Shoujo Circle
@shoujocircle.bsky.social
Exploring the world of Japanese shoujo and girl's love media of the pre-war and mid-century years for an English-speaking audience. Contact: shoujocircle@outlook.com
New belated profile pic for fall! Entitled "Purple" from the October 1935 issue of Shoujo no Tomo.
November 19, 2025 at 10:52 PM
New belated profile pic for fall! Entitled "Purple" from the October 1935 issue of Shoujo no Tomo.
This scene and outfit has been depicted in other cover illustrations, by Katsuji Matsumoto (left) and Masami Matsumoto (right, no relation).
August 25, 2025 at 10:20 PM
This scene and outfit has been depicted in other cover illustrations, by Katsuji Matsumoto (left) and Masami Matsumoto (right, no relation).
An illustration my Kashou Takabatake featuring a scene from Nobuko Yoshiya's book "Wasurenagusa" (Forget-Me-Not) from 1932. It depicts Makiko, dressed in drag, going to a party with Youko.
August 25, 2025 at 10:18 PM
An illustration my Kashou Takabatake featuring a scene from Nobuko Yoshiya's book "Wasurenagusa" (Forget-Me-Not) from 1932. It depicts Makiko, dressed in drag, going to a party with Youko.
This scene was depicted a few other times by illustrators for this book, including the covers made by Katsuji Matsumoto (left) and Masami Matsumoto (right, no relation).
August 25, 2025 at 9:39 PM
This scene was depicted a few other times by illustrators for this book, including the covers made by Katsuji Matsumoto (left) and Masami Matsumoto (right, no relation).
August 1936 cover of Shoujo no Tomo, by Junichi Nakahara.
August 11, 2025 at 10:16 PM
August 1936 cover of Shoujo no Tomo, by Junichi Nakahara.
Cover of Junior Soleil, by René Naito. July 1959.
July 25, 2025 at 1:08 AM
Cover of Junior Soleil, by René Naito. July 1959.
Little Red Riding Hood by Junichi Nakahara, 1930s.
July 18, 2025 at 11:41 PM
Little Red Riding Hood by Junichi Nakahara, 1930s.
Kashou Takabatake, 1920s.
July 16, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Kashou Takabatake, 1920s.
Kouji Fukiya, 1920s.
July 15, 2025 at 11:35 PM
Kouji Fukiya, 1920s.
Illustration in Shoujo no Tomo by Junichi Nakahara, 1939. Depicts two of the main characters of Otome no Minato (a foundational shoujo novel) by Tsuneko Nakazato, Michiko on the left and Youko on the right.
July 14, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Illustration in Shoujo no Tomo by Junichi Nakahara, 1939. Depicts two of the main characters of Otome no Minato (a foundational shoujo novel) by Tsuneko Nakazato, Michiko on the left and Youko on the right.
"Look, Fairies! Take a Picture!" by Shigeru Hatsuyama, 1933.
July 12, 2025 at 10:55 PM
"Look, Fairies! Take a Picture!" by Shigeru Hatsuyama, 1933.
Cover of "Blue Note / Boy" by Nobuko Yoshiya, cover art by Katsuji Matsumoto.
July 11, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Cover of "Blue Note / Boy" by Nobuko Yoshiya, cover art by Katsuji Matsumoto.
"Firefly Hunting" by Shigeru Sudou, 1926
July 11, 2025 at 12:13 AM
"Firefly Hunting" by Shigeru Sudou, 1926
Illustration for an adaption of "Enoch Arden" for the magazine Himawari in 1950, Junichi Nakahara.
July 9, 2025 at 11:07 PM
Illustration for an adaption of "Enoch Arden" for the magazine Himawari in 1950, Junichi Nakahara.
He returned to Japan in 1933, but unfortunately took ill not long after. He died some months later in 1934 at the age of 49, a shock to many of his friends and colleagues in the creative community. His influence is undeniable even today in shoujo and children's art from Japan.
April 3, 2025 at 9:28 PM
He returned to Japan in 1933, but unfortunately took ill not long after. He died some months later in 1934 at the age of 49, a shock to many of his friends and colleagues in the creative community. His influence is undeniable even today in shoujo and children's art from Japan.
Despite the setbacks, he was able to use his success to travel around Japan, and made connections with many artists of the day including Kashou Takabatake and Kouji Fukiya. By 1931, he planned to tour the world, going to both the US and Germany, though the exhibits there were unsuccessful.
