Moe book

{{Short description|Type of instructional book}}

Moe books ({{lang|ja|萌え本}}) are books in genres traditionally perceived as "serious" and/or "educational", such as encyclopedias and instructional books, but with additions of moe-style illustrations for style and accent.{{Cite web |title=萌え本が進化!“理系×萌え”が新たなブーム|ウォーカープラス |url=https://www.walkerplus.com/article/4669/ |archive-date= |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=ウォーカープラス(Walkerplus) |language=ja}} In recent times however, types of moe books that do not fit this traditional definition have also appeared.{{Cite journal |last=Wang |first=Qiayoi |date=2023 |title=Application Research Based on The Moe Culture of "Healing" Electronic Picture Books |url=http://www.acadpubl.org/d/file/p/2024/01-12/1fc285ccb33400727c02ab8dfde95398.pdf#page=22 |journal=International Journal of Vocational and Technical Education |volume=3 |issue=2 |pages=18-20}}

Overview

Moe books have been published across a wide variety of these formal genres in areas including but not limited to: law, technical manuals, English vocabulary books, and military guides.{{Cite book |title=『MC☆あくしず』Vol.1 |publisher=イカロス出版 |isbn=4871498220 |publication-date=June 20, 2006 |trans-title=MC☆Akushizu Vol. 1}} As the genre is not fully established in the publishing market, it's placement in bookstores has not been standardized. Depending on the store, it could be shelved alongside manga, game-strategy guides, or various sub-culture related books. However, perhaps because many publishers that initially began and popularized moe books specialized in programming and technical manuals, there are many cases of moe books being sold in the book sections of electronic retailers. In addition to traditional educational or technical topics, a new sub-genre of "Healing electronic picture books" has emerged. These books incorporate Moe-style characters, warm color palettes, exaggerated designs, lively sound effects, and small interactive games, all designed to soothe emotional stress and offer psychological comfort to readers, especially modern youth. This expansion of the moe aesthetic into therapeutic contexts reflects a broader cultural movement to blend entertainment, education, and emotional healing within digital media.

History

The oldest known moe book was the Copyright and Legal Guide for Computer Users, published in September 2002 by Mainichi Communications. However, even before its release, the author (Project Time Machine) had given it the nickname "Moeru Law Reading Book" and decided to cover popular controversial topics such as: copyright, the Unauthorized Computer Access law, and the Child Prostitution and Pornography law.{{Cite book |title=萌えるシリーズ コンピュータユーザのための著作権&法律ガイド |date=September 1, 2002 |publisher=(株)マイナビ出版 |isbn=4839907935 |trans-title=Moeru Series: Copyright & Legal Guide for Computer Users}} This helped it achieve strong sales upon release. His book characters, The Ichii sisters, also appeared in the Moe Moe UNIX! UNIX Network Administration Guide, published in March 2003. This unexpected shift from a computer law book to a technical manual helped to establish the standard and foundation for what would later become "moe books".

In Moeru Eitango Moetan, published in November 2003 by Sansai Books, full visual was added. English words examples are heavily inspired by ACG, resulting in over 200,000 books sold.{{Cite web |date=2007-08-09 |title=話題の萌え系アニメ「もえたん」が早くもネットへ! |url=https://www.rbbtoday.com/article/2007/08/09/44134.html |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=RBB TODAY |language=ja}} Later, Shuwa System, Eagle Publishing joined the moe book business. In February 2006, Enterbrain published Moeken, which explicitly targeted fans of moe.

After this, various moe books continued to be released by publishers such as Hakuya Shobo (mainly technical manuals) and Eagle Publishing (mainly practical books and web creation manuals).{{Cite web |title=美少女と異ジャンルの核融合!?-萌えに萌える実用・入門書たち |url=https://akiba.keizai.biz/column/40/ |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=アキバ経済新聞}}

Recently, however, new types of moe books have emerged, such as Moeken: Moe Prefectures (published by Enterbrain in February 2006), which introduced new targets for moe affection. New movements also include the launch of magazines like MC☆Axis (published by Icarus Publishing), labeled a "Hyper Bishoujo-style Military Magazine."

Chukei Publishing has also released numerous study aids featuring cover illustrations by famous manga artists and illustrators. In October 2010, they collaborated with the manga Lucky☆Star, producing a study book titled Learn Chemistry (Theory Edition) with Lucky☆Star, using the Lucky☆Star characters not only for the cover but also inside the book. The book became a hot topic and was reprinted immediately after release.

Some moe books published by Eagle Publishing and Media Tech Publishing have been translated into Traditional Chinese and published in Taiwan by Mingxian Cultural Enterprise. In 2008, Mingxian also published their own original moe book, The Cutest Great Chinese Immortal Compendium. This book was later released in Japan by Locus under the title Understanding Chinese Immortals Through Moe Illustrations.

List of ''moe'' books and publishers

= Mainichi Communications Inc. =

  • Copyright and Legal Guide for Computer Users ({{lang|ja|コンピュータユーザのための著作権&法律ガイド}})

= SansaiBooks Co., Ltd. =

= Shuwa System Co., Ltd. =

  • [https://www.amazon.co.jp/exec/obidos/ASIN/4798007935/intermezzo-22/ ] ({{lang|ja|ぽえりな}})
  • Magical Tunnel SoftEther ({{lang|ja|魔法のトンネル SoftEther}})

= Eagle Publishing =

  • Moemoe series

= JTB Publishing Inc. =

  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20061209074637/http://kitchen.cside.com/kazakami/rurubu/ Moerurubu] ({{lang|ja|もえるるぶ東京案内}})

= MicroMagazine Corporation =

= Core Magazine =

  • [http://www.coremagazine.co.jp/moerudiet/ Moeru diet Go! Go! Moe diet!] ({{lang|ja|萌えるダイエット Go! Go! moe diet!}})

= Ikaros Publications Ltd. =

= Enterbrain =

  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20070501034113/http://www.enterbrain.co.jp/jp/p_pickup/2006/moetto/ Moe×Diet=Moet] ({{lang|ja|萌えて燃やして「もえっと」!!}})
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20061208030426/http://www.enterbrain.co.jp/jp/p_pickup/2005/moe_uranai/index.html Moe Uranai] ({{lang|ja|萌え占い}})

= Eichi Publishing Inc. =

  • [http://www.eichi.co.jp/esp.cgi?_file=detail1535&_page2=detail&_global_cg=magazine&_global_md=hobby&_global_dt=diet&sys_id=1535& Love Yoga]{{Dead link|date=April 2020|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}} ({{lang|ja|ラブ・ヨガ 萌える『ヨガ教則本』!!}})

= Online ebooks =

= PHP Institute =

  • Quantum Theory of Cat Ear Girls: The Latest in Emerging Physics{{Cite web |date=2007-12-20 |title=「卑劣極まりない犯行」 AV撮影で強姦致傷の被告に懲役18年 - MSN産経ニュース |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071220181147/http://sankei.jp.msn.com/affairs/trial/071219/trl0712191120001-n1.htm |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=web.archive.org}}
  • Cat ear girl's theory of relativity and superstring theory

See also

References