Do you know the definition of fujoshi? This article will provide you with all of the information you need on the word fujoshi, including its definition, usage, word origin, and more!
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Kevin
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June 17, 2021
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Common Questions
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What does the Japanese word fujoshi mean?
According to Just A Little Japanese, Urban Dictionary, My Anime List, Futekiya, and Fanlore, the word fujoshi (腐女子) literally translates to “rotten girl” or “rotten woman.” However, this term is used to refer to a woman who enjoys watching anime, manga, and other forms of Japanese media that feature male/male, or yaoi relationships. This is also referred to as boys’ love or “BL” when referring to these genres. This began as a misogynistic insult in the early 2000s, and was considered very offensive. This Japanese pun implied that these were not respectable women, and the older fujoshi use was considered very rude. This has later been reclaimed and turned into a food-related pun. The kanji that is used in the word fujoshi refers to fermentation, and thus uses a play on the word “men” to create a homophonous pun.
Female fans of anime and manga series might refer to themselves as female otaku, which refers to a young person who is obsessed with a certain genre, though fujoshi can also consider themselves a more casual consumer of these novels or works of fiction. Not every fan of these maga series considers themselves a part of the otaku subculture. Yaoi fans can also be male fans, though the fandom is largely made up of young women who are heavily invested in the male characters’ romantic relationships.
Female fans of manga and the rest of the yaoi fandom can have any sort of different sexual orientation, from straight, to gay, to ace. Being fans of the boys’ love genre does not imply any sort of alternative sexual orientation or gender identity necessarily. Anime and manga are a form of mass media, and anyone can be a fan of any such genre or subgenre.
The equivalent term for men would be fudanshi, or 腐男子. This literally translates to rotten man or rotten boy, and is used to refer to a man who is a fan of anime and manga that feature male/male relationships or shōjo manga. Older fujoshi might also use the term kifujin, which means “noble spoiled woman” or “fine lady.”
What are examples of yaoi anime and manga?
While some people may not be interested in yaoi anime, some of the most popular anime in recent years fall under this subgenre. If this genre of anime does not appeal to you, do not fret. There are a plethora of different anime genres that you can try. There are thousands if not tens of thousands of different anime and manga series out there, so don’t worry if it takes a while to find one that you absolutely love, or a niche genre you enjoy. If you are interested in becoming a fan of this genre of anime, you can try watching some of the best yaoi anime that are listed below, from Ranker and Fandom.
- Sekimatsu Darling
- Gakuen Heaven
- Haru wo Daiteita
- Yebisu Celebrities
- Kidnapp’n Idol
- Umibe no Étranger
- Koisuru Boukun (The Tyrant Falls in Love)
- Love Love Campus
- After School In the Teacher’s Lounge
- Ten Count
- Okane Ga Nai
- I like what I like, so there
- Enzai
- Marudase Kintarou
- Yami no Matsuei
- Super Lovers
- 6 Lovers
- Yes, No, or Maybe?
- Earthian
- Junjou Romantica 2
- Twittering Birds Never Fly
- Spirit Pact 2
- Kizuna
- Papa Datte, Shitai
- Graduation M
- This Boy is a Professional Wizard
- Hyakujitsu no Bara: Jinginaki Nikukyuu-hen
- Kasho no Tsuki
- Kyou kara Maou!
- Unbelievable Space Love
- Boku wa Kono Mama Kaeranai
- Taishou-Mebiusline:Chicchai-san-You and I
- Mirage of Blaze
- Love Stage!!
- This Boy Suffers from Crystallization
- Level C
- Kimera
- Kachou no Koi
- Gakuen Handsome
- Hitorijime My Hero
- Marginal Prince
- Loveless
- Angel’s Feather
- Beryl and Sapphire
- Kirepapa
- Togainu no Chi
- Someone Else’s BL Cartoon
- Be-Boy Kidnapp’n Idol
- Ginga Teikoku no Metsubou Gaiden: Aoki Ookami-tachi no Densetsu
- Maiden Rose
- Otokonokole Delivery
- Bronze: Zetsuai Since 1989
- This Boy Can Fight Aliens
- Monochrome Factor
- Sukisho
- Fake
- The Titan’s Bride
- Sex Pistols
- The Legend of the Blue Wolves
- Kaze to Ki no Uta: Seinaru ka na
- Dakaretai Otoko 1-i ni Odosarete Imasu
- Saezuru Tori wa Habatakanai: The Clouds Gather – Also known as Twittering Birds Never Fly
- Hyperventilation
- Close the Last Door
- Sekaiichi Hatsukoi
- Reincarnated Into Demon King Evelogia’s World
- Lesson XX
- Hybrid Child
- DASH!
- Vassalord
- Papa to Kiss in The Dark
- Doukyuusei
- This Boy Caught a Merman
- Ikoku Irokoi Romantan (A Foreign Love Affair)
- Fuyu no Semi
- Junjou Romantica 3
- Jie Yao (Antidote)
- The Emperor’s Strategy
- Banana Fish
- Gravitation
- The Betrayal Knows My Name
- Junjou Romantica
- No.6
- Wild Adapter
- DRAMAtical Murder (OVA)
- Yuri!!! on Ice
- Sensitive Pornograph
- Yarichin☆Bitch-bu
- Finder
- Hey! Class President
- Fish in the Trap
- Saezuru Tori wa Habatakanai: The Storm Breaks
- Hey, Your Cat Ears Are Showing
- Given
- Tight-rope
- Saezuru Tori wa Habatakanai: Don’t Stay Gold
- Ai no Kusabi
- Caramel Honey
- Fujimi Orchestra
- Bad Teacher’s Equation
- Antique Bakery
- Honoo no Mirage: Minagiwa no Hangyakusha
- Spiritpact
- Robotica*Robotics
- My Sexual Harassment
- Natsuyasumi.
Overall, the word fujoshi is a Japanese term that refers to a group of women who are heavily invested in male/male relationships in fictional works such as anime and manga. This term was originally an insult, but has been reclaimed in recent times by both casual readers and otakus that make up the readership. This is also considered a homophonous word, since part of the kanji translated to “fermentation.” Various terms are used to describe subgenres of Japanese media.
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