And in Japan, some manga is designed along gender lines?

Different strands have evolved for male and female audiences. Shōnen, aimed at young men, tends to focus on action and adventure, while shōjo is aimed at young women and focuses on romance and relationships. However, there is increasing crossover in the plotlines, the subject matter and the gender of protagonists. Shōjo can also include stories of male homosexual relationships, known as "boys' love" or BL (yaoi).

Higashimura Akiko is a brilliant young shōjo artist. Heavily influenced by shōjo from the 1980s, she is known for titles aimed at young women. They include the award-winning Princess Jellyfish, which was published as a series by Kodansha as a result of demand from fans and has been turned into an anime that is currently being translated into English.