Chapter 13 Cosplay Trends (1)

  "No, you don't understand, Mr. Tetsuzo. Do you know how many people lived in Japan in 1988? 130 million! Half of them were women! Can you deny this fact? Of course not! You also can't deny another fact that even after the war when women's rights weren't liberated, the number of women with voting rights was always higher than men. And you must know that in the House of Representatives elections, the female voting rate has been around 70%. In 1946, at Japan's 22nd House of Representatives election, Japanese women exercised their right to vote for the first time, and the number of women with voting rights reached 20.56 million, about 4.24 million more than men. The female voting rate was as high as 66.97%. And after the 32nd House of Representatives election in 1969, the female voting rate has always been higher than men's. In other words, currently, the number of votes from Japanese women is steadily higher than men's! The situation in the House of Councillors is almost the same as the House of Representatives! Do you think the Japan Communist Party can really ignore the importance of Japanese women in general elections? I'm telling you clearly, you can't!"

  ……

  "Comrade, tell me, what is the goal of the Japanese Communist Party? Good, very good, to liberate Japan and gain national independence. But can this be achieved with only about half of the men? Of course not. Then what about women? Do you think that women, who are treated as puppets under male chauvinism, can play a significant role? A little or a lot? I'll tell you, it's just a tiny bit, an insignificant amount! If you want to turn this insignificant amount into something more, unite with women and gain their support! Not just by appointing or assigning them, but by truly letting Japanese women participate in the affairs of state. Liberate their minds, free them from their shackles, rather than making them like puppets, only bound by duty to follow orders."

  ……

  "The Japanese Communist Party wants to unite with other political parties, but the question is what position they will take and how they will unite. I'm sure everyone knows that Doi Takako entered Japanese politics in 1960, was elected to the House of Representatives in 1969, and became the chairwoman of the Socialist Party in 1986 - Japan's Thatcher, a steadfast advocate for women's liberation! The Japanese Communist Party has lost a lot of public support under the influence of the extreme left-wing Red Army and has become a synonym for terrorism. If the Socialist Party openly expresses its intention to unite with the Japanese Communist Party, it will lose a lot of support from Japanese citizens. Do you think Doi Takako would make such a mistake? No, she won't! With the strong influence of the Socialist Party today, Ms. Doi absolutely won't make such a mistake. Therefore, if the Japanese Communist Party wants to contact the Socialist Party, it needs to use another approach - a roundabout tactic! The Japan Women's Rights Association is the center of this roundabout tactic!"

  ……

  "Hiratsuka Raichō once described the original woman as the sun, a true human being. Now they have become the moon, relying on others to survive, relying on others' light to shine, with a pale complexion like a patient's. But in women lies great potential. We must break through the old feudal society's inhumane constraints, use our own strength to awaken the hidden sun once again, unshakeably establish ourselves, and reclaim our own freedom and dignity. This is her call, and my declaration!"

  ……

  This is the first time Tanaka Nana has faced so many people to give a speech, and it's clear that her speech carries a very obvious Jerry style. Even though she had practiced with Jerry many times, on some key points of explanation, Tanaka Nana still didn't quite handle them properly. However, in Jerry's opinion, being able to achieve such an effect in such a short time is already not bad!

  The authority of men remains unchanged, and the whole society is like this. In Japan, this atmosphere is even more prevalent. As for what to do next, it can only be said that one can only try their best and follow the will of heaven! However, Jerry has no doubt that the Japanese Communist Party will take the bait. To get rid of the influence of the extreme left-wing Red Army, another way must be used. The emergence of the Women's Rights Federation is undoubtedly a shortcut to success!

  "Miss Cai, your brilliant speech reminded me of Ichikawa Fusae and Nakasone Genzō! I hope that in terms of overall direction, you won't follow in the footsteps of Ichikawa Fusae by taking a right-wing path and ultimately getting lost on the road to women's liberation, nor will you follow in the footsteps of Nakasone Genzō by taking an ultra-left path and becoming a terrorist in Japan!"

