Vancouver Public Library (VPL) welcomes all to the first ever Mini Manga and Anime Convention this September. Organized by librarian Candie Tanaka, the convention will spotlight local manga and anime artists. During a panel, Sekiguchi will lead a discussion on queerness in Japanese media and how vocal performances construct audiences’ perception of a character’s identity.

The convention will run on Sept. 17 on the lower level of the central library, and guests are encouraged to arrive in cosplay.

More than a gathering

For Tanaka, the convention is more than a gathering of anime and manga fans; it’s a way to encourage community, cultural exchange and awareness.

“We aim to introduce the library’s anime and manga collections and to create new and energetic library super fans,” says Tanaka.

It’s also an opportunity for artists to showcase their creativity and talent in a low stakes and safe venue.

“I’m very happy to be involved in this exciting event and to have the opportunity to meet local people who are passionate about anime and manga,” adds Sekiguchi.

Identity’s voice

Sekiguchi has been fascinated by voice acting since his youth, and this life-long passion brought him to UBC’s graduate program to research gender and queer studies. Soon after, an Asian Studies seminar inspired him to delve into Japanese media with a focus on voice acting.

“When you look closely at voice acting, you realize how significant the voice is to constructing gender and queer performance. As my research progressed, I’ve come to see how voice acting can actually generate queerness on its own. And looking back on my own life, I saw how profoundly gender and queer representations in anime had affected me, which inspired me to dedicate my research to this field,” recounts Sekiguchi.

At conventions such as the Mini Manga and Anime, Sekiguchi explains that interactions between fans and voice actors can become unexpectedly queer. Female voice actors frequently voice male characters and vice versa. Voice actors will portray gender-ambiguous characters as well.

“In anime fandom, the voice actor and the character they portray are often closely intertwined. As a result, cross-gender voice performances are often praised using adjectives associated with the gender of the character rather than the gender of the voice actor,” explains Sekiguchi.

With his lecture, Sekiguchi aims to open a conversation on how gender and sexual identity is constructed, encouraging audiences to consume Japanese media in a more thoughtful way.

“I hope attendees leave with a greater understanding of how voice performance affects viewers, how it constructs gender and queer presentation and representation, and how close listening can reveal deeper queer layers of a text that visuals alone may not reveal,” says Sekiguchi.

Looking forward

Members of all fandoms, be it anime and manga or beyond, can expect to find belonging at VPL as it continues to build stronger, more colourful communities.

“We hope to reach a broader audience by letting the public know what libraries offer now is way beyond just books, e-books and other materials to be borrowed,” says Tanaka. “The VPL is a multifaceted community hub that addresses social isolation and contributes to well-being by building a more vibrant and inclusive community.”

For more information, please visit: https://vpl.bibliocommons.com/events/6a35a873c7d3cd58006183f4