J-Idol Glossary

[Lurkette]

The J-Idol Glossary

A Fish Market Presentation

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Every fandom has its own set of terms and phrases that are shared, common knowledge among fans, but it can be difficult for new fans to figure out everything. J-idols are no different, and we have an extensive lexicon for talking about our favorite idols. In order to make it easier for new fans to understand what on earth we're talking about, we at Fish Market have compiled many common words and phrases used in the J-idol international fandom and provided their definitions for reference. Hopefully, this will make your journey through the J-idol world much easier!

Words are listed in alphabetical order. The general format is to have the English word first, if one exists, followed by the Japanese word with the original Japanese text in parentheses, like so: English/Romanized Japanese (Original Japanese). Where there is both an English and a Japanese word, they are often used interchangeably, or depending upon speaker preference.

• Ace (エース) - Ace is a term used to describe a member of an idol group who is considered to be key to the success of the group. While fans may often try to apply the term to different idols who they consider to be all-arounders or very popular, generally it is only given out by management to girls that they select to be promoted to the media and general public. Examples of official aces include Maeda Atsuko of AKB48, Ikoma Rina of Nogizaka46, or Sayashi Riho of Morning Musume.
• Birthday event/Seitansai (生誕祭) - Literally, "celebration of birth." Most idols have special events for their birthdays, which vary depending on the company. Some have solo concerts, some have events where they play games with fans, some have concerts where they are more of the focus. Seitansai is used primarily in the 48G fandom, as it is the name for the theater shows performed by the group when it is a member's birthday. In most cases, fans will also chip in to buy elaborate floral displays for the idols that are usually presented publicly in the venue for everyone to see.
• Center (センター) - The center is the member of an idol group who is the focal point of a given song. This usually means that she is in the center of the dance formation and gets the lion's share of the line distribution, especially at important parts of the song, like during the bridge or in the first chorus (many TV shows will only allow short versions of songs to be performed, so the first and last chorus of the song are seen as the most important in terms of an idol's position in the song). Some groups have a fixed center, where the same member is the center for most, if not all songs, but many groups do not and the center changes from song to song.
• Chekikai (チェキ会) - Literally, "instant camera meeting." This is another common form of tokuten, where you are allowed to take a photo with one or more members of an idol group. The staff members take the photo on a polaroid or other instant camera film so that you can take a printed photo with you immediately. Some groups will also have deco-chekis, or instant photos that an idol will draw on and decorate for you. Fans are allowed to ask the idols for a specific pose, but with no physical contact allowed. Different groups have different policies on the proximity allowed to the idol.
  • 2-shot (２ショット) - a photo of only 2 people. In the context of cheki events, this means that you will be able to take a photo with just one other idol, rather than a group.
• DD (誰でも大好き) - Literally, "I love anyone." This is a term used to describe fans who seemingly cannot decide upon who to support and end up supporting everyone/no one. This is generally a negative term in Japanese, although it has been co-opted by some groups to have a more positive connotation.
• Furi-copy (振りコピー) - Literally, "appearance copy." This is the term to refer to an audience member copying the choreography of the song(s) idols are performing onstage. Not to be confused with parapara, which is a very simplistic dance designed for the audience to do easily during a concert, furi-copy is a full replica of the dance moves onstage, including footwork, if space is available.
• Generation/Ki (期) - In groups where members are added frequently, they are usually demarcated by what we refer to as a generation. The members who first debut with the group are 1st generation, the next members added are 2nd generation, and so on. Often, members who are part of the same generation have a special bond because of their shared experiences when joining the group, and many fans have particular generations they like more than others. Ki is the Japanese way of referring to generations, so 1ki, 2ki, and so on are the same as 1st gen, etc. You might also see them spelled out in some cases, like "rokkies" for 6ki. It should be noted that not every group that has additions may count generations.
• Graduation/Sotsugyou (卒業) - The term used to describe an idol resigning from her group. The word graduation is used because it has a more positive connotation, as one life stage has ended and another is about to begin. Frequently, a graduation is accompanied by a formal final performance of the idol with her group, but depending on various circumstances this is not always the case. Graduation can also be used in other contexts in Japanese with the same meaning of moving on from something, and idols often tease fans with blog posts entitled "Graduation" when they're talking about their bangs or something unrelated to their careers.
• Handshake event/Akushukai (握手会) - The most common kind of tokuten. A handshake event can be done in a few different ways, but in general, a handshake is an event where fans are given the opportunity to spend a few seconds shaking the hands of idols and briefly conversing with them, in exchange for handshake tickets given out via CD sales.
• Lineup/Senbatsu (選抜) - Literally, "selection." Senbatsu comes from the 48G idols, where the groups are so large that they cannot fit all of the members into one song easily, so specific members are chosen to participate in the songs and promotional activities for releases. These members are referred to as "senbatsu" members. You may also see the word lineup used in other fandoms where there have been lots of additions or graduations.
  • x-nin (x-人) - Literally, "x-people." This is used to describe the size of a group, a given lineup, or a generation. While it has been borrowed in such a way that is not grammatically correct in Japanese, the international fandom generally uses it to differentiate the number of people. Example: "I loved 6-nin the best," meaning, "I loved the 6 member lineup the best."
• Love ban/Ren'ai Kinshi (恋愛禁止) - This is a term used to describe what many consider to be a core principle in idols: no romance or dating of any kind while active. For some groups, this is a formal principle and is written into the contracts (there have, in rare but well-publicized circumstances, been lawsuits over this), but many consider this to be an unspoken rule understood by everyone in the industry. In the past, idols were often removed from their groups for getting caught dating, but in recent years, companies have not enforced this consistently, with some even coming out publicly to say that there is no love ban for their idols and some idols even continuing to be active after marriage. However, even though the strictness of this principle is loosening, it's still understood by the industry to not publicize any relationships the idols may be in.
• Mix (ミックス／じゃーじゃー) - A mix is a type of fan chant that follows a very specific pattern. The original mix was created by an idol fan of local groups in Hokkaido, but is still used today as a generic chant for idol music. Many groups adapt their music to accommodate the rhythm of this chant, and some also customize the chant to apply only to their group. The original chant is also sometimes referred to as jaajaa, as that is the final shout in the chant. Not all wota are fans of this chant: some consider it a nuisance during performances.
• Office/Jimusho (事務所) - "The office" refers to the managing agency of an idol or idol group, whichever agency or company it may be. These companies are responsible for all decisions related to the idols, good or bad, and so they do occupy a solid amount of space in discussions about idols. If a company routinely makes bad decisions, you may also see them referred to as "the shit office (agency)."
• Oshimen (推しメン) - Literally, "push member;" short for "oshite iru member," "member I am pushing." Pushing in this case refers to the member(s) you support above all else, which in Japan has a significant financial component, as well. The more you push a member by buying her merch and showing up for her, the more you hope the office pushes her to the front of the group. Generally used in the international fandom to mean your favorite member, often clipped in both English and Japanese to "oshi." NOT to be confused with "oshii," which means, "almost."
  • Hako-oshi (箱推し) - Literally, "box push." This term is used to describe oneself as supporting the group as a whole, rather than any individual member.
  • Tan-oshi (単推し) - Literally, "single push." This term is used to describe oneself as supporting one individual idol, regardless of the group.
  • Kami-oshi (神推し) - Literally, "god push." This term is used to describe one member in particular that you push above all else, especially if there are other members that you support.
  • Oshi-hen (推し変) - Literally, "push change." This term is used to describe changing one's oshimen. Generally, this has a negative connotation, but there is an understanding that it is common, especially in groups with frequent line-up changes.
• Penlight (ペンライト)/(サイリウム) - Penlight is the word used to describe the light sticks used by fans in idol concerts. Generally, all idol groups use the same tubular light, as there is a manufacturer, King Blade, that makes these light sticks with an extremely high variety of color choices inherent to the light. Some groups will sell their own lights, but the style is usually the same, just with a logo or design and with the color choices limited to the official colors of the group. The Japanese also sometimes refer to them as cyalume, which is technically the chemical glow stick, but it is also used for the electric and battery-powered versions, as well.
• Release event/Tokuten (特典) - Literally, "privilege," or "special favor." This term is used to describe any bonus event that one has access to by purchasing copies of an idol release. Handshake events, cheki (polaroid) events, memorial events, et al are considered tokuten. In the international fanbase, these are all referred to as release events. Tokuten are designed to encourage bulk-buying of new releases so as to get more personal interaction with the idols.
• Trainee/Kenshuusei (研修生)/Research Student/Kenkyuusei (研究生) - In many large idol companies, they have a trainee system where girls come to receive dancing and singing lessons and some practical experience in performing as an idol, but usually at reduced pay, for free, or in some cases, as a program where the trainees pay. Companies will pull from this pool of girls when they are looking to debut new members, as they already have some experience and are familiar with the company structure, although they may still hold public auditions, as well. Different companies have different names for their trainee programs: Hello!Project has the Kenshuusei (literally, trainees), 48G has the Kenkyuusei (literally, research students), other companies have more specialized names, like the former Idol Street Street-sei program. They all refer to the same thing, which is members have yet to have a formal debut but still perform under the company
• Wota (ヲタ) - Short for "idol otaku," or "idol obsessive." In the international fan community, this word is generally used to describe the Japanese fanbase as a whole or any given Japanese idol fan.
• Wota-gei (ヲタ芸) - Literally, "wota performance." Wota-gei is a type of audience behavior at idol concerts where an wota will use aggressive, rhythmic arm gestures to support their favorite idols during specific songs. Penlights are typically used during these movements.

