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 university age. Bishoujo is not listed as a word in the prominent Japanese dictionary Kōjien. A variant named biyōjo (美幼女?) refers to a girl before the age of adolescence.
Bishōjo in manga and anime
- See also: Moe drawing
Bishōjo are seen in almost all genres of anime and manga, ranging from shōjo to mecha, but especially dating sims 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 (though not always) targeted towards a male audience.
Bishōjo contests
A beauty pageant, the Japan Bishojo Contest, has been run since 1985. Singing star Aya Ueto first became famous through this contest televised at the age of twelve. Model and actress Ryoko Yonekura also won a bishōjo contest in 1992.
See also
- Bishōjo game
- BL for bishōnen anime
- Cuteness in Japanese culture
- Moe
