Shōjo Manga Elements Imported to Contemporary Japanese Literature - A Case Study of Miura Shion

Hiroko Inose

doi:10.5209/estr.71388

Abstract

The present paper discusses how various elements in shōjo manga (Japanese comics for girls) have been incorporated in works of Japanese contemporary literature. The connection between shōjo manga and literature was pointed out for the first time when the novel Kitchen by Yoshimoto Banana was published in 1987. This paper argues that this connection has developed further since then, focusing on one of the most active writers in contemporary Japanese literature, Miura Shion[1]. The paper briefly introduces the genre shōjo manga and describes its connection with the novel Kitchen before analysing a short story and an essay by Miura Shion, focusing both on their motifs and styles, to identify elements influenced by shōjo manga.

Highlights

Shōjo Manga Elements Imported to Contemporary Japanese Literature – A Case Study of Miura Shion
This paper discusses elements seen in some works of contemporary Japanese literature that originate in shōjo manga, while considering the connections between these two cultural forms
This paper uses one of the most successful authors of contemporary times, Miura Shion (b. 1976), as an example to discuss the link between shōjo manga and some works in Japanese contemporary literature

Summary

Introduction

This paper discusses elements seen in some works of contemporary Japanese literature that originate in shōjo manga (a genre of Japanese comics targeting young girls), while considering the connections between these two cultural forms. Its motifs and style were new within the realms of Japanese contemporary literature; they were rather standard in the world of shōjo manga. Raito noveru (“light novel” or youth popular literature) has always been closely linked to the world of manga, and the works of such authors as Himuro Saeko (1957-2008) show a world view very similar to that in shōjo manga. 1976), as an example to discuss the link between shōjo manga and some works in Japanese contemporary literature. The significance of shōjo manga in the reading of examples from contemporary Japanese literary works will be considered

The Novel Kitchen and Shōjo Manga

Motifs

The Tradition Continues

Conclusion