Manga Therapy

Month

June 2013

6 posts

Love - It's Complicated and Awesome (Kimi ni Todoke)

Kimi ni Todoke Volume 16 by Karuho Shiina.

“What should I do? What do I want? Do I want a boyfriend? Do I want a relationship? Am I interested? Or not? Should I give up? Or expect something? Will I…like him someday?….Or won’t I?” - Ayane Yano (Chapter 67)

For those who are single and have not experienced love (or anyone that’s been through love for that matter), how do you know that you have that intense feeling inside? Can you say to yourself that it’s not just a simple crush? What if you’re afraid to find out? A while back in Karuho Shiina’s Kimi ni Todoke Volume 16, one of the more mature characters in the series, Ayane Yano, tries to address this concern in her heart with regards to the flirtatious behavior of Kento Miura. So when do those butterflies begin to fly in your stomach and should you let them float around?

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Jun 19, 201310 notes
#Kimi ni Todoke #manga #manga psychology #psychology #psychology of love #shoujo manga #Ayane Yano #Kento Miura #Sawako Kuronuma #relationship problems #Karuho Shiina
I Am My Father

Naruto Uzumaki and Minato Namikaze sharing a father-son moment.

You ever think about how your otaku lifestyle can be a direct result of how your parents behaved back then? What if your father’s history had a role to all this? What if you never knew until later in your life? 

As most of you readers may know, I have a history of depression. I’ve been fighting depression for as long as I have been diagnosed with it. For a while, I thought there was no family history of depression. My mother often told doctors that there was no genetic inheritance. A few years ago, however, I learned more about my father and his battle with himself.

My father was tired of work and wanted to retire badly. He was complaining non-stop. I learned he had self-esteem issues in the past because of how his father treated him. His father always yelled at him for the littlest things. My mom told me that my dad was a lazy bum with little tact and self-confidence. She told me that if she never fell in love with him, who knows what would have happened. That’s when I understood why I have depression in the first place.

So why did my mom fall in love with him? I think maybe it’s because he really wanted to change. My dad tried to secretly escape China to Hong Kong via ship once. He was too late to get on-board, but he jumped into the water regardless and swam as hard as he could before authorities arrested him. My dad went to jail for a few months and was treated like crap. He even got his eye hit by the end of a rifle once.

Although I find it easier to talk to my mom than my dad, my dad reminds me a lot of myself. I often get told that I look like him too. He is a very big kid at heart. My dad is almost always about having fun and making jokes with people. He loves playing with and talking to kids. I may not be great at the kids’ department, but with friends, I am like him. My mom jokes that she has to take care of three kids sometimes. 

He was funny, angry, sad and kind. The best thing about my dad is that he was always there to play with my sister and I when we were kids. It’s sad how so many fathers are not there for their kids because they’re either off doing dumb stuff or in jail.

This is him now. 

My father. The man who gave birth to Manga Therapy.

Guess this explains why I’ve become more eccentric than ever. Sometimes I wonder what if my father was an otaku. He actually watched Initial D with me when I was younger. Oh no, is this the main reason why yaoi has been slowly corrupting my brain? OYAAAAAAAAJIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!!

When people say that children do take after their parents, you better believe there is some truth to this statement. My love of Japanese pop culture is a result of my father being young at heart. 

As someone once told me, grow up, but don’t grow old.

Happy Father’s Day all!

Jun 16, 201318 notes
#Father's Day #psychology #life #fighting depression #otaku culture #father-son love #life lessons #psychology of parenting
Fujoshi Fantasy XV and Kingdom Hearts 3P

Noctis Lacus Caelum and Sora, the protagonists of Final Fantasy XV and Kingdom Hearts III.

