Katsucon
dares to do what most other conventions don't; invite erotic manga artists
as guests of honor. A few years earlier they brought Kondom of Bondage
Fairies fame to Virginia, and in 2003 the featured erotic artist was Kazuki
Kotobuki who specializes in S&M stories. On the one hand, Kotobuki
says "I try my best to put out material that celebrates the wonders and
beauties of women, and celebrates how erotic and desirable they can be."
Then when talking about his stories, he notes that "I'm assuming that in
the United States mixing blood and sex is a big taboo."
Kotobuki
is blunt in saying that reader of his stories are looking for the sex,
and his job is to provide what they want. "Considering what I create, I
think I need to keep in mind that my readers are looking for one certain
thing - what my readers want has to do with what the lower half of their
bodies and I need to keep that in mind. In the process of drawing a story
I need to make sure my stories are accessible. I don't want to use the
term `least common denominator,' but that's a good way of putting it. I
have to make things interesting while I cover the basic ground work."
When
erotic manga artist Akira Gajou appeared at Sugoi Con, she said that men
read her stories for different reasons than women. Kotobuki agreed. I personally
think that in the case of women there is a stronger emphasis on romance
and fantasy, even in cases of sexual relations that take on S&M characteristics.
In the case of women, it's more of a romantic spin - regardless of
the physical nature of the relationship, the erotic and romantic part of
the relationship is at issue. In the case of men it's a matter of fulfilling
a fantasy of the male reader, so the personality of the characters
isn't important - the sex act is the main point."
Katsucon
dares to do what most other conventions don't; invite erotic manga artists
as guests of honor. A few years earlier they brought Kondom of Bondage
Fairies fame to Virginia, and in 2003 the featured erotic artist was Kazuki
Kotobuki who specializes in S&M stories. On the one hand, Kotobuki
says "I try my best to put out material that celebrates the wonders and
beauties of women, and celebrates how erotic and desirable they can be."
Then when talking about his stories, he notes that "I'm assuming that in
the United States mixing blood and sex is a big taboo."
Kotobuki
is blunt in saying that reader of his stories are looking for the sex,
and his job is to provide what they want. "Considering what I create, I
think I need to keep in mind that my readers are looking for one certain
thing - what my readers want has to do with what the lower half of their
bodies and I need to keep that in mind. In the process of drawing a story
I need to make sure my stories are accessible. I don't want to use the
term `least common denominator,' but that's a good way of putting it. I
have to make things interesting while I cover the basic ground work."
When
erotic manga artist Akira Gajou appeared at Sugoi Con, she said that men
read her stories for different reasons than women. Kotobuki agreed. I personally
think that in the case of women there is a stronger emphasis on romance
and fantasy, even in cases of sexual relations that take on S&M characteristics.
In the case of women, it's more of a romantic spin - regardless of
the physical nature of the relationship, the erotic and romantic part of
the relationship is at issue. In the case of men it's a matter of fulfilling
a fantasy of the male reader, so the personality of the characters
isn't important - the sex act is the main point."
