Upon returning to the States, I realized that, well, Japanese manga’s pretty difficult to read, even when I’ve already taken three years of Japanese. I haven’t really attempted to examine Fruits Basket, but looking at the level of language in Honey & Clover, I’ve realized that josei manga is clearly aimed at an older readership. Yes, it’s kind of obvious, but a simple thing like colloquial language (and boy does H&C show off its conversational vocabulary) really emphasizes the relationship between audience demographics and linguistic content.

My purpose for reading original Japanese manga is two-fold: one, to read the original (providing a bit of context, especially since the Japanese language is so contextual), and two, to improve my Japanese skills. In relation to the latter point, I know that manga isn’t the best type of literature with which to be practicing my reading ability, but the enjoyment accompanying the reading comics certainly helps the ease into education in the long run. The problem that I face: finding manga that fits the right level for my reading abilities.

Book Off is an amazing place. Yes, it boasts a wide range of manga translated into English, but as a Japanese book store it provides access to hundreds of volumes more, especially many series not available in America. Over the past year, I have increasingly wanted to emphasize that fans push themselves to learn the language, because I feel that knowledge puts approaches to Japanese popular culture into a more authentic context while providing a means of entry into pursuing media other than those issued by American publishers. Then again, I can appreciate those fans that watch anime out of a passion for it, whether or not it’s translated. SDS recently thought about this, writing, “One should not presume to speak authoritatively about anime and manga without at least understanding a little about the “language” that accompanies them. I of course am not saying you should literally study Japanese (although it can certainly help) but that you should not pigeonhole anime and manga entirely into the context of your own field, subordinating it to your greater topic while simultaneously denying its own creative and artistic language and structures.” Though I’m not sure there’s an intrinsic connection between language and such denial, I do agree that ignoring part of the context of the media — namely the linguistic element — challenges a full understanding of the work as a whole.

Anyway, last weekend after hanging out at a reunion with my friends from the Kyoto Consortium for Japanese Studies, I picked up the above three books, which cost me a total of $2.50 (another reason why Book Off is amazing: really low prices, even when it’s imported manga). The first is a light novel adaptation of the Pokemon series, which covers up to about episode six of the televised series. The second is Beck: I’ve seen the anime, so I assume an easier comprehension, yet it was also published in Monthly Shonen Magazine (Kodansha), a comics magazine for younger readers, so almost all of the kanji have associated furigana. The third is Blackjack ni Yoroshiku, a new take on Tezuka’s Blackjack but set inside the hospital infrastructure. This last text might have been a stretch, because I realize it’s going to contain a lot of medical terms, but maybe it’ll help with my kanji reading (I need to start learning more than just kyouiku kanji, especially for the JLPT 2 exam in December).

I had an idea while choosing these manga though. Currently, there is no database for manga based on both review and level of Japanese. So, for those learning the Japanese language, we have to go by intimate recommendation or personal experience. However, I’m sure that a project like this could easily be crowdsourced by a small group of anime fans, to help a unique set of fans learn to pick up good manga without turning them away because they lack the linguistic ability. So, if someone’s interested in possibly setting this up, I have a few hours free to help out.

But then off again to Anime Expo!

Sorry for the aberrant hiatus, everyone. Been really busy in the past few weeks with:

- Open Video Conference, where I spoke about the anime fandom’s balancing act of video culture and copyright law
- Web Ecology Project: We released a white paper full of quantitative analysis about how ideas move in the discourse regarding the Iranian Election on Twitter
- Hanging out in NYC with the crew from my Kyoto study abroad group (KCJS)

I really want/need to write articles this week, so I’ll try to get a lot of content up soon. But I have a lot on my plate right now, specifically fandom research in California and drawing up grant proposals for fandom research in Boston and Tokyo.

Good news is that come Thursday I’ll be in Los Angeles, speaking at Anime Expo. I have four panels lined up, which are:

Anime and Manga in Academia
Saturday, July 04, 2009 6:00pm to 6:50pm – LP 2
Whether you have just begun studying anime and manga seriously or are already well into your studies, this panel will guide you on the path from fan to established Japanese popular culture scholar.

Introduction to Anime/Manga Studies
Friday, July 03, 2009 10:30am to 11:20am – LP 3
Ever wanted to write a school paper on religion in Naruto? Read a book on Neon Genesis Evangelion? Or even get a college degree in otaku studies? Come meet the members of the Anime/Manga Research Circle!

The Problem with Otaku
Sunday, July 05, 2009 12:00pm to 12:50pm LP 2
From 1980s science fiction geeks, the concept of otaku has wholly transformed in Japan and America. We’ll examine the history and controversies of the most crucial part of the anime fandom: the fans.

Without Watching the Anime: Opening & Ending Themes
Friday, July 03, 2009 6:00pm to 6:50pm LP 3
When we watch anime, we tend to ignore what begins and ends series. But these small clips matter too! We’ll discuss history and music, and show some of the most influential OPs & EDs out there.

The rest of my potential schedule looks like this:

Thursday
- Digital Manga Publishing Industry Panel & eManga Demonstration (will miss due to plane arrival)
- Kouga Guest Panel (may miss due to plane arrival)
- Morikawa Guest Panel (may miss due to plane arrival)
- Morning Musume Guest Panel
- Imaishi & Nishigori Guest Panel
- Right Stuf & Nozomi Entertainment Industry Panel
- eigoMANGA Industry Panel
- Japan’s Hottest Doujin Videogames
- Gainax Focus Panel
- The Making of Gurren Lagann Documentary

Friday
- Introduction to Anime/Manga Studies
- Mizushima & Kuroda Guest Panel
- Gundam: The 30 Year Anniversary
- Manga as High Art
- VIZ Media Anime & Manga Panel
- Evangelion 1.0.1 Panel (won’t have time to see the movie due to…)
- Without Watching the Anime: OPs & EDs

Saturday
- The Indecent Otaku Comedy Hour
- Nightow & Nishimura Guest Panel
- Digital Distribution of Anime & Manga
- FUNimation Industry Panel
- Anime & Manga in Academia

Sunday
- Directors Panel [or] Breaking Into Anime Journalism [or] Convention Feedback Session
- Crunchyroll Panel [or] SPJA Board of Directors Panel
- The Problem with Otaku
- Production I.G.
- Closing Ceremonies

Also, I’m still scheduled to speak on a number of panels at Otakon, so if you’re not available to fly out to California this week, I’ll see you in Baltimore!