"Why Are Girls' Breasts Emphasized in Japanese Anime?"

[ASPERBURG]

 

Nice to meet you, ANIMEFORUM！  !

During my time studying in Europe, I was often asked the question mentioned in the title, and I have been contemplating how to interpret and answer it even after returning to Japan.

I have now written down my thoughts and posted them on note. I have also prepared an English version as I would like to hear the impressions and opinions of Westerners.

If possible, I would love for you all to read it and point out any mistakes from a Western perspective.

If you find it interesting, please upvote and comment! Thanks!

How to Respond to "Why Are Girls' Breasts Emphasized in Japanese Anime?" from Foreign Friends

Understanding the Concept of "Virtue"

To understand Western criticism of manga and anime, it is necessary first to grasp the underlying ideology, the concept of "virtue."

"Virtue" refers to the qualities that drive a person to do what is right and avoid what is wrong. In the West, it encompasses the standards, actions, and attitudes that respectable members of society are expected to follow.

In "virtue," particular emphasis is placed on abstinence, typically encompassing the prohibition or limitation of consumption, drinking, makeup, sexual activity, masturbation, entertainment, and adornment.

Abstinence has been a consistent thread through Western thought and religion, from traditional religions like Christianity and Islam to modern ideologies such as socialism, feminism, and veganism. Many Westerners believe that imposing strict limits on sexual and dietary practices not only refines oneself as a person but also promotes societal progress and improvement.

It is also believed that many social problems stem from a lack of virtue, and that encouraging widespread abstinence will solve these issues. Consequently, people who are perceived as indulgent in sex or food are often harshly criticized, with calls for their punishment and purging viewed as virtuous political opinions that garner broad support.

Historically, in the West, there has been a tendency for citizens to welcome restrictions on freedoms, especially regarding expressions deemed unvirtuous. Those considered unvirtuous may face severe social sanctions, including societal ruin or death.

Differences in Perceptions of Beauty

In general, beauty and eroticism are seen as positive attributes in Japan.

Beautiful and erotic things are regarded as divine and sacred. When Japanese people encounter such entities, they feel spiritually cleansed, and they express their awe using religious vocabulary like "godlike"（神 Kami）and "sacred" (尊い tootoi).

In anime and manga culture, beauty and eroticism are often used as symbols of power, justice, divinity, and virtue (the Japanese concept of virtue, not the Western "virtue"). Historical figures, Gods and Buddhas are frequently depicted as beautiful and sexually attractive men and women.

In contrast, in the West, beauty and eroticism have historically been viewed as wicked temptations that lead people (especially men) and society astray from the righteous path, considered attributes of the devil. Young, beautiful, and sexually attractive women have traditionally been expected to hide their hair and skin, avoid makeup and adornment, and strive not to tempt men, which is seen as virtuous and responsible behavior.

In Western tradition, this can be seen in traditional clothing designed to conceal hair and skin, such as habits and niqabs.

Freedom in Japan vs. the West

In Japanese, "freedom" is a Buddhist term translated from the Sanskrit word "svayam," meaning independence and being unrestricted. An enlightened Buddha is "free," and this state of liberation from all restraints is considered "freedom" and a desirable state to attain.

Therefore, in Buddhist cultures, including Japan, freedom is often viewed as an unconditionally good state, representing a process towards nirvana that all people should strive for.

Conversely, in the West, freedom is seen as a test from Yahweh, interpreted as a practice where one must continually choose good over evil.

Thus, in the Western perspective, freedom itself is not inherently good; it becomes virtuous only when one overcomes the temptation of evil and consistently chooses morally good actions. Westerners call the force that prompts one to do good and avoid evil "conscience," and acting according to this conscience is considered "true freedom," distinguished from mere freedom. Those who pass Yahweh's judgment are believed to be liberated from the freedom to choose between good and evil in the afterlife, achieving a state free from sin (which, in Japanese terms, would be an "unfree" state).

