[fmxsh]

Imagine boys and girls could have their own gender being represented and they would compete with each other in that card game, or if it's not like "Magic: the gathering", at least interact around arguing who is better. But here, girls are completely excluded from any such interaction, like: "Nope, you don't exist." Girls, who should they look up to? Having both, it allows both genders to choose whom to admire.

I actually do not see the obvious reason. Maybe I missed something. My take is Japan has what some would call a gender stereotypical view. What is surprising to me is how a whole gender is excluded from something that creates much fun interaction and play. It feels surprising especially also when the project is supposed to represent a community. I almost feel bad pointing it out, because the project is so wholesome, but it's simply what I see.

I have a European lense, and I am sure I am not aware of many things of their culture. But, I am struggling to see how it's not a blunt confirmation of typical western feminist critique. Of course, Japanese society may have another cultural framework to rationalize it, where any such critique wouldn't even be recognized to be rational. That, in itself, reflects a possible large discrepancy in cultural views.

(edit: I don't think the creator did any wrong, I think they acted within their frame. Maybe the product wouldn't be as successfully otherwise. My inquiry is at the level of culture and it's undercurrent of values dictating what's successfully and to what degree an artifact is based in cultural values and re-affirm those, well transcending mere artistic choice and artistic appreciation which should be free.)

(edit 2, psychoanalysis: the artist framing males within cards... Males being looked up to... The artist psychologically in perhaps a Lacanian sense, is "looking up" to expressions of the mighty, assertive phallocentric values constituting society. The artist mediating societal core views by making this artifact, enacts those values by admiration, and mediates those values to the right population, boys, who by their mere gender, are both the protectors and the representations of society's core view. I suspect Japan is a phallocentric society more so than not.)

[fennecfoxy]

I notice you didn't include them making cards for gay individuals in their community in your argument. As a gay man I definitely and most certainly feel offended, like being told I don't exist because your argument focussed only on women being represented.

Do you see what I mean? I 100% agree that both men and women, gay, straight and every other group all need to be properly represented in society where it matters. But battles should be picked & chosen.

[fmxsh]

I agree, and think I see the problem you point at. We don't have to include more groups because, if we do for the sake of including, we have to include all endless variations because there's always a new invented category feeling excluded, and they use it as a power game to ruin the fun for others (seriously). And then what about the argument every obscene category should be included, which by the way would proves the existence of common sense of opposing that....

But, this inquiry of mine had me sympathize more with the recent political trends, that I otherwise think go too far in certain ways. It sucks to not be made visible---or perhaps purposefully made invisible---in the society you live in.

In this case, hypothetically, if one of the men is openly of another orientation, would he be included in the deck? Would society accept that? No, his orientation should not be mentioned in the card, as his orientation has nothing to do with his occupation which is the focal point of the card, but would society even allow him to be featured to begin with, given he is of another orientation? (These are just suggested questions, I don't ask for answer to them).