Manga Lecture #7

There is also a sub genre known as hentai. This is quite literally translated as pervert, and it is the label for what you can probably guess. I don’t really want to focus on this genre, as it’s pretty much one of the major reasons manga is frowned upon in other countries. People believe manga is either all for children, or all pornography. (don’t ask me to explain the gap, it’s just there). But it is worth mentioning, simply because it is how many artist make their start.

It’s a bit odd, so let me explain. There is a huge fan base for series in Japan, of which many young artists and writers produce fan-comics, or dojinshi. These fan-comics use established storylines and characters to tell their story, in the way they think the story should go. And while it is nowhere near 100%, many of these “directions” involve sexual relationships, usually in graphic detail. It actually makes a lot of sense. Just look at the fan base for shows here. Lost has multiple characters that fans wish to see hook up, the same can be said for most series produced the world over. The difference is that Japanese fans took matters into their own hands and produced the results they wished for, and sold it as a profit. Dojinshi is actually a lucrative business for some, with many fans following certain doujin artists for their latest release.

I mentioned that many manga-ka (artists and writers) get their start producing these, of which there are many famous examples. Kouta Hirano, the manga-ka of Hellsing fame (one of the more influential series being produced right now) actually got his start producing hentai dojinshis. In terms of how that relates to our culture, imagine if someone like J.K. Rowling or Michal Crichton got their start by writing Harlequin Romance Novels.

Freaky, isn’t it?

But this is the norm inside Japan’s culture. The adult industry, while heavily restricted, is not frowned upon as it is here. This is not to say that normal people like or support it, but they are more tolerant toward the producers of it.

But enough about that.