> can only see it through your cultural lens
Thanks for this. I read this as you presuming me to be a Westerner Social Justice Warrior making gender progressive criticism. Rereading my comment, I can see how it may be interpreted this way interpreted.
To be clear, my original comment was not a criticism of Toriyama Akira, nor a suggesting Japan needs to be more gender progressive. The fact that people project this issue and respond so defensively is an indicator that gender issues remain a thorn in Japan.
> According to Shonen jumps own statistics, about 40% of their readers are women
Do they report if 40% of their executives or artists are women?
In general, we shouldn't take a company or institutions words at face value and look at what they actually do. According to China Evergrande and FTX's own sheets, they had health balance sheets. By China and Japan's own statistics, they have conflicting numbers on geopolitical matters.
I'm not saying Shonen Jump is in the same group as shady companies, but they are a for profit organization. Of course they are increasingly financially incentivized to not limit their customer base. If they were serious about being universal, they can change their name. Let's not evade around the fact that Shonen doesn't literally means 'boy'. I'm not suggesting that Shonen Jump needs to change their name, I'm just saying if they actually cared about gender equality, other then profiting off half the population, you'd see this reflected more.
Even if this cherry picked statistic is true, there could be more to it. I acknowledge Shonen Jump is increasing its female reader base, but that doesn't mean the bulk of their content is male centric. Maybe there's one series that appeals to female audience.
> They are very well aware of that fact and takes that in to account when they accept new series in to the magazine.
So I'm not wrong to suggest that the industry and company has been, atleast historically, male centric?
> have a theme, which explicitly is "friendship, effort and victory"
It seems most of the victories are through physical combat. From my western "cultural lens", that's usually a sign of male centricity.
> their reader, guys or girls, old or young
Would love to see a statistic on what percentage of Shonen Jump's readers are 60 year old ladies.
> I think you're down voted because you have a shallow understanding of the topic... don't fully understand how the Manga culture
My understanding is shallow because the subject is not deep. It's only complex if you to do mental gymnastics to defend and explain away Japan's male patriarchy.
Since you want to portray that culture is more progressive then it is, and it is I who is ignorant to how progressive the culture is, can you enlighten me why all female artist collectives like this exist? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clamp_(manga_artists). Are there major publishing houses ran by such groups of women?
> (and somehow think mentioning that on a post he died, is appropriate)
I never criticized Toriyama Akira. It is people who are projecting gender progressive issues