Bishōjo

Bishōjo (美少女; びしょうじょ; literally, "beautiful young girl"), also spelled bishoujo, is a Japanese term used to refer to young and pretty girls, usually below college age. Bishoujo is not listed as a word in the prominent Japanese dictionary Kojien.

Bishōjo in manga and anime

Bishōjo are seen in almost all genres of anime and manga, ranging from shōjo to mecha, but especially renai games and so-called harem anime. It is sometimes considered the most mild form of fanservice, particularly if older women would be more appropriate characters. A "bishōjo series" is a series directed towards a male audience predominantly featuring such characters, and usually a single token male character, if any. The main draws for this audience are typically the art and the attractive female characters, and the term is sometimes itself perceived negatively as a "genre" solely depending on its marketability of cute characters.

It is distinguished from the similar sounding shōjo demographic by referring to the gender of the characters, not the intended audience. Shōjo is manga/anime for girls; bishōjo is manga/anime about pretty girls, usually targeted towards a male audience.

Moé style

A style called "moé style" is often used on (but not limited to) drawing bishoujo. It is very common in manga and anime. Moé style features are:

Big eyes
Big pupil and Iris
Short body figure
Slim limbs
Small simple nose
Flat face
Slim body frame

Further more, the transparent feeling of pupils and the "stars" like reflection in eyes are often exaggrated, regardless of surrounding lighting.

Bishōjo contests

Singing star Aya Ueto first became famous through a televised national bishōjo beauty contest at the age of twelve. Model and actress Ryoko Yonekura also won one in 1992.

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Bishōjo in manga and anime

Moé style

Bishōjo contests

See also