Permitted Gaze. An Analysis of Young Japanese Animated Characters and Hypersexualized Content on X/Twitter

Abstract

Japanese popular culture has entered the mainstream, from using Japanese brand mobile phones to growing up with Japanese animation shows and reading Japanese comics. The world has integrated Japanese culture into their daily lives. Japan’s age of consent problem is highlighted in the many depictions of child-like characters that are often sexualised in shows and by fans. This has transverse social media platforms ever since the development of technology and the internet. The study aims to analyse content on X/Twitter, specifically depictions of hypersexualised child-like animated characters from the male and female demographic. It is necessary to study this issue as there are only a few studies on this subject, and most focus on the actual work of the Japanese creators rather than what is being created by the fans.