Japanese Shounen Gothic and the Carnivalesque.

This article examines the works of Atsushi Ookubo within the framework of contemporary Japanese Gothic culture, emphasizing the role of the carnivalesque in Gothic aesthetics. Inspired by Julia Round’s Gothic Critical Model of Comics, this study proposes an adapted model of comic book analysis that considers the cultural specificities of Japanese society. The analysis explores how Japanese Gothic manga incorporates Halloween aesthetics, the interplay of the sacred and the profane, and themes of gender fluidity and queer rebellion. These elements not only subvert conventional Gothic tropes but also reflect the syncretic and performative nature of Japanese subcultural practices.