When encountering the chaotic and uninhibited trends on platforms like Twitter or 5chan, Japanese people might be both appalled and impressed by the sheer freedom, feeling a renewed appreciation for their Japanese identity. However, from a Western viewpoint, such freedom is seen as evil, a fearsome chaos that conflates good and evil, indicative of a lack of conscience, and something that must be regulated.

Moreover, while in Japan, unfreedom is often associated with shame, weakness, baseness, foolishness, poverty, or disability, and sometimes even becomes a target of contempt or discrimination, in the West, people who impose unfreedom on themselves and proudly display their level of unfreedom, encouraging others to do the same, are respected.

Summary

In the West, matters related to sex are often religious and ideological taboos, making them highly sensitive topics. Expressing seemingly trivial opinions or revealing sexual preferences can lead to social ruin, unlike in Japan. Therefore, it is crucial to understand Western viewpoints and recognize where potential pitfalls lie.

Ideally, we should strive for mutual understanding through frank cultural exchange, but in the West, it is not advisable to argue casually about delicate topics like sex with someone you do not know well.

While Japanese social pressure might lead to something as minor as a flat tire, Western social pressure can lead to serious personal harm. Always be cautious!

How to Respond to "Why Are Girls' Breasts Emphasized in Japanese Anime?"

When responding to Westerners' questions about why girls' breasts are emphasized in Japanese anime, it is essential to be mindful of their perspective, where adults vehemently criticizing and ostracizing the depiction of young, beautiful women may seem peculiar to Japanese eyes but is seen as a virtuous and responsible stance in the West.

If someone you recommended an anime to reacts by saying they aren't interested in such explicit content and runs away, don't laugh or persist in recommending it. They likely have ideological or belief-based reasons for abstaining from watching such anime.

If someone reacts by calling you a degenerate or immoral for liking such anime, do not get angry. Provoking their sense of justice could lead to a dangerous situation.

Even if surrounded by an angry crowd, do not apologize, cry, flee, or let them see your fear. Losing face and social standing could escalate the situation to lynching.

Stay calm and composed, smile, and nod in agreement until their excitement subsides. Once they calm down, compliment their virtue:

Praise points:

* Strong sense of social responsibility.
* Strong sense of justice.
* High sense of purpose.
* Willingness to sacrifice for their beliefs.
* Well-educated.
* Actively spreading their beliefs.

 

[jovana99]

I have the impression that the Japanese emphasize what they don't have

[ASPERBURG]

Thank you for your reply! Japanese people don't often think in the way you described. I won't say it's nonexistent, but it's rare. At least, I can't think of any examples off the top of my head.

14 hours ago, jovana99 said:

I have the impression that the Japanese emphasize what they don't have

[Clayton]

because a lot of them were originally basing their designs on Disney characters. 

 

 

It's nothing new

 

 

Edited May 30 by Clayton

[ASPERBURG]

Perspectives to be added：

- In Japan, showing anger over small matters is considered a sign of baseness, foolishness, or weakness, whereas in the West, it is seen as a manifestation of strong ethics and is regarded as a virtuous attitude.

- In the West, the concept of sexual contents aimed at women often does not even exist in societies, as it has been traditionally believed that women do not have sexual desires.

[ASPERBURG]

Well, I wonder. It doesn't really look like the kind of art that Japanese people would like. While cartoon porn is popular in the West, it is very niche in Japan.

On 5/31/2024 at 5:18 AM, Clayton said:

because a lot of them were originally basing their designs on Disney characters. 

 

 

It's nothing new

 

 

 

[Clayton]

14 hours ago, ASPERBURG said:

Well, I wonder. It doesn't really look like the kind of art that Japanese people would like. While cartoon porn is popular in the West, it is very niche in Japan.

 

There are kinds of art used in anime. 

 

In any event you are talking about a culture that had vending machines that dispense used girl's panties. 

 

Also they produce the anime so... apparently they do like it. In anime anyone under a C-cup usually gets teased for being flat chested. 

