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 the hand gesture Itachi does when calling Sasuke to him?
I've always found this gesture curious, because it looked like the "shooing away" gesture to me, but Sasuke reacts as though he's being summoned. So I'm interested to know if this gesture is part of Japanese culture and would be generally…
Shaymin Gratitude
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Is the proverb "When a man steps out of the gate, he faces seven enemies" a real one?
Recently I watched again the Kenichi anime, and I went several times through this proverb.
"When a man steps out of the gate, he faces seven enemies" (e.g. episode 5)
Looks like a legitimate proverb, but trying to find its origin or references, I…
Olivier M.
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How did Japonism, if at all, affect manga/anime?
While researching my own question How important was the invention of blue towards anime?, I landed relatively quickly on Hokusai, which was one of the key instigators of Japonisme.
Japonisme, is the study of Japanese art and artistic talent.…
Dimitri mx
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What is the so-called "GUDAGUDA ship" involving Oda Nobunaga and Okita Souji?
I was reading this piece of short comic remake titled "How you play it" illustrated by Kawacy and it says
Oda Nobunaga and Okita Souji from Fate/Grand Order
a.k.a the GUDAGUDA ship.
So I search about it, it seems like an event from Fate/Grand…
Darjeeling
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What does Senjougahara refer in the first novel?
In the 'Hitagi Crab' story of Monogatari series, Senjougahara says the following:
So you say, Araragi-kun. But I'm afraid I only half trust him. I have been tricked too many times. Five people had said the same thing.
They'd all been liars.…
Stepan Kazanin
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Rope with pieces of white cloth - What is it?
Often when holy places or other things that are spiritual are shown, this kind of rope with white zigzag attachments appears all the time. So far I have seen it in From the New World,
Yuki Yuna, Monogatari and Your Name, but there are probably…
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What is the dimension of Karuta cards?
Chihayafuru is an anime about card game called Karuta where players compete to touch the right card based on the poem being read. Chihayafuru wikia lists all 100 of the poem. However, I can't find the dimension of the card they use in the game. What…
絢瀬絵里
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Does "weaboo" mean "someone who watches too much anime"?
Some people seem to think that watching anime is weaboo-ish.
Is that a general perception, or is that perception incorrect?
kerafill
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Does tanuki hot pot actually exist?
Searching on Google, I found some food related to tanuki like tanuki udon (not sure if they really use tanuki). But I can't find anything like tanuki hot pot. Does this kind of food actually exist? Do they actually eat tanuki?
Darjeeling
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How does the barrier taunt work?
In chapter 709 of One Piece, Bartolomeo has been seen blocking Elizabello II's king punch with his barrier, while shouting "Barrier". In the translator's comment it stated that this is a common taunt in Japanese school yards. Now how does this taunt…
Peter Raeves
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Is this intended to be a sign that Uesugi is socially awkward?
At around 11:30 in Episode 6 of 5-toubun no Hanayome ∬, Ichika offers to buy books for Uesugi. Uesugi just waits outside the store while Ichika is paying the check, then, when Ichika is done paying and go home with Uesugi, it's Ichika who carry the…
Michael
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Is "high school detective" a real-life thing in Japan?
In the show Detective Conan, the main character starts as a "high school detective" who shrinks down to become a child. In the series, there are mentions of other high school detectives as well, such as Heiji Hattori.
I can see how the pill…
Village
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Are Japanese Students really not allowed jobs whiles in schools?
In Hana and Hina After School (Hana to Hina wa Houkago) one of the main plot points it that neither Hana or Hinako are actually allowed a job and if discovered they could be expelled, to the point that Hinako quit her job as a Model and
in…
Memor-X
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Why do Mio and her friends seem to all wear different uniforms?
Mio, who is a student at Reiji and Ellen's school, is introduced in episode 20. It quickly becomes apparent that Mio's friends all wear different uniforms. This is most obvious in ep. 22, where we see a photo of Mio with Sanae and Ellen, after which…
Maroon
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Is there any historical origins for the masks in Noragami?
In Noragami, some characters wear masks (e.g. Rabo).
I know what they are and everything, but I feel like I've seen something like it before, but I can't find anything online (Rabo's mask especially).
Are the masks completely fictional, or are they…
bri
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