April 3, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Despite the setbacks, he was able to use his success to travel around Japan, and made connections with many artists of the day including Kashou Takabatake and Kouji Fukiya. By 1931, he planned to tour the world, going to both the US and Germany, though the exhibits there were unsuccessful.
He would find more mainstream success writing poems and doing art for various children's and girl's magazines throughout the 1910s-20s. The 1923 Great Kanto earthquake destroyed his business, however, and he created a series of artwork reflecting the pain of that period.
April 3, 2025 at 9:27 PM
He would find more mainstream success writing poems and doing art for various children's and girl's magazines throughout the 1910s-20s. The 1923 Great Kanto earthquake destroyed his business, however, and he created a series of artwork reflecting the pain of that period.
Yumeji Takehisa was one of the first shoujo artists, and was one of the most influential of his day. Almost all other names of the era had some connection to him, and he did work for many shoujo magazines of the day. His unique aesthetic style set the stage for pop art in the 20th century.
April 3, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Yumeji Takehisa was one of the first shoujo artists, and was one of the most influential of his day. Almost all other names of the era had some connection to him, and he did work for many shoujo magazines of the day. His unique aesthetic style set the stage for pop art in the 20th century.
New profile picture for spring, the April 1939 cover illustration by Junichi Nakahara. We are looking into starting a blog to help be a reference point in English for information regarding the artists and writers of the era. Stay tuned!
March 19, 2025 at 10:31 PM
New profile picture for spring, the April 1939 cover illustration by Junichi Nakahara. We are looking into starting a blog to help be a reference point in English for information regarding the artists and writers of the era. Stay tuned!
Takabatake's work would fall quickly into obscurity after WWII, moreso even than his contemporaries, passing away in 1966. While revivals of interest in his work would happen over the decades, he remains fairly obscure to this day, despite being instrumental in 20th century Japanese pop art.
February 24, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Takabatake's work would fall quickly into obscurity after WWII, moreso even than his contemporaries, passing away in 1966. While revivals of interest in his work would happen over the decades, he remains fairly obscure to this day, despite being instrumental in 20th century Japanese pop art.
During his stint with Shoujo Gahou, his work would appear alongside early Girls' Love stories by Nobuko Yoshiya, and sometimes illustrating the themes in them. Naturally these were softer depictions, but nonetheless daring for the era.
February 24, 2025 at 10:03 PM
During his stint with Shoujo Gahou, his work would appear alongside early Girls' Love stories by Nobuko Yoshiya, and sometimes illustrating the themes in them. Naturally these were softer depictions, but nonetheless daring for the era.
Along with being a pioneer in the bishoujo and bishounen genres, he often depicted both young women and men in close, intimate situations. Men and boys were often depicted in competitive or occasionally violent situations.
February 24, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Along with being a pioneer in the bishoujo and bishounen genres, he often depicted both young women and men in close, intimate situations. Men and boys were often depicted in competitive or occasionally violent situations.
He did art for a wide variety of magazines in the 20s and 30s, notably doing cover art for Shoujo Gahou (Girls Pictorial), Shounen Club, and the children's magazine Kin no Fune (Golden Ship), but did illustrations for many more. He was so popular he was even mentioned in a popular song.
February 24, 2025 at 9:59 PM
He did art for a wide variety of magazines in the 20s and 30s, notably doing cover art for Shoujo Gahou (Girls Pictorial), Shounen Club, and the children's magazine Kin no Fune (Golden Ship), but did illustrations for many more. He was so popular he was even mentioned in a popular song.
Kashou Takabatake (高畠華宵) was perhaps the most popular artist for young people in the 1920s, his work often capturing the essence of an era known for rapid cultural and aesthetic change. He is also one of the earliest artists with a focus on same-sex affection for both young women and men.
February 24, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Kashou Takabatake (高畠華宵) was perhaps the most popular artist for young people in the 1920s, his work often capturing the essence of an era known for rapid cultural and aesthetic change. He is also one of the earliest artists with a focus on same-sex affection for both young women and men.
His impact on the doll hobby in Japan is notable, as several contemporary doll companies have paid homage to him, from commemorative Licca dolls from Takara Tomy to much more expensive Dollfie Dreams dolls from Volks.
January 30, 2025 at 12:03 AM
His impact on the doll hobby in Japan is notable, as several contemporary doll companies have paid homage to him, from commemorative Licca dolls from Takara Tomy to much more expensive Dollfie Dreams dolls from Volks.