 

 

 

Edited June 7 by Clayton

[ASPERBURG]

Perspectives to be added：

In Japan, it is not only considered natural but also healthy for children entering puberty to start showing interest in sexual matters. Books, manga, and anime for young boys and girls often include many sexual expressions, and parents feel happy about their children's growth when they show interest in such expressions. Conversely, they may worry about delayed development if their children do not show interest. Furthermore, Japanese society generally believes that allowing children to freely read their favorite manga and play their favorite games contributes to their happiness and growth. Therefore, prohibiting or excessively restricting manga and games is often seen as cruel abuse.

On the other hand, in the West, where desires including sexual desire have traditionally been seen as vices and abstinence is believed to promote human growth, the common view is that letting children read indecent comics will not result in them becoming decent adults, and sexual expressions are considered unsuitable for children. In Japan, it is common knowledge that sexual desire is a natural and fundamental human need. However, in the West, due to new and old values like christianity and feminism, this understanding is not as universally accepted, despite long-standing efforts in sex education. As a result, there is still a strong belief that it is abnormal for girls and children to have sexual desires, attributing it to negative influences from media. It is thought that sexual awakening can and should be prevented through regulation.

Protecting children from such media is seen as a parental responsibility. Parents are expected to monitor all the programs their children watch and the games they play. Parents who fail to do so are considered neglectful and unfit, often facing severe criticism, strict social sanctions, and even legal penalties. The media is regarded as having significant social responsibility, requiring strict educational considerations and being readily subject to regulation.

Therefore, the kind of erotic manga for children that is abundant in Japan is completely beyond the understanding and imagination of Westerners. For a Japanese parent to feel deeply moved by discovering erotic manga hidden in their adolescent child's room, thinking, "Ah, my child is at an age where they are interested in these things," is a common parenting experience in Japan but something Westerners might find hard to relate to.

14 hours ago, Clayton said:

There are kinds of art used in anime. 

 

In any event you are talking about a culture that had vending machines that dispense used girl's panties. 

 

Also they produce the anime so... apparently they do like it. In anime anyone under a C-cup usually gets teased for being flat chested. 

 

 

 

Well, it's unfortunate, but cartoons are already quite niche in Japan. Naturally, cartoon porn is even more niche. The logic that Western cartoon porn should be popular in Japan just because there are vending machines for used panties is nonsensical. I didn't think the picture you sent was any good either. It's a poorly drawn picture. Many other Japanese people would likely feel the same lol

Edited June 8 by ASPERBURG

[Clayton]

Which is why it became very, very popular in America. Teenagers figured out mom and dad would look at something and see cartoons and not think: gee, there might be full frontal nudity in this. 

 

It didn't work for long, but it worked. And now it's a cliche. I literally wrote a book on this subject called How to Be An Anime Character you can find on Amazon. Anime characters having large gravity defying breasts is right up there with with how they have 50 gallons of blood and sweat in their bodies, death's revolving door policy, the way that pink haired girl will try to murder you and apologize later,  or can scream loud enough to be heard in space. 

https://www.amazon.com/How-Anime-Character-Clayton-Overstreet/dp/1441451803

 

Edited June 8 by Clayton

[Sonic Whammy]

This is a very fascinating read. And as a longtime moderator of a Japanese Culture Club in the school I've taught at, I at least have an answer to this now should it ever come up in the future.

Admittedly, everything you were pointing out about Japanese versus western ideologies made sense as you pointed them out. I would say as a minor counterpoint that these days here in America, there are some who will publicly band together and very strongly advocate what it is seen as virtuous to the point that it becomes political. This often leads to a pushback from those who don't want such virtue to be forced upon them or everyone, in part because of the concept in our Constitution of "separation of church and state". The general idea of being "virtuous" largely remains among everyone privately, but the ones who call for it the loudest are not as celebrated as one might think.

