rosac said:
EDIT: Also, I don;t know why cousin incest is so big in these animes, creeps me the fuck out. Please just stop.
I've wondered before what motivates anime/manga creators to bring up this very touchy subject to fans. It really creeps me out too when I see it, but maybe it's just because I'm from the west. It's not just cousin incest either - it happens on a lower level with siblings as well. It could be a few things - because of how Japan views gender and sexuality maybe? Or because certain creators have 'sibling/parent/family complexes' and it's a way to project their thoughts without suffering serious repercussions? For example, Japanese mothers apparently had an unhealthy, psychological obsession with their sons back in the 1980s and 1990s.
Another thing to note is the low birth-rate of Japan. You have to wonder if certain creators have any siblings or extended family at all. They may wonder what it was like to have a sibling or extended family members so they decide to create the 'perfect sibling' in their stories to satisfy their own psychological needs. Maybe it's also for shock value - adding incest to shojo stories generates an even greater emotional response. In essence, it causes controversy and gets eyeballs drawn to the stories. Creators might be doing this because they want attention.
Also, for a country that seems to be very traditional, Japan is very open-minded when it comes to sexuality. Japan is pretty comfortable with it because they do not necessarily believe in what we accept as religious morals & ideals. It is accepted, by the Japanese, that Japan was 'procreated' by the union of heaven & earth. The union birthed two gods, Izanagi & Izanami, who wed each other & mated to create the country of Japan & human life there. So, basically, Japan exists because of incest. Sex in Japan is viewed as a celebration of the beginning of life. It is supposed to be happy and loving. There is also a Japanese legend that states that star-crossed lovers are sometimes reborn as siblings.
Another thing is that older siblings (or other older family members) have this inner desire to guide their little siblings properly, because the younger ones greatly admire & look up to them. These factors can create a very intimate relationship. Creators probably want to address the possibility of what happens when developmental psychology goes wrong. How intimate should siblings be when they're around each other?
Regarding gender roles in Japan, women are supposed to be housewives, caretakers, and soft-spoken while men are the go-getters, high income-earners, & aggressive. Combine that with Japan's views on sexuality and you have a recipe for psychological conflict within the self and the family, and creators probably try and address this in anime.
Another interesting thing to point out is that incest is noted to be an act of narcissism. Your relationship with a relative is a means to please yourself. Your partner is treated as an object, so to speak. You lack any empathy whatsoever towards them. You want to control & dominate that person. Perhaps some creators want to point out the control aspect of incest.
Ultimately, I believe Japan is a very sexual country and that won't change any time soon. Plus, Japanese audiences know that anime and manga are entirely fiction. They don't confuse fantasy with reality. Although you may argue that Japan lacks certain morals, it's not as if all the incest-related content over there is fan service or pornographic. People have many curious fascinations and there are things out there that are probably worse than incest.
