– A short report by Saskia Dreßler –
On May 3, 2025, the Japanese Visual Media Graph project was invited to give a presentation at MondoCon in Budapest. There the JVMG project members had the opportunity to present their research and work related to Japanese popular media. MondoCon is the largest anime and manga convention in Hungary and one of the most prominent events of its kind in Eastern Europe. The convention has been running since 2009 with multiple events each year.
Beyond offering a marketplace for merchandise and fan art, MondoCon provides fans with a wide array of entertainment, including cosplay competitions, anime quizzes, and various other interactive events, as well as a stage for lectures and presentations on all kinds of Japan, East Asia and popular culture related topics.
The JVMG presentation featured talks by Zoltan Kacsuk, Saskia Dreßler, and Christopher Zysik. Kicking off the session, Zoltan Kacsuk introduced the work of the JVMG project, discussing the types of data the initiative utilizes and outlining its core objectives.
Following this, Saskia Dreßler presented findings from her master’s thesis, which examined the portrayal of gay and lesbian characters in German-language fan fiction. Her research focused on the presence of heteronormative themes and how fan communities engage with or subvert these narratives.
The final presentation came from Christopher Zysik, who offered insights into his diverse research areas. His talk covered topics including the kaiju genre, anime, Japanese idol groups such as AKB48, and Kawaii Metal as a distinct Japanese musical style.
The panel concluded with a Q&A session, allowing attendees to engage directly with the speakers and delve deeper into the topics discussed. Through these three presentations, the JVMG effectively highlighted the wide-ranging possibilities within Japanese media studies and shed light on the project’s ongoing research.
We would like to once again extend our sincere thanks to MondoCon, the organizers, and all the participants for making this event a memorable experience.