16
votes
Accepted
Do real-life schools have maid cafes at their school festivals?
Here are some data points, none of which I can verify the veracity of.
According to a user on chiebukuro, some class at his school ran a crossdressing cafe, and some of the boys who would look decent ...
- 35.4k
15
votes
Accepted
What are those branches used in baths in Goblin Slayer episode 7?
Those are White Birch Branches. It's also mentioned in the manga during Chapter 20.
(Warning: NSFW (Nudity) content and manga spoilers ahead)
I'm not sure of their exact use but according to the ...
- 8,971
14
votes
Accepted
Where is this pool from?
This pool exists in real life in the Hanazono Room. Its internet fame comes from a not-very-surprising origin, which is its prevalence in pornographic material.
With images of the swimming pool of ...
- 534
11
votes
Accepted
Are high school and middle school students not allowed to use a backpack?
Short Answer
To answer your question: some schools specify bags students use, while others don't; it varies.
Long Answer
Like uniforms, bags are also specified by schools, which means the level of ...
- 1,859
11
votes
Accepted
Japanese Scoring System on Public High School Examinations: Quintessential Quintuplets season 2
In The Quintessential Quintuplets, the passing grade is 30 or above per subject.
This was inferred and stated in the midterm exam's result (chapter 20), when
Yotsuba said that she failed all subjects ...
- 13.1k
10
votes
Accepted
Why is there so much nudity in anime and manga?
To start, you're not really going to see full-frontal nudity in anime. If you look at this question, you can read about censorship laws in Japan and about how--through self-censorship as much as ...
- 23.8k
10
votes
Accepted
What is that "Oh yeah!" gesture that anime characters do called?
It called 合点 (Gatten). Google image search
It's pretty common gesture in Japan (and other countries)
I do it in real life too.
Also there is TV show called "gatten" that describe something and guest ...
- 2,933
10
votes
What does "padoru padoru" mean?
I've actually questioned this myself in the past, here's what I've basically found so far
After digging for a while on Japanese Q&A sites and forums, most people seemed to have concluded that it'...
- 171
10
votes
Accepted
What is that noise when an onsen scene opens up?
The thing which makes these sounds is a type of 鹿威し (Shishi-Odoshi) or scaredeer, it acts similar to as what a scarecrow does, and the sound it makes scares away the wild animals.
And as for what ...
- 553
10
votes
Accepted
Why do characters in anime/manga eat their lunches in restrooms?
This is meme-ish thing in Japan. Most of Japanese otaku community member was socially divided by their classmates (because what you call Jocks don't like this kind of culture and tends to despise ...
- 331
10
votes
Accepted
Was the idea of foxes with many tails invented in anime, or is it a Japanese folk religion thing?
It's a Far Eastern thing. There are the kitsune in Japan, hồ ly tinh in Vietnam, huli jing in China, and kumiho in Korea. Possibly others, but these will reveal a great deal of what you want to ...
- 730
8
votes
Accepted
Is there such a thing as an 'Indie'/Alternative anime scene?
There's Voices of a Distant Star, which was "directed, written, produced, character designed, storyboarded, cinematographed, edited, and animated by Makoto Shinkai". Essentially an individual effort ...
- 28.3k
8
votes
Accepted
Is it common to tell people how you spell your name in Japan?
Telling someone how to spell your name is probably pretty common in Japan, especially if your name has an uncommon spelling. Even just from watching anime, you see it happen pretty often. For instance,...
- 6,320
8
votes
What did Uesugi mean by his hand gesture?
This sign is known as the T-Sign in ASL.
It's used to indicate a time-out or pause, and is often used in the context of sports.
In this particular scenario, it is used as an indication of pause.
...
- 22.3k
7
votes
Is there such a thing as an 'Indie'/Alternative anime scene?
As Euphoric mentioned in the comment, what is the definition of "anime" in here?
Because in Japan, "anime" is anything animated, whether it's:
a 3-episode 2D anime (45 minutes total):
1 (5 minutes), ...