If anyone has any questions or would like another term to be defined, please ask away! And come visit us at Fish Market to talk more about your favorite idols using all your new vocabulary ​

 

[sm maid]

your threads are amazing

 

[abra]

Another great thread!

Here's an example of wotagei (to LiSA's Gurenge)

 

[BianTwo]

As always, interesting, new glossary to discover

 

[Lurkette]

I posted this in Fish Market but I'll post it here, too, for reference:




These are some examples of the mix, plus a few other common fan chants. Chanting at concerts is highly organized in concerts in Japan, and it's actually considered very rude to do a different chant than everyone else is doing, to the extent that some people have actually been removed from the audience if they continue to try to incite a different chant than has been established by the fanbase as the "proper" chant. As a result, fans will often make guides to chants for different songs so that it's easier for new fans to get into the flow of things. Here's an example of a chanting guide:




There are lots of different kinds of chants, but mix is a popular enough one and I've seen the word mentioned enough that it warranted its own definition, I think.

your threads are amazing

Thank you :dogeLaugh: I try very hard to make them good.

 

[Some]

First time hearing of wota-gei , remeber seeing mix but i forgot about it turns out that's what it meant! Another useful article thanks alot!!

 

[Lurkette]

Update: added office/jimusho.

 

[Polaris_Tae]

TIL SNH48 did Wota-gei @ WAB and I didn't even realise it




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