Comments on: Josei Manga in the US

By: The future « let’s fall asleep

The future « let’s fall asleep — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 07:24:52 +0000

[...] Josei Manga in the US [...]

By: Kali

Kali — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:22:15 +0000

:sigh: I have tons of reading to do. I absolutely adore the idea of so many Josei manga titles to choose from now… that my head is spinning. I just started getting into manga, so I’m glad I have so many to read. I just hope I don’t become let down with a “shortage” of sorts after I get my paws wet. I hope it becomes more popular.

By: Andi

Andi — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 02:52:12 +0000

@Miki

There are lady’s comic magazines published in Japan about marriage and family(”For Mrs” is one example). I don’t read them so I wouldn’t really know if they have mostly one-shots or would have collections published (with lady’s comics I read primarily horror and mystery)

By: Johanna

Johanna — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 01:07:50 +0000

With the Light is about a married woman raising an autistic child.

But yeah, in most cultures, it’s hard to find stories about staying happy in marriage. Weddings are treated as the happy ending, not just the beginning.

By: Miki

Miki — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 00:54:14 +0000

@Hsifeng:

I agree with you there. And I do think, that though the perception of women in Japan and the US are different, there ARE similarities.

I enjoyed both Suppli and Tramps Like Us, and felt it captured well how hard it is STILL to be taken seriously as a career woman. How to balance out career and family while living out society’s expectations is still hard, no matter where you are.

These are universal issues affecting the US that the best (realistic, non Harlequin romance josei. Not that I have anything against those, but…) of Japanese josei deals with well. I believe women all around us are awakening to their human rights, Japanese women as well, and I like looking at their views, comparing it to American, and seeing the similarities and differences. And some josei gives the newer views as well as older views of the Japanese on women. I find it fascinating….

This just popped into my head though. A lot of josei I’ve read is about single women looking for their fit in the world, and perhaps finding success and a romance.

I wonder if there’s a manga or something out there about women who have already married, with children? Maybe even a housewife and their own struggles (like, not having a career. Really, society is so double-edged). Like, divorce with/without children, maintaining a marriage, how to live with your dream-man after meeting him. Raising children, ect. That’d be really nice.

I’d love reading it…But I can’t seem to think of any like that….

By: Hsifeng

Hsifeng — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:34:55 +0000

lelo Says: “…yet the more i read them the more i kinda doubt how popular they might be in the states. b/c women’ place in society and work place issues are different btw US and japan.ie. in japan women are often expected to pour tea even the guys in the office might be at the same seniority level as you…”

Good point. At the same time, there are differences in culture between teen girls in the US and teen girls in Japan too, and that doesn’t seem to hinder shôjo’s popularity…

By: Andre

Andre — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 22:31:17 +0000

I seem to recall 12 Days was originally commissioned by TP to be part of their PassionFruits/Josei line. There’s also Harlequinn’s efforts, though I’m not sure they’re still putting out manga…… I recall seeing some post-DH volumes out there though.

By: lelo

lelo — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 20:25:03 +0000

kimmi wa petto is the dorama for ” tramps like us..”

By: lelo

lelo — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 20:23:22 +0000

i love josei being an older female manga reader i mostly read josei now. i’m lucky to be able to read in chinese so i get a good selelction of them in chinese. since not alot are published in english yet.. yet the more i read them the more i kinda doubt how popular they might be in the states. b/c women’ place in society and work place issues are different btw US and japan.ie. in japan women are often expected to pour tea even the guys in the office might be at the same seniority level as you..

i guess the core of love vs work , and searching-for-mr.right , bodily issues are universal themes but i wonder the difference in culture might be an impediment to popularity of this genre.

josei are more often made into dorama rather than anime. the most recent josei made into anime is Hataraki man by Mayocco Anno, the author of happy mania.
it’s ok.. i like happy mania and flowers/bees better.

some of the dorama based on josei are not too bad. one i can recommend would be kimmi wa petto.

By: MangaBlog » Blog Archive » Josei, mysteries, and speculation

MangaBlog » Blog Archive » Josei, mysteries, and speculation — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 12:11:31 +0000

[...] Draper Carlson writes about josei manga at Comics Worth [...]

By: Journalista - the news weblog of The Comics Journal » Blog Archive » June 24, 2008: Sucker by day

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 11:18:35 +0000

[...] Johanna Draper Carlson looks at josei manga in the United [...]

By: Johanna

Johanna — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 10:22:27 +0000

I keep meaning to try Forest of Gray City, but it’s hard to find, what with the publisher change.

By: Hsifeng

Hsifeng — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:39:23 +0000

I'd count these as josei and seongin too: Real Lies by Lee Si Young (was there ever a second volume?) Chicago by Tamura Yumi (marketed as shôjo adventure by Viz years ago) Forest of Gray City by Uhm Jung-Hyun 9 Faces of Love by Wann :)