The Paradox of the Inner Man

The Paradox of the Inner Man

In the previous article, we have seen that it is women who have driven appreciation of a new androgynous aesthetic. As a result, intensive grooming and beautification are now the norm for countless younger men. They feel free to express themselves outwardly in a way...
Masculinity in Japan: Beyond the Singularity

Masculinity in Japan: Beyond the Singularity

Going, going, not quite gone: the “man’s man” Left: Yukio Mishima, an archetypical man’s man Middle: BOSS coffee ad (source) with samurai-inspired image of masculinity Right: LEON, the magazine for the “old guy”                   Showa Man is the embodiment of...
The Paradox of the Inner Man

Shifting Sands: Masculinity in China

In February 2021, China’s Education Ministry issued a notice that called on schools to reform their physical education lessons. The aim? To make boys more traditionally ‘manly’. This immediately generated huge controversy, colliding with the belief of young Chinese...