Denpa
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (March 2012) |
Denpa (電波), also denpa-kei (電波系) or denpa-san (電波さん), is a Japanese term for individuals or persons who may feel disconnected or dissociated from the people around them. They may entertain wild fantasies and persecutory delusions or other strong beliefs, and their speech or actions may seem strange or incoherent to outside observers.[1][2] "Denpa" literally means "electromagnetic wave", and the original sense of denpa-san was of someone who thought they were receiving voices, thoughts, or instructions directly to their mind via electromagnetic radiation.[3] It is often used as a term to describe a subgenre of horror in anime, manga, Japanese visual novels, such as Chaos;Head, and Ultimate Otaku Teacher, as well as light novels such as Ground Control to Psychoelectric Girl that share characteristics with this term.
The term was originally tied to the Fukagawa series of killings in 1981, in which a man killed four people (women and children) due to paranoia and resentment of his employers. The man later claimed to be influenced by radio waves, saying that they caused him to commit the murders.
Denpa media
Denpa media, such as manga, anime and games are characterized by socially disconnected individuals featured in mundane environments, which often leads to odd or unfamiliar attitudes. The genre typically features common imagery of technology that use electromagnetic or radio waves to function, such as antennas and telephone poles, and often features themes of paranoia, depression, suicide and urban or suburban living.[4]
Although mostly associated with horror, the genre can exist in drama, action or thriller stories (with notable examples being Neon Genesis Evangelion, Boogiepop Phantom and Aku no Hana). The genre is also heavily associated with otaku cultural influence, with works referencing otaku media.
Shizuku and Paranoia Agent is often credited as popularizing the genre.
See also
- Denpa song
- Electromagnetic hypersensitivity
- Electronic harassment
- Gugure! Kokkuri-san
- On the Origin of the "Influencing Machine" in Schizophrenia
- Popotan
- Schizophrenia
- Tin foil hat
References
- ^ Kyarakutā Sekkei Kyōshitsu [Characterization Classroom] (in Japanese). Light Novel Etiquette Research Center, Shūwa Systems. 2009. pp. 247–248. ISBN 9784798023397. Retrieved March 10, 2012.
- ^ "Jisho.org: Japanese Dictionary". jisho.org. Retrieved 2019-09-27.
- ^ Kazuhisa Fujie; Sian Carr (15 March 2007). Fruits Basket Uncovered: The Secrets of the Sohmas. DH Publishing Inc. pp. 80–81. ISBN 978-1-932897-21-0. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
- ^ Toadette (2019-06-29). "On Denpa: A Guest Article by Kenji the Engi". on the ones. Retrieved 2022-08-14.
 | This article related to the culture of Japan is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |