Oshi推し#
The person, character or performer you actively support and feel especially attached to.
“My oshi is the character whose merch I collect first.”Explore related pages ↗
33 TERMS · JAPANESE FANDOM → GLOBAL FANS
Otaku glossary
Learn the words anime fans actually use—from oshi and ita bags to sakuga, doujinshi and Comiket.
FANDOM LANGUAGE
Oshi culture
Oshikatsu推し活#
Activities done to celebrate and support your oshi, from collecting goods to attending events.
“Decorating a display shelf in an oshi color is oshikatsu.”
Hako-oshi箱推し#
Supporting an entire group, cast or unit rather than only one member.
“I cannot choose one idol—I am hako-oshi.”
Tan-oshi単推し#
Supporting one particular member or character above the rest of a group.
“She is my tan-oshi in the unit.”
Oshi color推し色#
The color associated with an oshi and used to coordinate goods, lights or outfits.
“I built a blue ita bag to match my oshi color.”
Seiyuu声優#
A Japanese voice actor; fans may follow their anime, music, radio and live-event work.
“I started the series because my favorite seiyuu joined the cast.”
Oshi nui推しぬい#
A plush doll representing an oshi, often photographed, dressed and carried to outings.
“My oshi nui comes with me to cafés and concerts.”
Nui-katsuぬい活#
Enjoying fandom through plush dolls—taking photos, making outfits and traveling with them.
“We did nui-katsu at the collaboration café.”
FANDOM LANGUAGE
Goods & collecting
Ita bag痛バッグ#
A bag whose clear display panel is densely decorated with badges, charms or photos of an oshi.
“She arranged 40 matching can badges in her ita bag.”Explore related pages ↗
Can badge缶バッジ#
A round pin badge and one of the most common collectible goods used in ita bags.
“The event sells blind-pack can badges.”
Acrylic stand / Akusutaアクリルスタンド／アクスタ#
A printed acrylic character piece that slots into a base for display.
“This birthday akusuta is a limited design.”Explore related pages ↗
Bromideブロマイド#
A collectible photo-style print of a character, actor, idol or scene—not the chemical element.
“A random bromide comes with each ticket.”
Clear fileクリアファイル#
A thin illustrated plastic document folder commonly sold or given as an anime bonus.
“The convenience-store campaign includes an A4 clear file.”
Tokuten特典#
A purchase bonus or special benefit, often exclusive to a store, edition or preorder window.
“Compare store-specific tokuten before preordering.”
Trading goodsトレーディンググッズ#
Randomly packed character goods designed to be traded until collectors obtain their favorite.
“One box may not guarantee the complete set.”
Blind boxブラインドボックス#
A sealed package whose exact character or design is unknown until opened.
“There are eight possible figures in this blind box.”
Kujiくじ#
A lottery-style merchandise draw where every ticket receives a prize from published tiers.
“The final ticket can have a special Last Prize.”
Gachaガチャ#
A randomized capsule or digital draw; in merchandise, usually a capsule-toy machine purchase.
“I pulled the rare keychain from the station gacha.”
Nendoroidねんどろいど#
Good Smile Company's articulated chibi figure line with interchangeable faces and optional parts.
“This Nendoroid includes three face plates.”Explore related pages ↗
FANDOM LANGUAGE
Anime language
Courクール#
A roughly three-month TV broadcast block; one anime season may run for one or more cours.
“The adaptation is planned as a split-cour series.”
Seasonシーズン#
A labeled installment of a series or, contextually, a quarterly broadcast period.
“Season 2 is different from the winter anime season.”
OVA / OAVオリジナル・ビデオ・アニメーション#
Anime released directly for home video rather than first airing on television or in cinemas.
“The OVA adapts a bonus manga chapter.”
ONAオリジナル・ネット・アニメ#
Anime first distributed online rather than through conventional TV, cinema or home video.
“The short series premiered as an ONA.”
Sakuga作画#
Literally drawing or animation; in global fandom, often used for especially expressive or technically impressive animation.
“Fans praised the fight scene's sakuga.”
Key animation原画#
The pivotal drawings that establish movement, acting and timing before in-between frames are added.
“The exhibition displays original key animation sheets.”
Mechaメカ#
Mechanical designs—especially piloted robots—and the anime genre centered on them.
“The model kit reproduces the lead mecha.”Explore related pages ↗
Mahou shoujo魔法少女#
Magical girl: a genre featuring girls who transform or use magic, often with signature items and costumes.
“Her transformation compact is classic mahou shoujo merch.”
FANDOM LANGUAGE
Fan creativity
Doujinshi同人誌#
A self-published work, including original or derivative comics, novels, art books and research publications.
“The circle released an original doujinshi at Comiket.”
Doujin circleサークル#
An individual or group that creates and distributes self-published works.
“Check the circle name as well as the artist name.”
Comiketコミックマーケット#
Comic Market, the large volunteer-run doujinshi convention held in Tokyo.
“Circles apply for tables months before Comiket.”
Fan artファンアート#
Unofficial art created by fans in response to a character, series or creator.
“The hashtag is full of anniversary fan art.”
Headcanon—#
A personal interpretation a fan accepts even though it is not confirmed by the official story.
“My headcanon is that the two characters stayed friends.”
Ship / Shippingカップリング／推しカプ#
Supporting or imagining a romantic relationship between characters; derived from relationship.
“The fandom uses a pairing name for the ship.”
QUICK ANSWERS
Questions fans ask
What does otaku mean in Japan and overseas?
In Japan, otaku describes a person deeply devoted to a particular interest and can carry different nuances by context. Overseas anime fandom often uses it more positively as an identity for a committed anime or manga fan.
Is an oshi just a favorite character?
Oshi can mean a favorite character, idol, actor or performer, but it also implies active support. Oshikatsu is what a fan does to celebrate and support that oshi.
What is the difference between gacha, kuji and a blind box?
Gacha is a randomized capsule or digital draw. Kuji is a ticket lottery with published prize tiers and a prize for every ticket. A blind box is a sealed product with an unknown design inside.
Does doujinshi always mean fan comics?
No. Doujinshi are self-published works and may be original or derivative, fiction or nonfiction, manga, novels, art books or research publications.
Primary references
Terminology changes with communities and context. We cross-check official references where available.
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