« Ur-Quan Masters (PC) 
 Mirror’s Edge (360, PS3, PC) »

Japan’s Famitsu Magazine Sexist?

December 22nd, 2008 Posted by Alex Beech

Click to see full size image.

Click to see full size image.

Recently a new Metal Gear Solid game was announced for iPhone in the Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu. The article was picked up by Kotaku’s Tim Rogers but his report wasn’t based on this new platform, but instead on articles headline.

Tim’s focuses on the headline which states that the new producer is a ‘woman’ (printed in large red characters) but refuses to give her name until the article’s body. The accompanying image shows as small area of this headline. He uses this as a platform for social comment on sexism in Japan.

Japan may not be as enlightened as it could be as regards women’s rights, but Tim’s report does not fairly represent the article. In the context of the whole page it’s possible to see a different picture. Though ‘woman’ is highlighted in red ‘Hidoe Kojima’ is also highlighted in blue. Also new producer (Yasuyo Watanabe) wasn’t hidden away in the text as Tim suggests. A picture of her actually occupies an eighth of a page (dwarfing Kojima’s image).

As I said in Japan it is hard to argue total innocence on this topic, but Tim’s report may not be a fair representation of Famitsu’s intentions. The original authors could just have easily been trying to encourage the audience (assumedly young ADD challenge boys) to actually read the article and find out more about Watanabe and her credentials than they otherwise may.

TwitterGoogle BookmarksDeliciousDiggLinkedInGoogle ReaderShare

Tags: Famitsu, Metal Gear Solid
Add a Comment Trackback

Add a Comment

  • DoFuss Games Discussion and Culture
    Games Discussion and Culture
  • Search DoFuss

  • Contact us at:

    Alex - alex[at]dofuss[dot]net

    Darren - darren[at]dofuss[dot]net

  • DoFuss Radio

  • [Valid RSS] subscribe to the podcast
    DoFuss Radio Download Page
  • Recent Comments

    • PS4 ISO on DoFuss 2010 – The Further Chronicles
    • Alex Beech on (The Final Late) Gamescom Catch Up – Getting Down To It.
    • Ahm on (The Final Late) Gamescom Catch Up – Getting Down To It.
    • Alex Beech on (The Final Late) Gamescom Catch Up – Getting Down To It.
    • Ahm on (The Final Late) Gamescom Catch Up – Getting Down To It.
  • More DoFuss

    • Game People
    • Games Jobs Japan
    • Play Devil
  • Our Affiliates

    • Feitclub
    • Original Gamer
    • Sudo Gamer
    • TGSN.co.uk
    • UUDDLRLRBA Forums
    • Xboxer 360
  • Gamepeople News

    • The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing XBLA News || Reporting Gamer column on Game People
    • Guild Wars 2 PC News || Reporting Gamer column on Game People
    • Hybrid XBLA News || Reporting Gamer column on Game People
    • Miner Wars 2081 360 News || Reporting Gamer column on Game People
    • Bang Bang Racing PS3 PSN News || Reporting Gamer column on Game People
  • Scared DoFuss

    • Fez 360 Review || Scared Gamer column on Game People
    • Catherine 360 Review || Scared Gamer column on Game People
    • Journey PS3 PSN Review || Scared Gamer column on Game People
    • Scary Girl XBLA Review || Scared Gamer column on Game People