The Syotaroh is subtitled “syota-con magazin”, and that is exactly what this amazing book is. Mixing short comic stories, survey results, and guest contributions in the form of one-page questionnaires filled out with a pen, and laid out in an appetizing, crazy, yes passionate style, this is indeed a magazine for shotacons – published as early as August 1996.

I came across this book by way of Yoshimoto Taimatsu (吉本たいまつ), who gives it credit in his work “Another side of ショタアンソロジーを考える : 1994-1999 分析編” (yet to be reviewed). It seems to be very rare. I only found one copy which could only be bought through a flea market app with all kinds of restrictions – in the end I had a Japanese friend order it for me. But at least I got it and I’m now making my way through it, slowly and meticulously – and with joy!

The book starts – after a very sweet prologue comic – with the results of a survey taken by 82 shotacons – 63 women, 18 men, 1 okama. Their answers about their favourite age for boys (12-13), their favourite boy attributes (socks), their favourite boy characters (Romeo from Romeo no Aoi Sora/ロミオの青い空), as well as their thoughts on why they became shotacons provide a unique glimpse into this small and under-researched subculture.

I have just started reading this book and look forward to providing more details as I progress. Manda Ringo’s book seems to be a fantastic resource for shota researchers.