Shōjo [少女] also romanized as Shoujo, is the Japanese word for young girl
There is a lot more to manga than just a strong protagonist, an unshakeable villain and their unending quest for supremacy. Manga can also be a symbol of women empowerment as is the case with Shojo manga - a genre of comics targeted toward young girls.
Previously, only male artists contributed to Shojo magazines. However, by the efforts of pioneering female mangaka - women seated their dominance in the genre and expanded beyond crushes and romance to science fiction, fantasy and comedy.
Shojo exhibition
The Japan foundation in Delhi organized an exhibition celebrating the works of three female artists who spearheaded the Shojo manga movement - Toshiko Ueda, Masako Watanabe and Keiko Takemiya.
Their intricately detailed signed drawings were displayed at the venue showcasing the growth and evolution of the genre from 1930s to 1980s.
Shojo has gained popularity outside its target audience. In fact, over the years it has become increasingly difficult to distinguish between Shonen [manga for adolescent boys] and Shojo - although some distinctions can still be made.
Shonen VS Shojo
- The protagonist in Shonen is a young boy while that in Shojo is generally a girl.
- Shonen is action heavy while Shojo is emotion heavy.
- Friendship is the driving factor in Shonen, while that in Shojo is reality.
- Shojo story is shorter while Shonen may be never ending.
- Shonen does not focus too much on appearance whereas Shojo character is fashionable and trendy.
Popular examples of Shonen manga include: One punch man, Bleach, Naruto, etc. Some famous Shojo manga are: Nana, Fruits basket, Ouran high school host club, etc.
At the start, the major theme in Shojo manga was romance - which has changed through decades as writers incorporated the elements of science fiction, fantasy, drama and action.
Best Shojo anime
- Banana fish (action)
- Nana (drama)
- Toward the terra (sci-fi)
- Sailor moon (fantasy)
- Maid sama (comedy)
Best Shojo movies
- Orange
- From up on poppy hill
- Whisper of the heart
- Hotarubi no Mori e
- The girl who leapt through time
On ending note, the exhibition by Japan foundation was a stark reminder of contributions by female artists to the manga and anime industry. Shōjo as a genre is a unique symbol of independence and empowerment, that is destined to attract more fans in the future.