This is an ethnographic study about how people engage with Japanese shota comics.

The study is independently conducted by me, K. Andersson. I have a master’s degree in Visual and Media Anthropology from the Free University of Berlin, Germany.

The first part of the study is now concluded. The findings are presented in the book Impossibly Cute Boys: The Healing Power of Shota Comics in Japan.

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Purpose

The purpose of this study is to understand how people who like shota comics think about the content of these comics, and how they relate it to their everyday lives.

Participation

If you like shota comics and are at least 18 years old, you can participate in the study.

The focus of the study is shota fans in Japan, but English-speaking shota fans who are at least 18 years old are welcome to take the English questionnaire.

Participation is anonymous!

Your answers may be published anonymously in various research publications, including films or video essays. I will not ask for your name. If you provide an email address, I urge to use one that does not reveal your real name.

You will not receive any compensation for participating in this study.

Results

The results of this study will be published mainly in research articles, books, and dōjinshi, but may also be published in documentaries and video essays that may be publicly available, such as on Youtube.

Timeline

Participation beyond the questionnaire

Optional: Interview

In an interview (research conversation) I would ask you about your thoughts about shota. The questions are similar to this survey, but in an interview we can have a deeper conversation. The interview would be arranged according to your convenience, either in Japan or online. I will ask for your consent to make a private recording of the interview for the purpose of my own understanding.

The interview will take up to two hours, with a break after one hour.

You can indicate your interest in an interview on the last page of the questionnaire, but you can also contact me directly about it: info AT shotaology.com

Optional: Filmmaking

Filmmaking can be a way to understand your engagement with shota in a different way. I would start by filming our interview in an anonymous way, but would also be interested in filming you in various everyday situations related to shota – also anonymously. The resulting film (documentary or short movie) would be publicly released.

Filmmaking would take up to three hours, with breaks as needed. We can also film on several occasions, according to your convenience.

You can indicate your interest in filmmaking on the last page of the questionnaire, but you can also contact me directly about it: info AT shotaology.com

Contact

For any questions about the study or your participation in it, please send me an email or DM:

info AT shotaology.com

X: @shotaology