As for myself, I see it, and sometimes it's just there, and other times it's emphasized for both comedy and/or sexualization. And I react on a case by case basis, but I don't think too much about it.

Again, great read. I'll remember to come back to this whenever anyone asks about this.

[Clayton]

 

On 6/17/2024 at 7:14 AM, Sonic Whammy said:

This is a very fascinating read. And as a longtime moderator of a Japanese Culture Club in the school I've taught at, I at least have an answer to this now should it ever come up in the future.

Admittedly, everything you were pointing out about Japanese versus western ideologies made sense as you pointed them out. I would say as a minor counterpoint that these days here in America, there are some who will publicly band together and very strongly advocate what it is seen as virtuous to the point that it becomes political. This often leads to a pushback from those who don't want such virtue to be forced upon them or everyone, in part because of the concept in our Constitution of "separation of church and state". The general idea of being "virtuous" largely remains among everyone privately, but the ones who call for it the loudest are not as celebrated as one might think.

As for myself, I see it, and sometimes it's just there, and other times it's emphasized for both comedy and/or sexualization. And I react on a case by case basis, but I don't think too much about it.

Again, great read. I'll remember to come back to this whenever anyone asks about this.

 

 

Keep in mind that when girls have small breasts in anime they are usually ridiculed for it as well. Those who do not have big breasts often envy those who do. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 1 by Clayton

[ASPERBURG]

On 6/17/2024 at 10:14 PM, Sonic Whammy said:

This is a very fascinating read. And as a longtime moderator of a Japanese Culture Club in the school I've taught at, I at least have an answer to this now should it ever come up in the future.

Admittedly, everything you were pointing out about Japanese versus western ideologies made sense as you pointed them out. I would say as a minor counterpoint that these days here in America, there are some who will publicly band together and very strongly advocate what it is seen as virtuous to the point that it becomes political. This often leads to a pushback from those who don't want such virtue to be forced upon them or everyone, in part because of the concept in our Constitution of "separation of church and state". The general idea of being "virtuous" largely remains among everyone privately, but the ones who call for it the loudest are not as celebrated as one might think.

As for myself, I see it, and sometimes it's just there, and other times it's emphasized for both comedy and/or sexualization. And I react on a case by case basis, but I don't think too much about it.

Again, great read. I'll remember to come back to this whenever anyone asks about this.

I'm honored by your compliment, Teacher! If there are any other common questions about anime or manga that you encounter as a moderator of your anime club, please let me know. I might consider them for my next project.

>As for myself, I see it, and sometimes it's just there, and other times it's emphasized for both comedy and/or sexualization. And I react on a case by case basis, but I don't think too much about it.

Often, there isn't a specific meaning or reason behind it. In Japan, erotic content is generally seen as a good thing. Essentially, if all other conditions are the same, people think that choosing the erotic option is better. Therefore, creators make everything as erotic as possible within the limits they have, unless there is are speciific reasons not to do so.

Edited July 2 by ASPERBURG

[Clayton]

On 7/2/2024 at 12:09 AM, ASPERBURG said:

I'm honored by your compliment, Teacher! If there are any other common questions about anime or manga that you encounter as a moderator of your anime club, please let me know. I might consider them for my next project.

>As for myself, I see it, and sometimes it's just there, and other times it's emphasized for both comedy and/or sexualization. And I react on a case by case basis, but I don't think too much about it.

Often, there isn't a specific meaning or reason behind it. In Japan, erotic content is generally seen as a good thing. Essentially, if all other conditions are the same, people think that choosing the erotic option is better. Therefore, creators make everything as erotic as possible within the limits they have, unless there is are speciific reasons not to do so.

