The western world has renaissance fairs, which mainly attracts men wanting to play with swords and live an idealized and unrealistic fantasy of a cruel and chaotic time. In Japan it’s women who are attracted to the feudal era of Japan, wanting to play with swords and live an idealized and unrealistic fantasy of a cruel and chaotic time.

Rekijo, or female history geeks, are a new trend in Japan that has seen tourism at historical sites increase by up to 30%. They are looking towards a time when people had stronger resolves and beliefs, a harsh contrast to Japan’s ever docile society. From the video it seems a bit odd that this is happening but one you stop to think about it, it’s no different than knights, pirates, soldiers or cowboys. Armed Douchebags.

See, it holds true that the mean guy always gets the girl, and in these cases, the dead mean guys from several centuries ago get the girl.

[Japan Probe]

“It’s a bit hard commenting publicly on this, but the most popular comics on the mobile are adult-oriented ones for women” said Yusuke Nakabashi, a media consultant at Nomura research. It’s true, a growing number of Japanese women are getting their freaky boy love manga in their phones.

The New York times profiles the rise of the mobile phone as a manga reading platform in Japan, where last year mobile manga sales grew 43%. Out of the whole mobile manga market 70% are females in their 20’s and, you guessed it, most are using them to buy Yaoi. Apparently girls are more open to indulge in their boy love fantasies when they cant be seen buying or reading the stuff.

However, this can be a mighty useful tool for prospecting dates. Forget reading her text messages while she’s in the restroom, checkout her manga reader for yaoi. If you find some you might want to reconsider meeting that athletic and trendy friend she keeps mentioning. You know how she says you need some male bonding? Yeah, she’s speaking literally.

[The New York Times]

As Otaku culture continues to permeate the west we continue to see it in mainstream media more often. Such as the New York Times, which has profiled CLAMP on their website. The article delves into the different styles CLAMP uses in their works as well as their relevance as female authors in the manga business.

It also shows that being girls, they have an advantage in reaching the female audience:

“It’s common in girls’ manga for a character to transform, as Sailor Moon does, and we wanted to incorporate that into ‘Sakura,’ ” Ms. Ohkawa said. “But many of them always wear the same outfit, so we wanted to add a twist. We feel it’s pretty sad for a girl to wear the same outfit all the time.”

I’ve always had a love/hate relationship with CLAMP and my girlfriend loving everything this troup of deviants put out only fuels the fire, but I’m still here, posting this. Go read.

[NY Times / Via ANN]

Check out this stunning collection of cosplay photography by Carter McKendry, aka Seiya235. He’s been to some of the biggest cosplay events in Japan and has captured the good, the bad and the someone-gouge-out-my-eyes ugly. Lots of fujoshi eye candy. Here’s some of my favorites.

I-no from Guilty Gear, Azumanga, Lilith from Dark Stalkers

Besides anime and video game cosplay there is also photos of many others of japan’s sub-cultures, gothic lolitas, leather punks, ganguro girls, ravers and… this.

After all, no cosplay collection is complete without some crossplay. Be sure to check out the rest of his photos here.

[Seiya235]