Glossary of Common Terms
Manga Genres
There are four main kinds of manga/anime genre that are unique to Japan. Historically they were narrower, however in recent times they are often more blended, but still largely considered exclusive. This is especially true with shonen titles, which are read by adult males and have mangaka who write both shojo and shonen.
Shonen – A genre typically aimed at teenage and young adult males. These titles typically have high levels of action and adventure with lots of comedic, often ecchi, content.
Shojo – A genre typically aimed at teenage and young adult females. These titles are more flowery than shonen titles. Often seinen titles with female leads and shonen titles that deal with more romantic situations are misclassified in the west as shojo and conversely that particularly violent, sexual or gory titles cannot be shojo.
Seinen – A genre typically aimed at adult males. These titles usually with more complex themes and adult situations. While there may be nudity or sex in these titles, they are not primarily focused around such elements like yaoi or hentai.
Josen – A genre typically aimed at adult females. These titles usually with more complex themes, nudity and adult situations. While there may be nudity or sex in these titles, they are not primarily focused around such elements like yaoi or hentai.
General Anime and Manga subculture terms
These terms come originally from Japan and are used within the anime and manga subculture. These Japanese loanwords may sometimes mean something different in English than Japanese.
Anime – Japanese animation which includes a wide range of subjects and genres.
Bishonen (aka bishii) – Attractive feminine male characters, usually related to shonen ai or yaoi titles.
Bishoujo – Pretty or cute girl. The term is often used in conjunction with dating-sim games, but is not synonymous with it.
Chanbara (aka chambara) – Used a term for western swashbuckler films; it is a sub-genre of jidaigeki.
Chibi – a super deformed or child version of a character.
Ecchi – Sexual content in anime or manga below the level sexual intercourse, usually suggestive in theme.
Eroge - Term often used by the industry in replace of hentai for erotic games.
Hentai – Anime or manga centered around sexual content. It is not the same as seinen or josen novels which may contain a couple scenes of such content.
Jidaigeki – Period dramatizations most commonly referring to samurai films.
Kawaii – Cute, usually used to denote extreme cuteness by fans.
Kemonomimi – Humanoid characters that look primarily human while possesing some animalistic features. These are generally represented as moe and female, but neither is not an essential characteristic of the character.
Kohai – A term of respect used for one’s junior (in age or in experience). It can be used as a title or honorific.
Loli – short for lolita meaning pre-teenage girls; should not be confused with Lolita fashion.
Lolita fashion (aka Lolita) – a subculture from Japan that is influenced by Victorian or Rococo clothes mixed with elements of gothic and original design (cute, frilly gothic); should not be confused with loli.
Lolicon (aka loli) – works which involve pre-teenage females, though can sometimes include older, but still underage, female minors ranging in themes from mildly suggestive to erotic; should not be confused with the more general usage of loli.
Manga – Japanese graphic books, read by people of all ages. It includes a wide range of subjects and genres.
Mangaka – An indivisual who is both the author and illustrator of a manga. This may refer to an indivisual or team.
Moe – Traditionally a slang that is used to describe a person who is interested in a certain type of fetish (eg glasses-girl moe). In recent years, the term has been more commonly used by itself to describe a character, person, item and even a situation as cute.
Otaku – A Japanese term for people with obsessive interests, often use for fans of Japanese Media/entertainment. In the United States it is commonly used among fans in positive connotations; conversely, in Japan it is used with more negative connotations.
OVA (aka Original Video Animation) – Term used to describe anime produced specifically for direct-to-video market. The anime is generally shorter than a full-length movie, but longer than an animated short. In recent years OVA episodes have been used for content deemed inappropriate for Japanese television or to increase sales of DVDs.
Seiyu – Japanese voice actors.
Sempai – A term of respect used for one’s elder (in age or in experience). It can be used as a title or honorific.
Sensei – Used for those with a lot of knowledge in a subject matter. In anime and manga school teachers are generally refereed to as sensei. It can be used as a title or honorific.
Shojo-ai – Girl-girl love stories, usually below the level of yuri.
Shonen-ai – Boy-boy love stories, usually below the level of yaoi.
Shotacon (aka shota) - works which involve pre-teenage males, though can sometimes include older, but still underage, male minors ranging in themes from mildly suggestive to erotic.
Takabon – Release of serialized manga chapters in a bound volume.
Yaoi – (boy’s love) denotes a romantic relationship between 2 men, generally beyond the level of most shonen-ai, often containing explicit themes and images.
Yakuza – Japanese term for mafia
Yuri – (girl’s love) denotes a romantic relationship between 2 women, generally beyond the level of most shojo-ai, often containing explicit themes and images.
Western Anime and Manga subculture terms
While these terms are heavily related to anime and manga subculture, they are not of Japanese origin. They may also be used in more generic sense in some cases.
Ani-manga – “film-comic”, a manga that uses images from the video instead of drawn panels. Although this is made using the base Japanese words of anime and manga, it is only used in the English language.
Fan girl/boy – enthusiastic female/male otaku.
Fan service – elements of story or visuals that is included to please or excite the audience.
Regencies (aka Regency romances) – a sub genre of romance novels set during the English Regency (early 19th century), with historical customs and actions, not modern romances set back in time.Squee – a combination of the words “to squeal with glee”, i.e. the sound an excited fan girl makes
Japanese Honorifics
Unlike the English honorifics, such as Mr. or Mrs., Japanese honorifics come after a name.
-chan – A term of endearment. While the term can apply to anyone, it is commonly used with children and young females. Sometimes the latter group will also refer to themselves in third-person with this honorific in order to help adopt a cute childish persona.
-dono – Honorific that lies between the level of respect of san and sama. It is typically used in more formal occasions. Usage in everday conversation is mock someone’s status or age. In anime & manga related media it is also used by foreigners and those with lower stations as a sign of respect.
-kohai – (see Kohai)
-kun - Used by someone of senior status to refer to a junior or when refering to young males. It can also be used to denote familiarity and equality if used by all parties. While the term can apply to anyone, it is commonly used for young males especially as a form of endearment by females with a close relationship, such as boyfriend or childhood friend.
-san - Typical honorific used to show respect. Unlike Mr. or Mrs., it can be attached to groups, companies, animals and objects.
-sama - Honorific used to show extreme respect to another of a high station or status, such a lord or renowned figure high social standing.
-sempai - (See Sempai)
-sensei - (See Sensei)
-tan – A mispronunciation of chan commonly associated with young children. In anime and manga it is typically used for moe anthropomorphs, especially kemonomimi like catgirls.
Japanese Historic terms
Many historical pieces use traditional Japanese terminology to refer to titles, ranks, professions and the like. Sometimes these terms have English equivalents.
Daimyo – A vassal lord within the Shogunate system either to the Shogun or another daimyo.
Oniwaban (aka Oniwabanshu) – A group of ninja created by Tokugawa Yoshimune to keep the Tokugawa Shogunate in power.
Shogun – The person who ruled in the Japanese Emperor’s name from the Kamakura period through the Edo period. While the Emperor was higher ranked, the Shogun held the reigns of power.
Shogunate – A system developed during Japan’s Kamakura period whereby the Shogun holds the reigns of power over various daimyo.
Non-Japanese terms
Completist- an obsessive and indiscriminate collector of fan of something.
Schadenfreude – A word of German origin, meaning enjoyment derived from observing someone else’s misfortune.
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