 

 

Keep in mind also that not only are big boobs legit awesome, but small breasted characters make people think their fans might be pedophiles, lolitas, into crossdressing boys, and the like. So a lot of people feel safer if the fifteen-year-old main character has the body of a twenty-five year old stripper incase anyone has any questions on why they like them

 

 

Edited July 3 by Clayton

[ASPERBURG]

5 hours ago, Clayton said:

 

 

Keep in mind also that not only are big boobs legit awesome, but small breasted characters make people think their fans might be pedophiles, lolitas, into crossdressing boys, and the like. So a lot of people feel safer if the fifteen-year-old main character has the body of a twenty-five year old stripper incase anyone has any questions on why they like them

 

 

Well, Westerners might feel safer with that, but it's not a Japanese way of thinking. Japanese creaters and fans are more likely to try to spread the greatness of their fetishes.

Edited July 3 by ASPERBURG

[ASPERBURG]

On 7/9/2024 at 5:28 AM, Clayton said:

Well yeah. Most Japanese have small breasts and slim figures. But when they are brought to America you gotta go with the audience. Which do you think is easier to explain to people as a poster in your room? Ryoko from Tenchi Muyo or an up-skirt shot of Card Captor Sakura?

 

 

In any event it's become a trope. I wrote about it in "How to Be An Anime Character". After all if you are going to give someone superpowers, you migth as well go fully and dgive them unattainable physical standards too. 

 

 

 

 

But keep in mind Disney started it. Gargoyles was even made in Japan for example. 

 

 

 

 

Let's face it, American cartoons do not skimp on large boobs either. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In many cases, Japanese creators are indifferent to what American audiences are looking for and do not think about catering to them. They do not know what Americans want in the first place, and even if they have the opportunity to find out, the values are so different that they often cannot understand.

[Clayton]

On 7/10/2024 at 3:32 PM, ASPERBURG said:

In many cases, Japanese creators are indifferent to what American audiences are looking for and do not think about catering to them. They do not know what Americans want in the first place, and even if they have the opportunity to find out, the values are so different that they often cannot understand.

 

Well to be fair in many cases Japanese animated women STILL have much smaller boobs than American. 

Japanese

 

 

 

American 

 

 

 

Edited July 12 by Clayton

[Clayton]

[ASPERBURG]

Since the topic is what it is, it can't be helped that you post sexual images to illustrate your argument. However, all the Western images you send are crude, vulgar, and extremely unpleasant to look at. If you're going to send something, please send more beautiful pictures. Surely, there are well-drawn Western pictures, right?

Also, I'm sorry, but I want to confirm what you are trying to assert. Are you claiming that "in Western animations, as in Japanese animations (or even more so than in Japanese animations), women's breasts are emphasized, and it was originally started by Disney"?

 

On 5/31/2024 at 5:18 AM, Clayton said:

because a lot of them were originally basing their designs on Disney characters. 

 

 

It's nothing new

 

 

 

Edited July 20 by ASPERBURG

[Wickett]

*long exhale*

I don't know if I really want to put my name in this thread but after the back and forth for weeks I just want to say, while thorough conversation and fleshed out opinions are great to see, can we keep in mind that we are talking about the size of a body part? A body part that is considered by approximately 99% of the world to be sexual in nature and therefore considered to be highly attractive. The intent here isn't to squash the conversation, but goodness, they're breasts. Of course they're often times going to be made larger whenever a stroke of a pencil can make them so. According to Anime News Network in 2019, approximately 67.5% of manga readers are male. Generally speaking, guys like breasts, it's why games like Stellar Blade exist. The creator openly stated that he wanted a character that was appealing to the eyes. I'm not sure how basic math and biology are being ignored here. 

To come at this from another angle, I think the question itself loses some validity since a large portion of manga/anime girls have average, small, or even non-existent busts. If every single one of them was massive then I'd wonder why so much emphasis, but since only some are large the answer becomes quite clear. Sometimes people want their characters to have a little extra sex appeal. 

Edited July 21 by Wickett
Spelling correction

[Clayton]

On 7/20/2024 at 2:29 AM, ASPERBURG said:

Since the topic is what it is, it can't be helped that you post sexual images to illustrate your argument. However, all the Western images you send are crude, vulgar, and extremely unpleasant to look at. If you're going to send something, please send more beautiful pictures. Surely, there are well-drawn Western pictures, right?