For many anime/manga fans, Japanese video games, most especially role-playing games, are also a big part of their love of Japanese pop culture. In what was one of the biggest shockers of the 2013 Electronic Entertainment Expo, Square Enix unleashed trailers for two games fans all over the world have been craving for so many years. The re-branded Final Fantasy Versus XIII, now officially christened as Final Fantasy XV, and Kingdom Hearts III literally made the internet explode with glee. Or more importantly, the screams of the rising subgroup that is the fujoshi. 

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Jun 14, 201315 notes
#fujoshi #Final Fantasy XV #Kingdom Hearts III #video games #psychology #Square Enix #Japanese RPGs #psychology of women #fujoshi fanservice #role-playing games #otaku culture
"Paradise Kiss" Quotes to Take You to Paradise - Part III

Yukari 'Caroline' Hayasaka' and Jouji 'George' Koizumi strike a pose in Paradise Kiss.

Read Part I and Part II for more ParaKiss quote goodness!

And here we are, at last, the final road to paradise! Without further ado, here’s a final list of great quotes from Volume 3 of Paradise Kiss. What parting advice do our favorite fashion designers and friends have to say? 

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Jun 13, 201318 notes
#Ai Yazawa #Paradise Kiss #manga #anime #teen psychology #psychology #anime quotes #manga quotes #Vertical Inc #shoujo manga #coming-of-age #josei manga
"Paradise Kiss" Quotes to Take You to Paradise - Part II

Artwork from Ai Yazawa's 'Paradise Kiss'

And we’re back with more tickets to paradise! Picking off from where left off in Part I, here’s more quotes from Ai Yazawa’s amazing “Paradise Kiss” series, this time from Volume 2 of Vertical Inc’s re-release, that will get you thinking!

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Jun 7, 201322 notes
#Ai Yazawa #Paradise Kiss #manga #shoujo manga #Vertical Inc. #anime quotes #manga quotes #psychology #josei manga #teen psychology #coming-of-age #anime
"Paradise Kiss" Quotes to Take You to Paradise - Part I

Yukari 'Caroline' Hayasaka and Jouji 'George' Koizumi from Ai Yazawa's coming-of-age story, 'Paradise Kiss'.

If there’s one classic series that that defined youth and coming-of-age, it’s none other than Ai Yazawa’s Paradise Kiss. From the creator of NANA came a series that was not only romantic, stylish, comedic and witty, but it was one that really hit home for many teenagers wondering where their lives will be headed after their school lives end.

The adventures of Yukari “Caroline” Hayasaka and her friends had some inspirational quotes that will take one to their intended paradise. Here’s a collection of quotes that really stand out from Volume 1 of Vertical Inc.’s 2012 re-release of ParaKiss. 

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Jun 4, 201349 notes
#Paradise Kiss #Ai Yazawa #manga #josei manga #Vertical Inc. #psychology #teen psychology #coming-of-age #manga quotes #anime quotes #shoujo manga #anime
A Night of Osamu Tezuka - A Celebration of Manga at Lacoste

Osamu Tezuka promotional banner for the Osamu Tezuka line collection at Lacoste.

The world of Japanese anime/manga culture spread its vibrant aura over NYC as famous clothing brand Lacoste held a party to celebrate its Osamu Tezuka line. What was even better was that Lacoste managed to get Anime Diet to do a panel on the history of anime and manga and how it has emerged to be a worldwide juggernaut.

The party also had a live DJ, catering and some artwork displayed and drawn by NYC-based manga artist, Hiroki Otsuka. Anime Diet’s panel went into a lot of detail about the history of Osamu Tezuka, anime, manga, conventions, cosplay and even pop fashion as well. They brought out a good point in saying if it weren’t for Tezuka, Japanese pop culture probably wouldn’t exist.

While there are criticisms against Tezuka, the fact of the matter is that our precious seiyuus/waifus/doujins/fanservice are his “great-great-great-grandchildren”. He did say comics was his wife and animation his mistress. Who knew tomfoolery could impact the world greatly? Then again, being surrounded by chaos can unlock creativity. 

