腐女子fujoshi
Quick definition:Fujoshi is a Japanese term for a female fan of stories about romance between male characters, and it is used for fans of manga, anime, novels and fan works in that style.
Meaning
Fujoshi describes women and girls who enjoy fiction focused on romantic relationships between male characters, often called boys' love or BL. These fans may read manga and novels, watch anime, collect merchandise and create fan comics. The term is also used by fans themselves, often with humour, to describe their hobby.
The word is connected to a long tradition of manga and novels written largely by and for women, and today the genre has a wide audience. Fans gather at events, share art online and discuss pairings in detail. Not every reader of boys' love uses the word, and some prefer other labels. Manga magazines and publishers have catered to this audience for decades, and many series in the genre are adapted into anime, drama CDs and live-action shows.
Male fans of the genre are sometimes called fudanshi, a word built on the same pattern.
Origin:Fujoshi is a pun on a Japanese word for a young woman, written with characters meaning woman and child, in which the first character is swapped for a similar-sounding one meaning rotten. The wordplay began as self-mocking humour among fans in online communities, around the early 2000s, and it has since become a common label.
Example:At a fan convention, a group of friends browse a table of fan-made comics about two rival characters from a sports anime, comparing their favourite pairings and chatting excitedly about new chapters. They might describe themselves jokingly as fujoshi while swapping recommendations. Some tables also sell badges and small prints.
Did you know?The Ikebukuro district of Tokyo is associated with fujoshi fans, and one of its streets, known as Otome Road, is lined with shops that cater to female fans of anime, manga and related goods.