Also, I'm sorry, but I want to confirm what you are trying to assert. Are you claiming that "in Western animations, as in Japanese animations (or even more so than in Japanese animations), women's breasts are emphasized, and it was originally started by Disney"?

 

 

 

 

actually I love the art style. That's why i used it. But if you prefer something more classical... 

 

And yes, Disney started pretty much the whole animation industry, thought I'm sure Betty boop and others helped. You certainly were not going to blame it on Olive Oyl were you?

 

 

 

On 7/21/2024 at 4:15 PM, Wickett said:

*long exhale*

I don't know if I really want to put my name in this thread but after the back and forth for weeks I just want to say, while thorough conversation and fleshed out opinions are great to see, can we keep in mind that we are talking about the size of a body part? A body part that is considered by approximately 99% of the world to be sexual in nature and therefore considered to be highly attractive. The intent here isn't to squash the conversation, but goodness, they're breasts. Of course they're often times going to be made larger whenever a stroke of a pencil can make them so. According to Anime News Network in 2019, approximately 67.5% of manga readers are male. Generally speaking, guys like breasts, it's why games like Stellar Blade exist. The creator openly stated that he wanted a character that was appealing to the eyes. I'm not sure how basic math and biology are being ignored here. 

To come at this from another angle, I think the question itself loses some validity since a large portion of manga/anime girls have average, small, or even non-existent busts. If every single one of them was massive then I'd wonder why so much emphasis, but since only some are large the answer becomes quite clear. Sometimes people want their characters to have a little extra sex appeal. 

 

 

well to be fair it is a topic brought up a lot in anime and in fact has been a major plotpoint. boob envy among those without them, emphasizing sexual characteristics, and all that.

 

The main reason they focus on large breasts is i think story related. It saves time explaining why all the guys or girls are obsessed with a specific girl if they do not have t sped whole episodes explaining how she's a good and decent person, getting into her backstory, and so on. if she's got large boobs we get it and can move on. 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 23 by Clayton

[Wickett]

Is this something that's actually recorded or documented somewhere, that well-endowed anime women are intended by the mangaka to speed up the romance plot? If not, I completely disagree. One single blush frame would do a much better job at that, on top of the fact that countless manga/anime have flat chested women who have an obvious and immediate love interest where the story doesn't have to spell it all out. Getting us back to the fact that people like breasts, generally larger ones, and therefore larger breasts are drawn on some female characters. There's no deep underlying meaning here. 

[ASPERBURG]

On 7/22/2024 at 7:15 AM, Wickett said:

*long exhale*

I don't know if I really want to put my name in this thread but after the back and forth for weeks I just want to say, while thorough conversation and fleshed out opinions are great to see, can we keep in mind that we are talking about the size of a body part? A body part that is considered by approximately 99% of the world to be sexual in nature and therefore considered to be highly attractive. The intent here isn't to squash the conversation, but goodness, they're breasts. Of course they're often times going to be made larger whenever a stroke of a pencil can make them so. According to Anime News Network in 2019, approximately 67.5% of manga readers are male. Generally speaking, guys like breasts, it's why games like Stellar Blade exist. The creator openly stated that he wanted a character that was appealing to the eyes. I'm not sure how basic math and biology are being ignored here. 

To come at this from another angle, I think the question itself loses some validity since a large portion of manga/anime girls have average, small, or even non-existent busts. If every single one of them was massive then I'd wonder why so much emphasis, but since only some are large the answer becomes quite clear. Sometimes people want their characters to have a little extra sex appeal. 

 

"Sometimes people want their characters to have a little extra sex appeal."

 

Now, how about that? Depending on how you phrase it, responding as you suggested to a question like the one in the title from a Westerner could be dangerous in some cases. If you are perceived as endorsing the sex appeal of manga characters, you might be seen as unvirtuous, evil, and irresponsible, and could face social sanctions.

