UlasanAnime.com – In a recent exploration of Takahashi Chiaki’s reflections on the seiyuu industry, her career, and past anecdotes, a striking parallel emerged between her perspective and the operational dynamics of IDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls.
The concept of a “pilot + seiyuu” doesn’t seem to directly translate within the Cinderella Girls universe. However, one might speculate its presence in SideM. The core idea is that one can excel as a French, Russian, Esperanto speaker, a rock musician, a mushroom enthusiast, a creepy character, a smiling persona, a flutist, or even a dairy farmer. The possibilities for a seiyuu’s career path are vast and unpredictable, as previously discussed.
Reflecting further on Chiaking, her recent involvement in the Aice5 Reunion, as part of the Sore ga Seiyuu event, was notable. A significant event was the drama surrounding her torn Achilles heel, a potential stress-induced injury stemming from a previous knee issue. This injury occurred during Aice5 event rehearsals, understandably causing concern among attendees. However, Chiaking’s unwavering dedication to the event shone through. With sufficient time between her immediate recovery and the event’s commencement, arrangements were made to accommodate her condition, including a specially designed couch and an attendant to assist her.
This thoughtful approach was quite impressive.
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A search of my blog archives revealed that the term “waifu” first appeared in 2010. In recent times, my perception of this term has evolved significantly.
The fundamental issue with “waifu” lies in its equivocation to the Japanese term “yome” in phrases like “ore no yome.” While Japanese otakus may claim their wives, whether 2D or 3D, this declaration often carries a different nuance than the ironically tinged “weeaboo-ized” English equivalent. In the Japanese context, it’s a direct declaration of one’s wife, which can still be ironic, but the intent isn’t solely driven by that irony. Conversely, when Westerners adopt the concept as “waifu,” it often mirrors the way “otaku” is used to broadly signify “fans.” This can lead to a highly exclusionary and gatekeeping interpretation, where “otaku” should ideally denote “hardcore fans” at most. However, Western marketing often broadens this definition. While the term “otaku” has shed much of its negative stigma in Japan by 2015, the act of a devoted fan declaring a wife (or husband), whether in the East or West, is typically done without irony, as doing so would be considered disrespectful.
This is precisely why I find the term “waifu” problematic. The term inherently carries an ironic undertone. At best, we might use it to contextualize the declaration of a wife, such as an anime fan and their chosen anime character. However, this context is rarely positive; while often neutral, its necessity is questionable. If you were to refer to Shimakaze as your wife, it’s unlikely anyone would be confused, no more so than if you called her your waifu. Therefore, what is the purpose of this linguistic twist? What meaning does it truly convey?
If Japanese individuals were to refer to their wives ironically, my reservations might be less pronounced. Perhaps my perspective on marriage in general is more conservative, though I doubt that is the primary factor.
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It’s that time of year again. I have several plans in motion and will be dedicating time to writing. May your endeavors in Deresute be successful.
