Autumn Sword Fish Issue 32: Declarations of the 'Her' A-Sides and B-Sides of Taiwan and Japan - Cover shipped randomly

Autumn Sword Fish Issue 32: "Declarations of the 'Her' A-Sides and B-Sides of Taiwan and Japan" "Kanojo" (彼女) in Japanese means "she" and also "girlfriend." This term, which emerged during the Edo period, has evolved over centuries. The image of women has gradually shifted from the gentle and composed Yamato Nadeshiko of the past to the Reiwa women of today, who create waves of freedom and speak their minds. It is believed that everyone possesses a trace of feminine energy, whether physically or psychologically, allowing gentleness and resilience to coexist. In this issue, Autumn Sword Fish delves into the recent journey of Japanese women, from traditional roles to embracing autonomy, across various facets of life, love, family, creativity, and society. These narratives are like songs that express the mood of the moment, capable of being the outward A-side (purple) of society or the inward B-side of self-acceptance, all encapsulated within this "Kanojo" cassette tape album. Whichever side it is, it represents the most beautiful form of womanhood. In collaboration with artist CHOU YI, Autumn Sword Fish proudly presents its first-ever dual cover for "#HerABsides," featuring a "Daily A-Side: Ideal Version" in purple and a "Life B-Side: Illustrated Guide" in orange. Like a sip of Fanta, it evokes a refreshing summer effervescence for everyone, regardless of gender! (*Covers are shipped randomly.) ---- Since ancient times, women have navigated roles as daughters, girlfriends, wives, and mothers, constantly compromising to societal expectations, from biological needs to psychological family frameworks. While Taiwan ranks sixth globally and first in Asia for gender equality in UN surveys, this highlights the ongoing challenges for women's rights in other nations. This brings to mind a statement by Fumie Shibata, then chairperson of the G Mark judges, in late 2019: "I don't want people to see me as a 'female' designer." In Japan's male-dominated society, women entered the workforce during the Heisei era due to the "Equal Employment Opportunity Law," and the Reiwa era reignited discussions on marital equality with the "Japanese Husband and Wife Separate Surnames" bill. Amidst movements like "#Me Too" and marriage equality advocacy, Japanese women are striving to show the world that Asian women's lives are not solely defined by "giving up" and "compromise," but also by the possibility of imperfectly becoming one's most comfortable self. Therefore, this issue aims to document this pivotal moment of Japanese women finding their voice. From the unconventional all-female band CHAI, who challenge aesthetic norms; to Seiko Yukiura, the founder of the apparel brand sneeuw, who shifted from being an elite Tokyo University graduate to forging her own path; to Rieko Azuma, a photographer who explored pure family relationships through nude photography; and Haru., the 26-year-old editor-in-chief of High(er) Magazine, who embraced a "de facto marriage" without legal registration, opting for a freer partnership. Just as Japanese women could find release in the arduous resilience of "Oshin," they can also find balance in relationships, akin to "The Full-Time Wife Escapist," through communication and understanding. And I, following the protagonist in "My Dear Exes" in her search for "female-female" emotional connections with her mother and old friends, suddenly realized that my unmarried godmother might simply be more candid about her own feelings than we are. Regardless of gender or the way love is expressed, we hope these stories inspire you to begin knowing yourself: choosing to be who you are today because you want to be yourself. Quoting the online women's media "me and you," "Keep trying, so that 'speaking out' can become 'a way to change society.'" We anticipate a future where interactions are not divided by differences, and where we can find partners with whom we can boldly walk through different stages of life.