Theme by nostrich.
Logo by vivdesigns.
Keep updated with Manga Therapy via RSS & e-mail! "Like", "Follow", or "+1" me for more lovely conversations about manga & Japanese pop culture!
Certification Achievements
Text with 21 notes
Attack on Fans’ Hearts - MangaHelpers Manga Awards 2012 Winners!
Yup. this is what’s connecting fans’ hearts all over anime and manga land. Move over, the Generation of Miracles! The Generation of Titans can make the girls sweat as much as you guys do!
MangaHelpers recently had another annual manga award competition to see which manga titles totally rocked 2012 in the minds of manga fans everywhere. As you will see, it was a big win of Titan-ic proportions for a series that has come a long way from its non-mainstream beginnings.
Text with 11 notes
A Very Fujoshi Thanksgiving in May
Hey, we’re halfway there, right? Also, pretend those hands are those of your favorite ship!
While watching the NBA on TNT recently, sportscaster Ernie Johnson talked about doing a big hashtag trend on Twitter called “#thanksgivinginmay” on Thursday, May 16, 2013. So, I just wanted to say “KYAAA!”…I mean “Happy Thanksgiving” to the wonderful fujoshi I’ve met and spoken to over the past couple of years. Especially a special one in particular. Gin x Shin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’ve written about the fujoshi in the past and I still stand by my words, that they can make a difference if given a chance. The future is bright for Japan if women can become dominant over there.
Being around fujoshi helped me come to terms with my sexuality to a certain degree. There are times where I’ve been a bit uncomfortable with how effeminate I have acted. I can say now that I will make as many suggestions as I will like and behave as I please. It is still frightening to see gender roles being ruthlessly enforced in all aspects of life. Fujoshi see a bigger picture of the world of men and the world of sexuality in general beyond gender stereotypes. Men do have feelings and if they want to cry when they’re in emotional pain, then don’t hate them for that. All that matters is if they have what it takes to succeed in life.
In a world like this, the fujoshi must break FREE! Enjoy those juicy rib cages today!
What are you thankful for so far in 2013?
Text with 33 notes
Finding Humor in the Darkness (Attack on Titan)
To quote a Tumblr user on the rise of Attack on Titan to the mainstream anime/manga community, how did something so horrifying end up being so hilarious?
As many of you may know, Attack on Titan has become a beloved juggernaut to fans all over the world and some creative folks have responded with great enthusiasm. Social networking feeds became bombarded with wacky pictures and funny video parodies featuring the Titans and the Scouting Legion. One has to wonder if humor truly comes from seeing misery.
Text with 15 notes
Down in the Dumps of Happiness
If there’s one mantra that’s always told to everyone, it’s that money can’t buy happiness. There is some truth to all of this. An interesting article I read at World of Psychology focused on garbage pickers who are very optimistic about life despite their living standards. Folks who go around collecting trash don’t seem to worry too much about food or money. They have good relationships and believe that the future will be bright for them.
Reading this article made me think about poor characters like Tohru Honda (Fruits Basket), Hayate Ayasaki (Hayate the Combat Butler, before he was taken in by Nagi Sanzenin), Jin Kanzaki (ZETMAN), the Yorozuya (Gintama) and many others. All of them have gone through situations where they struggle to get by, yet still enjoy the nuances of life.
Yes, being poor isn’t the greatest thing in the life. But neither is being rich. When you have people being pressured to act like complete big shots just to stay ahead, you wonder if it really is worth it to make a lot of money.
For anyone who’s poor, you’re more motivated to take on your dreams. Do you really have anything to lose? Not much, given you have nothing to begin with. You also get the best thing money can’t buy: emotional support. Almost every poor anime/manga character out there has a wonderful supporting cast of characters that push them for the better. Of course, there are exceptions, but those characters develop and gain a better understanding of what truly matters when everything is all said and done. One great example is Gintama’s “cell phone” story and its critique on how the joy of technology that may not be affordable to many can affect relationships to a huge degree.
Isn’t it time to get some dirt on your hands and grow an inner garden for your soul?
Text with 43 notes
The Greatest Contract in the World
For those who wonder about fandom unlocking the power of creativity in others, this should be a shining example of that power. While attending the 2013 Sakura Matsuri in Brooklyn Botanic Garden, I happened to run into a Sayaka Miki (of Puella Magi Madoka Magica fame) cosplayer and took her photo. After taking her photo, she gave me this form - which I thought was some permission letter. But it turned out to be something I always wanted. A chance to be a Magical Girl and bring peace to the universe while being a emotionless husk!
