Many who follow Japanese animation must have noticed the presence of giant tentacles, whether in an anime full of fanservice or adult content such as hentai. Have you ever stopped to think why the Japanese like tentacles?
Is there some reason behind the tentacles in Japanese animations or is it just Japanese madness? What made the Japanese love tentacles so much? What kind of fetish is this? Let's find out in this article!
Shokushu Goukan - Origin of Tentacle Rape
The Japanese term for adult scenes with the use of tentacles in animations is shokushu goukan (触手強姦). The term describes a creature with tentacles used to rape some character in anime, manga or book.
The first case of tentacle rape was in one of Katsushika Hokusai's illustrations in her novel "Kinoe no komatsu", first published in 1814. The story called: "The Dream of the Fisherman's Wife".
The first time a tentacle rape appeared in an anime was in a OVA called I can help you with that. Here are some options to choose from: 1. "Fora de Controle" 2. "Sem Controle" 3."Descontrolado" in 1986. Although it had no real sexual implications this manga series Demon Beast Invasion is often assigned first.
The first appearance on the internet of the term was in English “tentacle rap" posted on Urban Dictionary as any character sexually violated with the tentacles of any creature, be it octopus, alien, monster or humanoid.
Tentacles is a way to circumvent Censorship
For those who don't know, adult content in Japan has been censored since 1907. That is, both Japanese erotic movies and animations cannot show private parts (except for the breasts), putting a mosaic in place.
The tentacles and other weird and creepy things present in Japan's +18 animations are made to circumvent the Censorship Law in Japan. Authorities cannot prohibit or compel non-human parts to be censored.
Taking advantage of the subject, in the same way that the tentacles were made to circumvent censorship in Japan. At lolicons were also created to circumvent the pubic hair censorship that existed in the 90s.
Tentacles were a fad in the late 80's and early 90's, as already mentioned, to circumvent the censorship of adult content. Nowadays in traditional anime, tentacles is a throwaway joke or just a fan service.
Octopuses and Squids are part of Japanese culture
For foreigners, the presence of tentacles in anime and adult content can be unexplainable. Still, we must think that tentacles are part of everyday life in Japan and in its cuisine. They live in an archipelago of islands, octopus is common.
Common street foods like Takoyaki uses octopus as an ingredient. So kind of Japanese are more used to seeing octopus and squid in their lives than Westerners who rarely consume this type of food. So it's a routine thing that doesn't scare the Japanese.
Of course, it is undeniable that Japanese people have crazy fetishes, whether with realistic toys sold in suspicious stores across Japan. Despite the Japanese paraphernalia, hardly a tentacle is present in real life for these purposes.
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Tentacles are not unique to Japan
In the west, the use of tentacles on villains to capture enemies is very common. It is possible to find scenes like this in Tom and Jerry, Little Mermaid and many other western cartoons and Japanese anime.
The tentacles are the villains' capture ploys. The same thing happens in adult animations that use the tentacles, usually it's a violent scene from a villain. Octopus tentacles have had this vision throughout the century, even outside of animation.
There are old engravings from centuries ago that depict giant octopuses and squids as villains attacking ships and devouring regions. This is very common in almost all anime, whether with villains or comic situations.
Do the Japanese really like tentacles?
Despite being popular in the 90s, nowadays it is rare for hentai animations to have as many tentacles as they used to. Nowadays the industry has used other means of circumventing the censorship, it is to be agreed that many Japanese people also find this stupid.
Many Otakus who claim to consume this type of content, are less pleased with the tentacle part. Only perverts on duty can consume this type of material, in the same way that they can have fun watching toys.
It's totally wrong to generalize and say that Japanese people like tentacles, as this is just a stereotype that became popular in the 90's animation era. The best thing to do is not relate tentacles to the Japanese.
Just as in the 90s, anime was common in space and with wick, tentacles is just a phase that still has traces today. What do you think about this matter? We hope to see your comments and shares.
