Systemic power imbalances in Japan's manga industry exposed by Shogakukan scandal
Original framing: “Japan’s manga industry faces a ‘#MeToo moment’ after Shogakukan scandal” — South China Morning Post
The original framing omits the role of Japan's broader societal norms in enabling abuse, the lack of legal and institutional support for victims in Japan, and the historical context of power imbalances in creative industries. It also neglects the voices of marginalized creators and the systemic barriers they face.
Medium structural omission detected in mainstream coverage.
This narrative is produced by international media outlets like South China Morning Post for a global audience, framing the scandal through a Western feminist lens. The framing serves to highlight Japan’s cultural lag in gender equality while obscuring the broader systemic issues within the manga industry and the role of corporate power in enabling abuse.
Research on workplace harassment and power dynamics in creative industries shows that hierarchical structures and lack of transparency increase the risk of abuse. Studies also indicate that victims are less likely to report when institutional support is weak, as is the case in Japan's manga industry.
The Shogakukan scandal is not an isolated incident but a symptom of deeper systemic issues in Japan's manga industry, including hierarchical power structures, cultural reverence for authority, and weak institutional safeguards.