Among aficionados of gay manga and illustrations, there are a few names that stand out among the pantheon of modern artists, and Jiraiya is undoubtedly among the best known and most beloved. Described by art critic Anne Ishii as “the fairy godmother” of the Japanese queer art scene, his work finally has its own exhibition for the first time in Japan at the Vanilla Gallery in Ginza, running from May 31 to June 15.
Style and Substance
Ishii’s description of Jiraiya’s place and the image that his art presents is apparent as soon as you enter the gallery. Turning left into the main exhibition room, two of the images that greet the visitor are of couples of curvy yet muscular men (sometimes known as “gachimuchi” in Japanese) in loving embraces. At a time when the Japanese political class seems reluctant to recognize the overwhelming support among the public for same-sex marriage, these images seem like a ray of sunshine to the audience.
Indeed, since his first published work in G-Men magazine in 1998, Jiraiya’s style has been markedly different to that of many of his peers. The gachimuchi image, embraced more by men than women (especially in a pre-internet age) is often marked by overt and explicit eroticism, with BDSM themes and imagery dominating much of the work. Indeed, the founder of G-Men, Tagame Gengoroh, has said that he knew he was into BDSM before he realized that he was gay. Jiraiya, instead, celebrates gay joy in the everyday.
“Jiraiya’s art shows gay people in daily scenarios,” one Vanilla Gallery guide explained to me. “I get a warm feeling when I see his pictures of people enjoying life.”
It’s hard to disagree. If I were to compare Jiraiya’s work to a season, I would liken it to summer. The pictures are warm, friendly, open, and inviting the viewer to join in the fun of the characters in the artwork. The use of digital techniques in his pin-ups, something that Jiraiya pioneered in the gay art space, adds to this appeal, with a brightness and a shine that distinguishes him from many of his peers.
“As a gay man, I’ve had many experiences that made life feel difficult or less than fulfilling,” Jiraiya told the Japan Gay Guide. “I create my stories hoping that people in similar situations might read them and feel even a little bit of joy.”
One might go as far as to describe his style itself as gachimuchi. The solid, muscular foundation of his artistic skill is leavened by the softness of the scenes that he depicts, without making them sexless or taking away a feeling of eroticism. Note in some of the examples below that he often incorporates Japanese culture and dress into his portraits, offering an insight into the image of Japan as seen through the eyes of a queer artist.
Raising Smiles
One more aspect to Jiraiya’s art that is worth commenting on is the difference in his perspective as a pin-up artist and as a manga-ka, or comics artist. The images we’ve shown so far are, as pin-ups, without an overarching narrative, even if the images themselves tell a story. His manga’s uniqueness when compared to other gay artists of his generation is his emphasis on humor.
When I entered the second part of the exhibition, I was struck by how, while still depicting gay sexuality, the manga panels that were on display were, rather than more “pornographic” stories that can be found in a number of explicit gay magazines, very funny.
This is true even of stories that do engage with “edgier” aspects of sex. In one gag story, two men are having BDSM-themed sex, with one tied up and suspended from the ceiling — only to have to have an embarrassing and hilarious come-down as a family member interrupts to let them know that dinner is ready. It’s a funny moment that, while the specifics may be different, has probably been experienced by most people at some point or another.
Sorry! You’ll have to visit Vanilla Gallery for the uncensored version!
“While I wouldn’t want to walk in on my family members during the act, in this comic it’s funny and cute,” one viewer comments. And they are not the only one: while I was looking over the panels, another visitor to the Vanilla Gallery was in stitches laughing at the comics.
It’s the lightness of Jiraiya’s tone and subject matter that have helped to make him such an enduring and endearing figure in the Japanese gay art space. This exhibition’s selection of works allows visitors to experience the full gamut of his output, from the funny, to the touching, to the sexy, with many pieces comprising all three.
“We think Jiraiya’s sense of humor is a key part of his identity as an artist,” Vanilla Gallery says. “Among gay artists, his unique blend of humor and glamorous style really stands out.”
Given his prominence in Japanese LGBTQ+ culture and artistic history (he has even done specialized artworks for famous bars Eagle Tokyo and Eagle Osaka), it is somewhat surprising that the exhibition at the Vanilla Gallery is the first solo installation that Jiraiya has had in Japan (although his work has been part of larger exhibitions of queer art, and he has previously been the subject of an exhibition in France, where Japanese art is extremely popular).
Jiraiya is a nom-de-plume, but his fans don’t think of him as a mysterious, unknowable figure.
“We feel that reading the afterwords in his manga actually brings out his warmth and personality,” a Vanilla Gallery representative told us. “Many fans likely feel the same. So rather than being mysterious, we see him as an approachable, human artist with a lot of heart.”
This makes the exhibition here both a fantastic chance for visitors to and residents of Tokyo to take in Jiraiya’s work in one space, with knowledgeable guides, as well as being able to purchase a collection of the work in a book. It is also the first place to see works that Jiraiya created specifically for this exhibition.
A piece created specially for the Vanilla Gallery exhibition
In Summary
As popular and wide-reaching as Jiraiya’s art is, as an artist, Jiraiya himself is notorious for eschewing the limelight, and not wishing to be a celebrity artist. Nevertheless, his work is so influential that Vanilla Gallery’s exhibition is in itself important as both a celebration and a reflection on the fairy godmother of the Japanese gay art scene.
The Exhibition
The exhibition runs from May 31 to June 15 inclusive at the Vanilla Gallery in Ginza. Tickets are available for ¥1,000, which can be bought in-person, and every visitor receives an exclusive illustration made for the exhibition by Jiraiya himself.
The Vanilla Gallery prides itself on showcasing art that resonates with people of all walks of life, and highlights works and creators that leave a deep and lasting impression on visitors.
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