This thesis investigates how the portrayal of Ten’ō Haruka and Kaiō Michiru in the 1990s anime Bishōjo Senshi Sērā Mūn contrasts with previous portrayals of female same-sex relationships in shōjo...Show moreThis thesis investigates how the portrayal of Ten’ō Haruka and Kaiō Michiru in the 1990s anime Bishōjo Senshi Sērā Mūn contrasts with previous portrayals of female same-sex relationships in shōjo media. In earlier shōjo works, relationships between women were characterized as ephemeral. Same-sex relationships were either not explicitly labeled as romantic, or ended in tragedy if they were with the death of one or both characters. Starting from the late 1970s, these relationships followed rigid character archetypes. Supported by an analysis of the source material, this study argues that the characters of Haruka and Michiru are more nuanced than these archetypes and their relationship is portrayed as lasting rather than fleeting. Additionally, their narrative avoids the trope of a tragic ending, which was and continues to be prevalent in same-sex literature.Show less
This thesis will examine illustrations of female masturbation in early 19th-century shunga (erotic art), produced by artists Katsushika Hokusai and Chokyosai Eiri. Shunga works reflected a ...Show moreThis thesis will examine illustrations of female masturbation in early 19th-century shunga (erotic art), produced by artists Katsushika Hokusai and Chokyosai Eiri. Shunga works reflected a ‘shungatopia’ that featured all kinds of sexual behavior. Within these works, women are known to be subjected to erotic fantasies imposed by a domineering male gaze in such depictions. In this thesis, I will analyze two erotic books from the late Edo period and utilize earlier academic publications that offer varying perspectives on the central issue of reality versus male-produced erotic discourse in the Edo period. This essay asks what shunga works expose about female masturbatory practices, and what this implies for the role of women within the erotic culture of early modern Japan.Show less
This paper investigates political cartoons concerning Sino-Japanese relations from the Japanese perspective, focusing on certain key events of particular contention between China and Japan. Its aim...Show moreThis paper investigates political cartoons concerning Sino-Japanese relations from the Japanese perspective, focusing on certain key events of particular contention between China and Japan. Its aim is to identify particular strategies in political cartoons in order to influence public perception about certain political topics. For this a series of political cartoons was selected to be analyzed by a process called Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA). By doing this, it analyzed the strategies political cartoonists use to pursue a certain narrative. In conclusion, although there seems to be somewhat of a correlation between what kind of event is being described and the type of imagery being used, more political cartoons will need to be analyzed to come to a definitive conclusion.Show less
This paper will argue that isekai anime is different from the genre fantasy due to its cultural history tied to the Japanese game and anime industry use of media mix. First, a literature review on...Show moreThis paper will argue that isekai anime is different from the genre fantasy due to its cultural history tied to the Japanese game and anime industry use of media mix. First, a literature review on what "genre" is will be provided to lay a foundation for the readers, as this should help understanding the "why" and "how" isekai as a genre can be seen seperately from the fantasy genre argued in this paper. Examining the narrative tropes, the character's self-awareness and game mechanics in specific isekai anime, compared to the classic fantasy stories: Alice in wonderland and The Wizard of OZ will reveal similarities, but more importantly its difference. How is isekai different will be discussed in the final chapter where this paper will examen Japan's anime and game industry, the history and influence of noteble phenomenon "media mix" and Japan's work culture that all clearly make up for the genre isekai.Show less
'Ukiyo' was both a state of mind and a world of pleasure-seeking. It offered freedom from the limitations placed by the Tokugawa shogunate. It also gave the merchant class, and urban life in...Show more'Ukiyo' was both a state of mind and a world of pleasure-seeking. It offered freedom from the limitations placed by the Tokugawa shogunate. It also gave the merchant class, and urban life in general, a break from the controlling samurai warrior class. Edo (present-day Tokyo) society was generally regarded as a highly controlled society. Not unexpectedly, the Edo, Kyoto, and Osaka pleasure districts were likewise restricted. The most well-known of them was the Yoshiwara licensed brothel district, a separate walled town to the north of the main city that was exclusively created to entertain its male inhabitants. While ukiyo-e like paintings, prints, and illustrated books portrayed nearly every element of coeval Japanese society in Edo, pictures of female entertainers and pleasure districts in Yoshiwara were the most prevalent. A large selection of these portrayed women, although perhaps unintentionally by the artist because of the different social roles women had back then, are depicted in an objectifying manner. This is especially the case in bijinga, literally translated as ‘images of beautiful women’. The women, although it is debatable whether the depicted women are supposed to represent the actual women from the Edo period or if they are merely icons, are put down as objects of desire and vessels for reproduction among other things. In this paper, I will shed light on this issue and question whether ‘celebration’ or ‘aesthetic’ are used as a justification for these forms of objectification or not. Using ambiguous prints, I will give an analysis of the different perspectives and explanations that exist about that specific print.Show less
This thesis portrays the biggest policy changes enacted from 2014-2020 and the effects these policies have had on the issue of utilizing and consolidating idle and abandoned farmland. The...Show moreThis thesis portrays the biggest policy changes enacted from 2014-2020 and the effects these policies have had on the issue of utilizing and consolidating idle and abandoned farmland. The agricultural sector of Japan is facing a multitude of issues such as an ageing farming population and decreasing workforce. Alongside this, a large amount of cultivable farmland in Japan stands idle and abandoned. In an attempt to alleviate these issues, the government of Japan and the involved ministries have enacted a series of policy changes in the agricultural sector. The biggest changes being the Farmland Banking program in 2014 and the revision of the Agricultural Cooperative Law in 2015. In the case of consolidation of farmland, business’ farmers share of the total farmland has risen by 6.7% from 2014-2019. However, from 2015-2020 the total amount of farmland has continually declined (-2.8%) as has the amount of farm management entities (-38.7%) and the total cultivated land under management (-10,99%).Show less
The fox in Japan has an image of either a benevolent or an evil being. This thesis examines this creature and creates awareness to the origin of this image. The image of the Indian Dakini, a...Show moreThe fox in Japan has an image of either a benevolent or an evil being. This thesis examines this creature and creates awareness to the origin of this image. The image of the Indian Dakini, a voluptuous demon, merged with the image of the benevolent kami Inari in Japan. Looking at stories about the fox, the thesis proves that this image of the fox could better be described as one of an 'in-between' animal, neither good nor bad in being. The fox acts according to the situation it is in and is mostly just a mischievous animal.Show less