 

"According to Anime News Network in 2019, approximately 67.5% of manga readers are male."

 

That may be true in the West, but it's different globally. For instance, in Japan, more than half of manga readers and creators are women. Isn't that also the case in China, South Korea, and Taiwan?

Btw In Japan, in general, manga aimed at women tends to be more sexual than that aimed at men anyway. This might be surprising from a Western perspective, but the very idea that women prefer sexual works less than men is a uniquely Western superstition. Incidentally, I've heard that Japanese manga exported to the West sells well among women compared to Western comics. This might be because traditional Western comics lack works that meet women's needs.

 

"If every single one of them was massive then I'd wonder why so much emphasis, but since only some are large the answer becomes quite clear."

 

Rather than just focusing on breast size, you should pay attention to whether they are depicted sexually. The very notion that large breasts are more sexual than small or flat chests is not at all Japanese. In Japan, small breasts have a sex appeal that large breasts do not, and debating which is more erotic is considered nonsensical.

Edited July 24 by ASPERBURG

[ASPERBURG]

15 hours ago, Clayton said:

 

 

actually I love the art style. That's why i used it. But if you prefer something more classical... 

 

And yes, Disney started pretty much the whole animation industry, thought I'm sure Betty boop and others helped. You certainly were not going to blame it on Olive Oyl were you?

 

 

 

 

 

well to be fair it is a topic brought up a lot in anime and in fact has been a major plotpoint. boob envy among those without them, emphasizing sexual characteristics, and all that.

 

The main reason they focus on large breasts is i think story related. It saves time explaining why all the guys or girls are obsessed with a specific girl if they do not have t sped whole episodes explaining how she's a good and decent person, getting into her backstory, and so on. if she's got large boobs we get it and can move on. 

 

 

 

 

Here's the English translation of your text:

 

---

 

"Actually, I love the art style. That's why I used it."

LOL, I apologize for that.

 

"And yes, Disney started pretty much the whole animation industry, though I'm sure Betty Boop and others helped. You certainly weren’t going to blame it on Olive Oyl, were you?"

 

I’ve never heard of any of these names before. Is there any evidence that they had such a significant impact on Japan's expressive arts scene?

 

And It’s news to me that Disney was a pioneer in sexual expression in the West.

 

 

"But if you prefer something more classical..."

 

Unfortunately, I don’t particularly like classical styles, and I wasn’t asking you to send me art that fits my personal taste. What I am asking is for you to send me artwork that is at least minimally adequate and necessary to support your claim, ideally something that is better drawn and not unpleasant from a general perspective.

 

Edited July 24 by ASPERBURG

[Wickett]

Quote

Now, how about that? Depending on how you phrase it, responding as you suggested to a question like the one in the title from a Westerner could be dangerous in some cases. If you are perceived as endorsing the sex appeal of manga characters, you might be seen as unvirtuous, evil, and irresponsible, and could face social sanctions.

Cool, doesn't change the fact that it's true. If I were walking the streets of Kyoto, I'm not going to approach a woman with larger breasts and tell her she has excellent sex appeal. No one with any sense would do that. Fact still remains that emphasized larger chested manga girls are drawn that way to add a variety of sex appeal.

Quote

 

That may be true in the West, but it's different globally. For instance, in Japan, more than half of manga readers and creators are women. Isn't that also the case in China, South Korea, and Taiwan?

Btw In Japan, in general, manga aimed at women tends to be more sexual than that aimed at men anyway. This might be surprising from a Western perspective, but the very idea that women prefer sexual works less than men is a uniquely Western superstition. Incidentally, I've heard that Japanese manga exported to the West sells well among women compared to Western comics. This might be because traditional Western comics lack works that meet women's needs.

 

That study was conducted in Japan. Granting only that it was in 2019 and demographics alter the numbers slightly. It's the mangakas that are predominately female at 70%, but their audience appears to be more males. I also specified quite clearly that a great number of manga/anime girls do not have large chests, because not all people find them as attractive. Again, everyone knows this, but for the readers who like a larger chest, they are drawn larger to capture their attention.

