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
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).
Whoops I did mix them up. Might as well repost.
August 25, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Whoops I did mix them up. Might as well repost.
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).
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.
A leftist at this time, he would make friends with socialists and do political art for Heimin Shinbun, a leftist newspaper. In 1910, he was arrested and detained for 2 days, then released, on suspicion of being part of the High Treason Incident, an alleged plot to kill Emperor Meiji.
April 3, 2025 at 9:25 PM
A leftist at this time, he would make friends with socialists and do political art for Heimin Shinbun, a leftist newspaper. In 1910, he was arrested and detained for 2 days, then released, on suspicion of being part of the High Treason Incident, an alleged plot to kill Emperor Meiji.
Born in Okayama in 1882 and raised in Kobe, he would run away from home in 1901 at the age of 17, going to Tokyo without any real support. He took art in a private academy and started his career doing art for newspapers and magazines from 1905.
April 3, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Born in Okayama in 1882 and raised in Kobe, he would run away from home in 1901 at the age of 17, going to Tokyo without any real support. He took art in a private academy and started his career doing art for newspapers and magazines from 1905.