JAPN 123 (Kiyochi) FA25: Library

Literature Review
Analyzing and summarizing what scholars and experts have already written about your topic.

Example: Examining academic articles about [a topic] in [genre/title/creator] to understand different scholarly perspectives.

Comparative Analysis
Comparing two or more things to identify similarities, differences, and what makes each unique. This helps you draw conclusions through contrast.

Example: Comparing how comparable works by anime and cartoons portray [a theme], or analyzing differences between the manga and anime versions of [a title].

Case Study
An in-depth examination of one specific example, event, series, or phenomenon. Case studies let you explore a topic deeply rather than broadly.

Example: Analyzing how one specific [anime convention/studio/series] has [grown/changed/influenced] over [a time period], or examining the production history of [a specific work].

Market and Industry Research
Using business data, sales figures, streaming metrics, and industry reports to understand trends and economic impact.

Example: Researching [sales data/streaming metrics/industry reports] to show how [a series/genre/platform] became [successful/influential], or analyzing [market data] to track [a trend] in [a region/timeframe].

Content Analysis
Systematically examining patterns, themes, or elements across multiple examples of media to identify trends.

Example: Watching ten different [genre/creator] anime to identify common [storytelling/visual devices/character types] patterns.

Interview-Based Research
Gathering information directly from people with relevant experience or expertise through structured conversations in person or online.

Example: Interviewing [fan community members/creators/consumers] about [their experience/perspectives/preferences], or talking to [a specific group] about [a topic] and why it resonates with them.

Creative Documentation
Documenting your own creative process, learning experience, or attempts to engage with anime/manga creation. Your personal experience becomes the primary source.

Example: Attempting to [create/compose/draw] using [a technique/tool/style] and documenting your learning process (including challenges and failures), or trying different [creative approaches] and reflecting on the experience.

Keywords are the main ideas in your topic.

Keep these tips in mind when creating your keywords.

• Try "Phrase Searching" - Place quotation marks around keywords you want to keep together.
  • Example: "gender representation," "Studio Ghibli," "shojo manga"
• Use AND to link keywords so each result contains all of the words.
  • Example: anime AND "gender representation"
• Use OR to find results with either term - useful for synonyms or related concepts (Japanese animation, graphic novels, visual culture)
  • Example: "virtual YouTuber" OR "VTuber"
• Think about how experts in the field would phrase the concepts you're researching and try those words in your search.

Database Searching

• Spelling counts! Not seeing many results? Double-check your spelling.
• Start broad with only 1 or 2 keywords.
• If you get too many results, add more specific terms like character names, authors, animators, themes, or time periods

More Search Examples

• Search names or titles separately such as: "Hayao Miyazaki," "Studio Ghibli"
• manga AND (fandom OR "fan culture")
• anime AND war
• shojo AND (gender OR female OR women)