Comprehensive exhibition on Japan’s girl comic, Aug. 18-26

Cultural News, August 2007

Ribbon Knight, 1953-1956, 1963-1966, by Osamu Tezuka. © Tezuka Productions

   The Japanese American Cultural and Community Center in Los Angeles presents the exhibition “Shojo Manga: Girls’ Power!” from August 18-26 at the North Gallery in the JACCC building. Admission free. The gallery opens until 5 p.m. Closed on Monday.

   In conjunction with the exhibition, curator Dr. Masami Toku of California State University, Chico, will give an in-depth talk on the fascinating history of Shojo Manga (girls’ comic) on Saturday, August 18 at 2 p.m. at the JACCC building. The exhibition and lecture are sponsored by the Japan Foundation, Los Angeles.

    Featuring more than 200 works by 23 artists, this exhibit is the first of its kind to explore the unique styles of female manga artists and examines their contributions to the development of Shojo Manga. The exhibit is divided into three main periods: 1) The dawn of Shojo Manga, 2) The diversity of Shojo Manga, and 3) The new generation and new directions in Shojo Manga.

   In a sense, Shojo Manga serves as a commentary and a narrative of the lives of Japanese girls and women as they negotiate their changing social roles, aesthetics, and societal expectations. Interpersonal relationships, love, sex, and women's self-representation are amongst some of the many themes found in Shojo Manga.

   Overall, this touring exhibition is a comprehensive introduction to newcomers and an in depth exploration of the evolution of themes and expressions in Shojo Manga. It provides convincing explanations for manga's enviable role in Japanese popular culture and its increasing international appeal.

   “Shojo Manga: Girls’ Power!” is part of an international touring exhibit that has traveled to California State University, Chico, University of New Mexico, Columbia College Chicago, The Pratt Institute at Brooklyn, New York City, Japan Foundation Toronto, Japan Exhibition and Culture Center of Embassy of Japan at Washington, D.C., and Minneapolis College of Art and Design. After the Los Angeles location, the exhibit will go to Japanese Canadian National Museum at Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.

    Dr. Masami Toku is an Associate Professor of art education at California State University, Chico. Her research interest is the cross-cultural study of children's artistic and aesthetic developments in their pictorial world and how visual popular culture influences children's visual literacy.

   In her lecture, Dr. Toku will provide an overview of the works exhibited in the gallery and examine more closely the individual creators of Shojo Manga, providing a deeper look into the development and impact of this form of visual pop culture.

   The Japanese American Cultural and Community Center is located at 244 South San Pedro Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012, Downtown LA, Little Tokyo. Closed on Mondays and Holidays. (213) 628-2725.