I'm not sure if I'm supposed to be surprised by this truism that women like sex. I think Fifty Shades of Grey and recent monster romance books have proven that a large number of women like erotica. I would also hazard a guess that the reason manga sells so well to women in the States is because much of the media over here has been rehashed to death and is boring to many, myself included. 

Quote

Rather than just focusing on breast size, you should pay attention to whether they are depicted sexually. The very notion that large breasts are more sexual than small or flat chests is not at all Japanese. In Japan, small breasts have a sex appeal that large breasts do not, and debating which is more erotic is considered nonsensical.

You started a thread about emphasized breasts sizes, and I'm talking about that. If a female character has unrealistically large breasts, even covered up, its intent is sex appeal. There's no other reason to do that. If there's a lot of unrealistic jiggle physics in play, its intent is sexual. If they're always halfway hanging out, its intent is sexual. It's along the same lines that larger eyes on female characters is cute. I get that socially it's much different than the States, I love that about the Japanese. I respect it, but there's no erasing biology. 

[ASPERBURG]

3 hours ago, Wickett said:

Cool, doesn't change the fact that it's true. If I were walking the streets of Kyoto, I'm not going to approach a woman with larger breasts and tell her she has excellent sex appeal. No one with any sense would do that. Fact still remains that emphasized larger chested manga girls are drawn that way to add a variety of sex appeal.

That study was conducted in Japan. Granting only that it was in 2019 and demographics alter the numbers slightly. It's the mangakas that are predominately female at 70%, but their audience appears to be more males. I also specified quite clearly that a great number of manga/anime girls do not have large chests, because not all people find them as attractive. Again, everyone knows this, but for the readers who like a larger chest, they are drawn larger to capture their attention.

I'm not sure if I'm supposed to be surprised by this truism that women like sex. I think Fifty Shades of Grey and recent monster romance books have proven that a large number of women like erotica. I would also hazard a guess that the reason manga sells so well to women in the States is because much of the media over here has been rehashed to death and is boring to many, myself included. 

You started a thread about emphasized breasts sizes, and I'm talking about that. If a female character has unrealistically large breasts, even covered up, its intent is sex appeal. There's no other reason to do that. If there's a lot of unrealistic jiggle physics in play, its intent is sexual. If they're always halfway hanging out, its intent is sexual. It's along the same lines that larger eyes on female characters is cute. I get that socially it's much different than the States, I love that about the Japanese. I respect it, but there's no erasing biology. 

 

"Fact still remains that emphasized larger chested manga girls are drawn that way to add a variety of sex appeal."

You can tell it just by looking at it lol. The point of this article is that in Western culture, licentiousness can sometimes be demonized, so it can be dangerous to praise such a picture carelessly from an Eastern perspective.

 

Well, think about it. If a Japanese person who knows nothing about Western culture or ways of thinking were to give the kind of answer you mentioned to a question like the one in the title from a Westerner, the respondent would find themselves in quite a difficult position in Western society, wouldn't they? This article explains Western culture so that those who are asked questions like the one in the title by Westerners can protect their safety and social standing while responding. In Japan, what is considered good sex appeal is traditionally viewed as a demonic and immoral trait in the West. This article alerts Japanese readers to the fact that flaunting beauty or sexual attractiveness, openly praising someone’s beauty or sexual attractiveness, or freely enjoying sexual expressions or fantasies, as Japanese people often do, can be seen as extremely irresponsible and antisocial from a Western perspective.

 

'"According to Anime News Network in 2019, approximately 67.5% of manga readers are male."

 

I've read various market surveys, but I don't think that number applies to Japan at all. It seems disconnected from the reality in Japan. Are you misunderstanding something about the study, or is the study itself incorrect? Was that survey even conducted on Japanese people in the first place?

Edited July 25 by ASPERBURG