  "Mr. Miyamoto, you can rest assured that the mistakes of Ichikawa Fusae have both historical contingency and inevitability. Under the fascist military regime's control of Japan and the support of imperial nationalism, it was completely predictable that Ichikawa Fusae would make such mistakes. The Women's Suffrage Association will not use violent armed means to gain women's rights. They won't, nor can they, follow in the footsteps of the Red Army! Times are progressing, and revolutionary methods are also changing, just like the Japanese Communist Party! Mr. Miyamoto, when you mention Ichikawa Fusae and Shigeko, don't forget another person, that is, Hiratsuka Raichō mentioned by Nene." Jerry took over the topic directly in response to Miyamoto's question.

  "I hope your idea is correct!" Looking at the slightly moved Noboru Tetsuzo, Miyamoto Kenji seemed a bit helpless. Perhaps this was a way out. If Yuriko were here, I wonder what she would think! (Miyamoto Yuriko, Miyamoto Kenji's wife, renowned Japanese female writer, new woman of the era, deceased!)

  After leaving San Sheng Tang, Tanaka Nana's face still had a small flush of red, and her excitement hadn't completely subsided yet!

  "Jerry, how do you think I did?"

  "Uh-huh, although there's still some slight tension, overall it's really great! Kanako, you have to believe in yourself, you have the potential! Fly like Hiratsuka Raicho!"

  "Hi!"

  Raichō Hiratsuka, born Hiratsuka Haruko, was a prominent Japanese feminist leader and one of the founders of the magazine "Seitō" (Bluestocking). Initially created as a literary magazine to cultivate women writers, it later transformed into a specialized publication focused on women's issues, filled with painful discussions about women's economic independence, self-realization, and the difficulties of balancing family responsibilities. The Bluestocking Society spread Western progressive ideas, criticizing feudalistic family systems, old morals, advocating for free love, and promoting women's liberation, causing a significant stir in society, leading to a thought movement for women's liberation, marking the beginning of Japan's modern feminist movement.

  The reason why Japanese women were willing to sacrifice their bodies for militarism during World War II is closely related to the women's liberation movement in Japan! The ignorant actions of Japanese women during World War II, such as "losing their minds and going crazy", were carried out under the leadership of Ichikawa Fusae, one of the leaders of the women's liberation movement in Japan. During the September 18th Incident, Ichikawa Fusae opposed war from an absolute pacifist position due to concerns about the possibility of fascist politics in Japan and her instinct as a woman against war. However, after the Marco Polo Bridge Incident, when Japan launched a full-scale invasion of China, Ichikawa Fusae joined the ranks of those promoting and supporting the war, driven by a strong sense of "mission" and "responsibility" for the country and women, and fantasizing that this behavior would ultimately lead to the liberation of Japanese women.

  For this purpose, she established the Japanese Women's Union League, which brought together eight women's groups that had been participating in the women's liberation movement: the Fujin Kyofukai (Women's Christian Temperance Union), the Zenkoku Fujinkai (National Women's Association), the Nihon Kirisutokyo Fujin Kyokai (Japan Christian Women's Society), the Nihon Joshi Igakkai (Japanese Women Physicians' Association), the Kirisuto Josei Seinenkai Nihon Domei (Young Women's Christian Association of Japan), the Shohi Kumiai Fujinkai (Consumers' Cooperative Women's Association), the Fujin Heiwa Kyokai (Women's Peace Association), and the Fusen Kakutoku Domei (Universal Suffrage Acquisition League). The Japanese women's movement began to shift towards activities such as sending off soldiers departing for overseas, consoling families of soldiers, comforting soldiers on the battlefield, and making donations for national defense.

  Hiratsuka Raichō left the women's organization due to differences in political views with Ichikawa Fusae. After World War II, she stood on the front line of the anti-war and peace movement, fighting until her death in 1971!

  These are two women with the same dream but on two completely different paths!

  As for Shigenobu Fusako, the leader of the Red Army is still active in the Middle East region, adhering to her faith and creating one after another terrorist incident in the eyes of Westerners!

  Walking out of San Sheng Tang, what comes into view is a bright and beautiful spring scene!