Enjoy the photos! And much thanks to Anime Diet for schooling folks with Anime/Manga 101!

May 31, 201317 notes
#Osamu Tezuka #manga #history of manga #Anime Diet #Lacoste #anime #Japanese pop culture #psychology #God of Manga #Japan

May 2013

7 posts

Counterattack! Announcing the "Attack on Titan" Infographic

Color page artwork for Hajime Isayama's 'Attack on Titan.'

During the biggest anime convention weekend of 2013 in North America, I received word from one of my favorite people to follow on Twitter, “Ain’t It Cool News” and Crunchyroll News’ own Scott Green, about a certain tidbit during Kodansha Comics’ panel at Anime Boston 2013 when they spoke about Hajime Isayama’s “Attack on Titan”. 

@mangatherapy you’re quoted on Kodansha’s Attack on Titan slides

— AICN Anime (@aicnanime)

May 25, 2013

This is the 2nd time Kodansha has quoted me on their slides as they did the same back at New York Comic-Con 2011. I feel like it’s time I do something special not just for Kodansha, but for anime/manga fans everywhere in the form of an infographic on the popularity of “Attack on Titan”.

An infographic is basically a visual image of information (data, statistics, etc.) displayed with text and pictures. It is often used as a cool way to present information. Readers tend to love them because it’s easier to process data through infographics than just reading walls of text. Here’s an infographic about One Piece. (Full image can be viewed through the picture below.)

One Piece infographic found on Flutterscape.

Expect something like this, but with some ugly Titans and human soldiers in sexy uniforms. The series has become a nationwide phenomenon in Japan and all volumes have been selling out over there. Don’t forget about the crazy humor generated by fans!

I hope to have this done by Anime Expo in early July. If you want to provide any interesting pictures, quotes about the series, statistics, or even advice, I would gladly appreciate it!

I know this is a bit of a huge undertaking, but this is something I want to do for the community and show Japan how much overseas fans are inspired by their anime/manga series. Plus, it’s fun. Everyone needs fun and hard-work fun is amazingly rewarding.

With that said, time to get that computer Maneuver Gear ready. Graphic information warfare, GO!

(Also, please follow Scott Green. He posts A LOT of fun anime and manga pictures/information on his Twitter account, @AICNAnime!)

May 28, 201326 notes
#Attack on Titan #Shingeki no Kyojin #manga infographics #One Piece #power of fandom #social media #Hajime Isayama #Japanese pop culture #manga #anime #Kodansha Comics #AICNAnime #Scott Green
Masashi Kishimoto's "Mario" - Amor di Madre, Amore Senza Limiti

Artwork for Masashi Kishimoto's 'Mario.'

Who would have figured that going from ninjas to mobsters would still provide an interesting look at people? A while ago, Shonen Jump recently released one of Masashi Kishimoto’s oneshots, Mario. It was a story originally drawn in 1998 and brought back in the June 2013 issue of JUMP SQUARE and the May 13, 2013 issue of VIZ’s Shonen Jump. Unlike Naruto, Mario is pretty violent and the setting is much more mature. The main character is noted to be a “mama’s boy” near the end of the story and it poses a question as to why men are still quite fond of the first women in their lives.

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May 25, 201317 notes
#Masashi Kishimoto #Shonen Jump #manga #manga character #manga psychology #psychology #mother love #parental influences #one-shot manga #seinen manga #men loving their mothers #Mario #Masashi Kishimoto Mario
Attack on Fans' Hearts - MangaHelpers Manga Awards 2012 Winners!

Artwork from Volume 2 of Hajime Isayama's 'Attack on Titan' One of today's top series in anime and manga.

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.

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May 21, 201321 notes
#manga #MangaHelpers #Attack on Titan #Shingeki no Kyojin #Hunter x Hunter #manga awards #MH Manga Awards 2012 #Hajime Isayama #Yoshihiro Togashi
A Very Fujoshi Thanksgiving in May

Thanksgiving in May official logo. Found at NBA.com

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!

