In recent years, popular Japanese anime female protagonists are actually “female versions” of male friends! Because there is no need for emotional investment, it makes people feel more relaxed?

Have you ever thought about having a friend who shares your thoughts but has a different body? Recently, a discussion has emerged on Japanese social media, focusing on the phenomenon of female protagonists in male-oriented anime becoming increasingly popular. Surprisingly, these characters are often described as “female embodiments of a male friend.”

This characteristic allows these characters to perfectly align with the male protagonist’s interests and hobbies, without requiring the male lead to expend effort on “emotional labor.” Let’s explore the views of Japanese netizens on this phenomenon together!

In recent years, are female protagonists in subcultural works increasingly resembling “male friends with female attributes” as coveted by male audiences?

According to a Japanese netizen known as “ひらりさ,” such characters are more like “women who do not require emotional labor,” and this concept has sparked widespread discussion recently.

In this discussion, the definition of “emotional labor” has become the focal point of attention among internet users. Some believe that the “tsundere” personality is a typical attribute of emotional labor, while others feel that the “mute” attribute also requires emotional investment.

These attributes once surged in popularity in Japanese anime. Against this backdrop, many internet users believe that the trend of “female-ized male friends” may be due to audiences feeling fatigued by extreme attributes and instead seeking more realistic character representations.

 Chinese netizens have varied reactions to this theory:

 “Oh, emotional labor really is exhausting!” remarked one netizen.

The term emotional labor is really spot on. Indeed, sometimes I also look forward to having a friend of the opposite sex without emotional labor.

At the same time, others have expressed: ‘A beautiful girl with the head of a middle-aged uncle, spending time wandering around Akihabara, sounds pretty good.’

“Although it is the first time I’ve heard the term ’emotional labor’, isn’t it just a hassle-free friendship with someone of the opposite sex?” a netizen summed it up.

However, one netizen pointed out: “When a man encounters a ‘woman who requires emotional labor, but due to similar temperament, the cost of emotional investment is low’, it’s hard to let go.”

Taking “Fate/Grand Order” as an example, although the main character, Fuyliang, has a stable personality and is less popular among men compared to more complex characters like Ferren, this seems to confirm the phenomenon.

When reviewing the popular trends during the time of “The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya,” some netizens pointed out: “In that era, characters requiring emotional labor were very popular, whereas the opposite trend is now prevalent, perhaps indicating that the audience has grown tired and is looking for change.”

Some believe: “From the once-popular need for emotional labor and even the abuse of the male protagonist represented by tsundere characters, we can see the results of progress in gender consciousness. Gender equality has prompted both sides to be independent and possess good emotional management skills, which are considered qualities of an ideal partner.”

Regarding these changes, some netizens expressed: “Characters like Ayanami Rei and Nagato Yuki, which were once perceived as just annoying in reality, have now become eclipsed by female protagonists that require no effort. This may reflect the growing realism of audience demands.”

These discussions not only provoke reflection on the changes in character design and audience preferences but also showcase the audience’s expectations and cultural recreation in the evolution of gender roles.

So, do you prefer roles that require emotional labor? Has this trend resonated with you?