- 13.1k
7
votes
Accepted
Fake anime or manga release as an April Fools Prank?
Yes. The examples I know of is from Type-Moon.
As we can see from the link, almost every year since 2005 Type-Moon has came out with an April Fool's Joke ranging from fake movies to games featuring ...
- 40.2k
7
votes
Accepted
Does "Evening Get" correspond to a real-life television show?
Yes, ゆうがたGet! (Yuugata Get!, Evening Get!) is a real-life TV show.
It's broadcasted by TV. Shinshu located in Nagano prefecture since April 5, 1999. Based on the broadcast schedule list on the ...
- 13.1k
7
votes
Accepted
Is there a local folktale regarding underwater palace and tamate box in Japan?
This is the story of Urashima Taro. It's a famous old Japanese folktale from the Nara period about a man who saves the Emperor of the Sea's daughter, Otohime. He is invited to live in the underwater ...
- 23.8k
7
votes
Accepted
Why all the "Re" in titles?
For the meaning of the word "Re:" in the title, depends on the Anime
(there seems to be a lot of explanation in the comment section of your answer).
But the reason on why there's an influx of it ...
- 446
7
votes
Accepted
What is a "fangirl moment"?
Fangirls have been around for quite a while. The term having it's first recorded use in 1934 in the novel by humorist A. P. Herbert called Holy Deadlock which is about the struggles of a divorce. The ...
- 22.3k
7
votes
Accepted
When did otaku become a derogatory term?
According to the first paragraph of the Wikipedia article (emphasis mine):
Otaku (おたく/オタク) is a Japanese term for people with obsessive interests, particularly in anime and manga. Its contemporary ...
- 1,093
7
votes
Accepted
Why are most isekai happening in a medieval world?
I think you might have landed in a category of Isekai novels where Medieval influence is more prevalent. As a avid reader of Isekai's myself, I can confirm that there are also plenty of Isekai's ...
- 22.3k
6
votes
Accepted
What or who is "Minami" in "Search for Minami"?
The Minami means Minami Asakura in the anime Touch.
When the anime aired, it was very very famous and everyone knew the character.
She is a heroine in the manga and she likes sports.
One daily news ...
- 2,933
6
votes
Accepted
Is the grip shown in Hikaru no Go really used by expert Go players?
It is the proper way, and is used by most (if not all?) very strong go players (and many beginners as well!).
It allows you to easily place a stone in the middle of many others without touching them, ...
- 176
6
votes
Why do female anime characters always run like this?
Looking at a WARNING! TvTropes WARNING! One thing is clear, this kind of running is an exageration. So you will not probably find examples in real world.
But what is it exageration of? That character ...
- 2,825
6
votes
Accepted
Is "high school detective" a real-life thing in Japan?
Short answer: No. It is totally fictional.
Technically, no license is required to become a detective (探偵) in Japan, so it is possible for a teenager to become a detective. I doubt there are actually ...
- 3,483
6
votes
Accepted
Are there elite schools or private schools in Japan that teach advanced knowledge for their students' age?
Speaking simply about the reality, I believe the short answer is no.
The basic compulsory Japanese education is 6 years (primary) + 3 years (middle). But practically most children proceed to high ...
- 3,483
6
votes
Why are daughters usually in charge of household chores after their moms have passed away or left the families in anime?
I think it is just the case women/girls do cooking/chores in most parts of the world.
The following may partially answer the question, even if not directly.
There is a saying "Men should not ...
- 3,483
6
votes
Accepted
Why is a black ribbon hung over a person's portrait when they die?
The portraits are called iei, 遺影. The black (and white) ribbons are badges of mourning called moshou, 喪章. They are typically worn along the chest (or as a band around the arm) to express mourning of ...
- 42.8k
6
votes
Accepted
Attire for a Japanese summer festival: Why don't the boys dress up for the summer festival while their dates do?
in Japanese culture in general are girls more likely than boys to dress up?
Yes. Girls just like dressing up pretty more than boys. I guess it is universal.
A quick search gave the following.
It ...
- 3,483
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible