime. I  liked it, but it's quite long and gets repetitive, showing the same scenarios over and over. I can't say I particularly recommend this series, but it is an essential anime for a josei list. It follows Noda and Chiaki, two music students who are reluctant to work together in university. Noda does her best to slowly win Chiaki over, making for an unlikely coupling that results in humorous situations. If you enjoy music dramas this one is a must, especially if you're inclined towards josei titles.

Choyaku Hyakuninisshu: Uta Koi

Historical, Romance, Drama, Josei

It may be the last one for this list, but it's still a great watch for any josei fan, or really anyone interested in Japanese culture. This series is a retelling of the Hyakunin Isshu, the 100 love poems that were written during the Heian period in Japan. Any fan of Chihayafuru will note that these are the same poems used in the competitive game caruta in Japan. I am a lover of poetry as well as Japanese history, and the bridging of the two makes for a fantastic anime series. Although the series takes a very liberal approach at retelling the poems, its romantic attitude makes it entertaining while embellishing a wonderful period of Japanese history. I highly recommend it for any history buff, or the romantic josei at heart.

Have more suggestions that I haven't listed here? Please leave a comment or send me a message! Let's share our own personal recommendations and keep this list growing!

[modernjosei]

Have you ever read "Cat Street"? It's a josei manga. It's about depression, recovery, acceptance, self-discovery and finding what true love really is. It's mostly slice-of-life but also romance. It's only 37 chapters long.

Thanks for the suggestion :) I'm definitely going to check it out! I also like the title. I'm a huge cat lover... although I'm sure that's not what they're referring to :P