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Anime fandom is a niche in Japan. Mainstream Japanese culture doesn't see trans or gay stuff as Japanese. A gay friend said his host mother said they don't have gays in Japan, that's an American thing. Whelp. He agreed with her, even if he found quite the contrary in the gay clubs of Shinjuku.
Anime has all kinds of niches within its otaku niche. You have gay and trans characters, either as a joke or just a way to explore a different character. Plus with sci-fi and fantasy anime, it isn't that much of a stretch. You also have comedy anime (pic related) that have Bosom Buddies scenarios.
The lolicon.. well. That's just male sexual fantasy. You've see that in the US with Britney Spears school girl videos and Barely Legal Hustler video tapes. (Other boomers remember those, right?)
