干物女[himono onna]
Actually, I learned this term this morning. On the way to my company, I saw an advertisement of above shoujo manga, ホタルノヒカリ[hotaru no hikari "Lights of Fireflies"] on the train. This manga is currently ongoing and a live-action TV drama series of this has started. A 27-year-old working woman, Hotaru Amemiya is always respected by everybody else because of her great performance. But meanwhile, she always goofs around whenever she is off. And of course, she doesn’t have a boyfriend, so that she doesn’t have to care her looking expect her working hours. Just like her, a woman who has stopped loving anyone in her twenties…is 干物女[himono onna]. 干物[himono] means a dried fish, and 女[onna] means a woman. So in short, 干物女 means a dried woman literally. Oh dear!
If this comic got so famous, this term would be also common, I guess. And know this term does not include any definitions of otaku. So 干物女 is not otaku, nor even 腐女子[fujoshi].
Avplaya said,
August 6, 2007 at 4:44 pm
I think this is a your regular Japanese pop culture term like anego now… This dorama looks interesting… I’m gonna download it and try it out with the wife. I like characters not bogged down by labu labu all the time.
Speaking of which, does otaku like yourself watch dorama? How do you guys feel about all those dorama references in Lucky Star? Do you guys get it or find it funny? When Konata talked about “将軍”, do you guys know it’s referencing the carp in 華麗なる一族 without looking it up?
bangin said,
August 7, 2007 at 11:09 am
Before, we used to say おやじギャル[oyajigyaru " a young lady like a middle-aged man] to mean someone like Hotaru. She goofs around when she is at home. But おやじギャル doesn’t necessarily mean she goofs around even when she is at work.
Let’s see…unless they have watched 華麗なる一族, they wouldn’t be sure of the carp that eventually brings about misfortune. Some otaku even watch TV drama series in order to catch up with topics for non-otaku folks. Umm…personally I don’t think so many akibakeis like to watch drama. Having said that, if a live-action drama which is based on their favorite manga or anime, comes up, they would possibly give it a try. Such as Nodame Cantabile, Death Note, Gokusen, GTO or something like that. The funny thing is that mostly they don’t get satisfied with the drama whereas non-otaku folks like it.
Konata is such an otaku that fans of her might either learn or research what she talks about in order to put up with her. Otherwise, they just find it funny. XD
Avplaya said,
August 8, 2007 at 4:51 am
Thanks for the response, almost exactly what I’ve expected. I’ve guessed akibakeis would research anything and everything Konata said, but now I know for sure. I think KyoAni is playing with you Akibakeis by intentionally adding a Kimura Dorama reference in L*S so you guys have to look it up… I’m thinking that their female animators are helping to add them “Oh I saw this on TV last night, let’s add it to Lucky Star!”
In an anime forum I write a Japanese cultural reference post for each episode of L*S, and I always find it funny that a lot of otakus don’t know what’s on TV in Japan today and you guys don’t realize that the Hiiragis or Izumis are just watching normal TV shows like Shimura Doubutsu-en. I think that’s why KyoAni added them in… to force otaku to know everyday Japanese culture.
For example, I’m almost positive that “Valentine Kiss” was added to the Karaoke ED because back in January the show “London Hearts” made a special concert for one of their regular talento Kokusyo Sayuri’s 40’s birthday, and she get to sing “Valentine Kiss” in concert one last time. KyoAni animator-OLs must have watched the show. To my surprise, no L*S Japanese otaku blog mentioned that concert or speculated on the connection. I’m pretty sure not many akiba-kei otaku would watch LonHatsu, ne?
bangin said,
August 9, 2007 at 1:30 am
Agreed, I don’t think so many akibakeis watch London Hearts, that’s for non-otaku people mostly. I think most akibakeis seem to care what they love only, nothing else seems to be important…
I like kakudsuke shiau onnatachi(格付けし合う女たち; the women who rank each other). That’s always hilarious.
Avplaya said,
August 10, 2007 at 12:35 am
Haha, you like 格付けし合う女たち? You’re one rare otaku then… ^^ My wife and I really like 青木さやか and 国生さゆり… can’t believe she was an idol once.. she’s so bitter now.
I can’t believe I’m discussing lonhatsu on an anime blog. Thanks!