ハーレムharemu
Quick definition:Harem is a genre convention in anime and manga in which one central character, usually male, is surrounded by several others who show romantic interest in them.
Meaning
A harem story gathers a group of characters around one central figure, the harem protagonist, who often seems ordinary or unsure of himself. The others show affection or rivalry, and much of the plot comes from comedy, misunderstandings and the question of whom the protagonist will choose. The convention is mostly found in romantic comedies.
Battle harem is a variation that combines the setup with action. The central character and companions fight monsters, enter tournaments or defend their school, so the plot mixes adventure with friendship and romance. Many series in the style are set in fantasy worlds, schools or places with special powers. Reverse harem stories, with a female lead, follow a similar structure.
Critics often say harem stories rely on repeated set-ups, and some series deliberately poke fun at that. Fans also argue over whether the lead ever makes a clear choice, since many stories end without one.
Origin:Harem comes from an Arabic-derived word for the women's quarters of a household, borrowed into English and then into Japanese as haremu, written in katakana. Its use as an anime and manga term developed in Japan during the late twentieth century, when stories with a lead character surrounded by several admirers became a recognised pattern.
Example:Love Hina follows a young man who becomes manager of a boarding house full of young women, leading to constant comic mishaps and misunderstandings. Ouran High School Host Club reverses the pattern, placing a girl at the centre of a group of boys at an elite school.
Did you know?Because of the setup, harem series tend to have large casts with a distinct personality type for each member, so fans compare character types from series to series. This is one reason fan labels such as tsundere and kuudere are so common in these stories. 