Rights, responsibilities, terms of agreement, applicant information, yup. All right there. Incubators, Inc., huh? Sounds super-legit to me.
Even though fandom is often stereotyped by the media, let’s really look at the greater picture behind fans and see how much they let their creativity shine. Behind the wackiness is a foundation being set to develop problem-solving skills. Yes, many efforts do turn out bad. But failure leads to growth. No one gets it right the first time.
A big question going forward is how to transfer fans’ creativity into skill sets that they can apply to real life in school and work. We need more success stories, such as the case with Chris Needham, a key board member behind AnimeUSA and someone who has been able to use fandom to be successful outside of it. The person who made the contract could be an amazing content creator in a world where both content and context matter.
You know, a real-life Incubators, Inc. doesn’t sound so bad. Incubation does spark creativity.
Kyubey = trolling for the win?
(Pictures can be enlarged when you click on them so you can see the supa-kawaii-sugoi details and the ONE wish I really want granted.)
Text with 189 notes
Attack on Stress - Overcoming Your Titans With Optimism
“I have a dream…it’s to exterminate the Titans and leave this cramped walled-up world. My dream is to explore…the outside world.”
We got ourselves a little Martin Luther King, Jr., don’t we?
Stress - it happens to everyone. We all have our moments where things get rough and we groan, sigh, & possibly fall into despair. Stress is inevitable as long as you walk on the road that is life. Yet what if stress needs to be viewed more positively instead of the general consensus view? When you look at a character like Eren Jaeger from Attack on Titan, you witness how a young man takes the stress of his past and channels it in a way to bring him strength to fight for the future.
Text with 12 notes
Why I Still Blog
You ever had times where things just get so rough that you want to give up? No matter how much self-confidence you have, there will always be trouble and the seeds of doubt begin to pop out. But then you get words of encouragement like these:
It’s messages like these that still keep me going. As I said earlier, blogging has defined my life and is something I can proudly say “I made that”.
Plus, there’s this old lady who I hope is doing well out in Canada.
Proud to say that I’m one of the few manga blogs out there doing something.
To all the anibloggers out there, what motivates you all to keep doing what you’re doing?
Text with 7 notes
Summing Up the Entire Week With “Attack on Titan”
After hearing everything that has transpired with the Boston Marathon bombing incident, the incompetence of mass media, and people’s love for revenge, it comes down to this - humanity will always have a high chance of being cruel. Even those who haven’t killed anyone can be sadistic. This song sums up my entire thought process about this tragedy and its possible ramifications.
What a truly beautiful, cruel world we live in today. We can all possess the heart of a Titan.
Let’s really figure out how to shrink ourselves down for a better tomorrow.
Text with 19 notes
Critical Thinking FTW? The Fate of Two Uchihas (Naruto)
In life, we all need goals to strive for. Yet what happens when one of your goals suddenly shifts. Do you let your mindset shift or do you decide to keep going in the direction you wanted? What if your original direction brought harm?
In Chapter 627 of Naruto, Sasuke Uchiha makes arguably the biggest decision in his young life so far. When confronting the previous four Hokages of Konoha Village, he learns about the true origins of how Konoha was formed. Sasuke then decides to go from being a criminal of Konoha to becoming one of its protectors. His decision and also the past behavior of Madara Uchiha makes you think how much emphasis there needs to be made on developing teenagers with critical thinking skills.
Text with 5 notes
Be Right Back - Undergoing Fujoshi Therapy
Amazing words, Akagi-senpai. You go, girl!
My brain feels fried and I need some pretty men to get me going again. So I’m taking a break this week.
Some upcoming entries will be about Kuroko no Basket, Pandora Hearts, Blue Exorcist, Kuroshitsuji, and Gintama (Yes, I want to discuss that “Rule 63”/Dokobekko arc going on in the manga).
Now if you excuse me, I’m off to play otome games for further inspiration.
What? I…it’s not like I’m enjoying fujoshi material because I want to, ok!? I just find it a fascinating study for research purposes, ok!? You should be thankful……..
IDIOT ONEE-CHAN!!!! *runs away in tears*
Page 1 of 43