Promotional artwork for FREE!, Kyoto Animation's next hit that will target fujoshi.

What are you thankful for so far in 2013?

May 16, 201312 notes
#fujoshi #FREE! #Thanksgiving in May #anime #manga #psychology of fujoshi #psychology of gender #sexuality
Finding Humor in the Darkness (Attack on Titan)

A scary Titan in episode 5 of 'Attack on Titan' becomes super kawaii.

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.

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May 8, 201339 notes
#Hajime Isayama #Attack on Titan #anime #manga #psychology #manga psychology #humor #Shingeki no Kyojin #dark humor #psychology of dark humor
Down in the Dumps of Happiness

Tohru Honda of Fruits Basket. A poor girl with abundant 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?

May 3, 201315 notes
#anime #manga #psychology #psychology of happiness #rich versus poor #World of Psychology #Fruits Basket #Gintama #ZETMAN #Hayate the Combat Butler #positive psychology

April 2013

8 posts

The Greatest Contract in the World

Magical Girl Contract Agreement = 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!

Page 2 of the greatest contract in the world.

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.)

Apr 30, 201342 notes
#Puella Magi Madoka Magica #Kyubey #mahou shoujo #magical girls #anime #manga #Sakaya Miki #psychology of creativity #Sakura Matsuri BBG #psychology
Attack on Stress - Overcoming Your Titans With Optimism

Eren Jaeger of 'Attack on Titan', a young man driven by his stress to fight against the Titans.

“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.

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Apr 26, 2013194 notes
#Hajime Isayama #Shingeki no Kyojin #Eren Jaeger #psychology #anime #manga #manga psychology #manga character #psychology of stress #stress #stress as optimism #Attack on Titan
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:

Fan mail message number 1 on Manga Therapy.

Fan mail message number 2 on Manga Therapy.

Fan mail message number 3 on Manga Therapy.

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? 

Apr 23, 201312 notes
#blogging #manga blogging #Manga Therapy #manga #psychology #psychology of manga #manga psychology #fan mail
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.

Apr 19, 20137 notes
#Attack on Titan #Shingeki no Kyojin #anime #manga #Hajime Isayama #Yoko Hikasa #Boston Marathon 2013 #psychology #media psychology #crowd psychology
Critical Thinking FTW? The Fate of Two Uchihas (Naruto)

NARUTO's Sasuke Uchiha and Madara Uchiha, both walking different paths due to critical thinking or lack thereof.

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.

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Apr 15, 201319 notes
#NARUTO #Masashi Kishimoto #manga #Shonen Jump #Uchiha Clan #Sasuke Uchiha #Madara Uchiha #Harashima Senju #Itachi Uchiha #psychology #manga character #psychology of critical thinking #critical thinking #emotional intelligence
Be Right Back - Undergoing Fujoshi Therapy

Sena Akagi, the hardcore fujoshi, returns in Oreimo Season 2!

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*

Apr 9, 20135 notes
#manga #psychology #fujoshi #fujoshi therapy #Oreimo #Sena Agaki #Kuroko no Basket #Pandora Hearts #Blue Exorcist #manga therapy #manga psychology #manga character #Kuroshitsuji #Gintama #Japanese pop culture
I Like It Hard - Why I Still Love Manga in Print

image

“Why yes, I love the smell of freshly printed manga in the morning.”

While buying the latest English volumes of Blue Exorcist and Attack on Titan recently, some thoughts resurfaced on why I still prefer print manga. With JManga biting the dust, people are wondering about the future of manga digitally. To tell you the truth, print is still the primary focus for the manga market overall and a preference that I still love for reasons I’m about to get into below.

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Apr 5, 201322 notes
#manga #media #psychology #media psychology #manga publishing #print manga vs digital manga #digital manga #online manga #print manga #manga industry #print media #digital media
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