Questions about anime and manga in the broader context of Japanese culture. Includes both questions about cultural origins for anime/manga references and questions about the cultural impact of a particular series.
Questions tagged [culture]
190 questions
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What is spinning a girl in yukata like a top a reference to?
From left to right, top to bottom: Nisemonogatari, Midori no Hibi, Is the Order a Rabbit? and Mawaru-Penguindrum.
In the case of Midori no Hibi, why is Midori calling Seiji "governor"? Is this a reference to something?
Gao
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What events usually happen at Comiket?
I only know Comiket from anime and manga: they usually sell their own doujinshi and do some cosplay.
Is this the only thing that actually happens at Comiket or are there a lot more things that happen? Maybe some kind of contest or something?
Also,…
Darjeeling
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Why is it that some anime use language exclusive to the Yakuza?
I was reading an article on language-learning hacks recently, and #13 of that list states (emphasis mine),
Some popular anime (popular in America at least, and mostly reserved for little boys in Japan) uses the kind of language which is in the real…
Cattua
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Why strike stones taken from inside a pot against each other?
In Episode 10 of Uchouten Kazoku (5:34), I saw Shimogamo Mother taking two stones from a pot, and striking them against each other before Shimogamo Yaichirou went out.
What does it mean? Is it some kind of supernatural belief?
Naing Lin Aung
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13
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Do real-life schools have maid cafes at their school festivals?
In anime and manga where the setting is a school, there often is a school festival event. In such events, many would feature the students running a maid cafe - for example, Hanasaku Iroha.
Does this also often happen in real life? Do students in…
絢瀬絵里
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13
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What factors contributed to the "golden age" of anime?
The anime boom of the 1980s is considered, by many, the beginning of the "golden age" of anime.
What factors contributed to this boom? Where did it all start? Who were the major players?
What led to the end of this boom? How did we get to the…
кяαzєя
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Why do anime girls have huge chests?
Today while reading "Mushoku Tensei" I once again got confronted with a character with (in my opinion) an insanely large chest. It even got mentioned that it could easily be a J size chest.
I understand that there will off course be some difference…
Dimitri mx
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13
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What are the swastikas on the car's navigation supposed to represent?
In episode 12 of Himouto! Umaru-chan there appear swastikas on the car's navigation. What are these supposed to represent?
Alagaros
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Why did they break their cups after a toast?
In episode 17 when they're about to welcome Satsuki's mother, they're having a toast and slam their cups to the ground. Why did they do it? Does this have anything to do with Japanese culture?
Darjeeling
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Is there an official Otaku day?
I've stumbled upon many posts on G+ and FB (example) that state that December 15th is some sort of official Otaku Day.
I've also found this page which is from 2012, which means this was celebrated, at least, in 2012 too.
However, I found no reliable…
JNat
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12
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Is Cheese-kun real?
In Code Geass, particularly in the original Japanese version, we can see there was something like a product placement exchanged (as shown in this answer) between the series and Pizza Hut.
Later in the series, C.C. starts having stickers and a…
Memor-X
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12
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Why do first, second, and third grade of Japanese students wear different uniform in Anime?
I noticed that in most of school-life anime the first, second, and third grader usually wore different uniforms. It's not completely different. Sometimes the differences are pins, ribbon, indoor slippers, tie, and so on. But, what does the reason…
Aina Aiikyo
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Has there been a study or documentary on the influence of Ani-song themes on Japan's music scene?
As noted on How are the themes and songs picked for a particular series?, some anime openings are created for their show; thus, the song and anime theme usually coincide and work together.
Since these songs are widely promoted in Japanese society…
Sdlion
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11
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What are Holo's roots in Japanese tradition?
The rich background of Holo: being a minor deity of harvest, her forms, shapeshifting, powers and limitations, likes and dislikes, traits character etc - how is it grounded in Japanese beliefs, myths, traditions, and legends?
Is her lore entirely…
SF.
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Fake anime or manga release as an April Fools Prank?
My question has a bit of a back-story to add context.
Firstly, like most Attack on Titan fans, I am OVERHYPED about the second season coming out. I was talking with a friend on campus about it, then she pointed out that its release date is April…
Callat
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