  "Is it Cai Cai Zi?"

  "Hmm? Something wrong, Jerry?"

  "Have you thought about which character to use as a CosPy object?"

  "Jerry, is it really going to be like this?"

  "Of course! You're a national idol, not just you, Ozaki-san, Hifumi-san, Hidetaka-kun, Inoue-kun, all employees of the company, including Baeko Obasan, need to make good choices! This is necessary propaganda!"

  "But..."

  "No way, it's gotta be! Like Rei Ayanami from 'Eva', yeah, she's got short hair but that's okay, Nana can wear a wig!"

  "Ah~"

  Rias Gremory, swimsuit!

  "Don't like it? Then let's change to another one, the Xiang Guan Hua in 'Mobile Police', Bingo! This role, police uniform, straight hair, cool and calm, very suitable for a new era woman!" Ah, Xiang Guan Hua, the seductive female police officer in her cool uniform!

  If "King of Fighters" were released, Jerry would like to see Chanchai's Hinokuni dance costume, um, Chunli's costume is also okay, but CAP's "Street Fighter" has a mediocre response in Japan.

  Of course, Jerry still thinks that a cool and elegant policewoman suits her best at present!

  "Jerry, you can't do this! Unless... unless you choose a role too!"

  "Me? Haha, I've already made my choice!"

  "Hmm? Which character did you choose?"

  Jerry made a gesture of putting on glasses and pointed forward with his hand, "There is only one truth!"

  "Alright then, Jerry, I'll choose Yukiko Udou! It suits me better!"

  Tanaka Nanae said so, but in her heart she was thinking, hmm, actually I still like Mouri Ran!

  Nanako, you really do have pedophilia!

  In March 1988, the whole youth IC company was in a busy state!

  "Inoue-kun, do you want to cosplay as Sakura Haruno? Hmm, your face shape is quite similar, but it seems like your height isn't enough, hmm~ That's no problem at all, we can just take the photo from a low angle. Izumi-kun, Izumi-kun, bring me that bottle of hair dye, Inoue-kun's hair needs to be dyed. Hey, don't run away, Inoue-kun! Sakura Haruno is a redhead, after all!"

  ……

  "Miss Hoshino, what role did you choose? Ah? Fukatomu Akira? No way, you're a woman! You should've chosen a female character, Segawa Mizuki or Onuma Shizuka would be fine! Alright alright, you're a new woman, the greatest, but do you really have to wear the full armor set? That way no one will recognize who you are. Oh, so you're going to take off half of the mask like on the cover? I see! Squeeze squeeze~ Ah, Gotou-kun, what's with the intense killing intent? I'm just checking the flexibility of the armor, no need for that! Hey~ Gotou-kun, are you planning on making a guest appearance in 'Full Metal Panic'? K?pt'n number three? Alright, but can you please suck in your gut?"

  Jerry never thought that someone like Chūtō-bi would actually like cross-dressing Cos, but it makes sense why she'd end up drawing "Secretly in Love with You". Cross-dressing really does have a deep origin! But anyway, the fact that this woman can also draw such explosive comics is something that's made Jerry look at her in a new light. "Power Armor" was a huge hit as soon as it started serialization!

  ……

  "Kazuki-kun, what's with the huge X on your face?! You're not thinking of cosplaying as Kenshin, are you?! God, have mercy on me! I don't want this classic image to be ruined by your hands! Oda-kun, Oda-kun, quickly grab him and strip off his clothes. No way, we can't let him cosplay as Kenshin! You do it instead, yes, your image is more suitable! As for your teacher, never mind, just humor him and let him cosplay as Hiko Seijuro!"

  ……

  "Ozaki-san, Ozaki-san, who are you?! Ahh, help me, okay, I know it's you Ozaki-san, stop pinching me! You're so violent! What are you doing? Are you cosplaying as Minori Hyuga? You're not as handsome as him! Okay, I was wrong, I was wrong, you're more handsome than him, is that enough?! If you cosplay as Minori Hyuga, who's going to cosplay as Takeru Someno? Asahina-san?! You two are so tacky!"

  ……