Takarazuka: Sexual Politics and Popular Culture in Modern Japan

Rating:
Summary: amazing
Review: The mere fact that the author puts so much effort into examining sexuality and androgeny in Japan is commendable. The book gives a lot of insight to Sexuality in Japan (mostly 2oth C.) through her analysis of the all-female Takarazuka Revue founded in 1919.

Chapters include (1) Ambivalence and Popular Culture; (2) Staging Androgeny; (3) Performing Empire; (4) Fan Pathology; (5) Writing Fans.

Chapters 1,2 and 3 I thought were particularly well-written and informative. Robertson does a great job examining gender roles and performances that are often very permeable (despite the fact that many people are in delian of this). great book.