Crossdressing in Japan is something very common since the past in Kabuki theaters. In this article, we will talk a little about this culture of dressing in the opposite sex’s clothing, which in Japan is called Otokonoko.
Crossdressing for those who don’t know is the practice of wearing clothes and accessories that do not match the person’s gender identity.
The word otokonoko [男の娘] comes from a pun on the homonymous word otokonoko [男の子] which means boy. The difference lies in the last ideogram which actually means daughter [娘]. It means being a boy, but in reality, it is a girl.
When a girl dresses as a boy, the pronunciation of the pun is otokonomusume [男の娘]. The ideograms remain the same, only the pronunciation of the last ideogram goes to its main reading.
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How did Otokonoko originate?
The pun originated in manga and within otaku culture, which gave rise to maid cafés, clothing stores, and popular media. This slang is often used to refer to a boy who looks like a girl or dresses as such.
This does not necessarily mean a change of sex or homosexuality; some do it just for fun or as a hobby. The Japanese do not consider dressing as the opposite sex a sign of homosexuality.
It is becoming increasingly common for famous young people to take photos dressed as girls and post them on social media at least once. These young people proudly identify as heterosexual men and are not ashamed to make public appearances at events.
It is very common to see anime characters who dress as the opposite sex. Some call them traps because they deceive fans and sometimes even make them fall in love. Many end up using anime traps as their waifus.
Also read: Complete list of anime trap characters
What do people think about otokonoko?
This can cause quite a controversy in foreign countries, but we know that in Japan, there is great freedom in the way of dressing. Despite some questioning, it is up to each person’s conscience to judge this hobby.
This is just one of the thousands of unusual things that happen in Japan. Thus, you should be careful not to confuse with the beauty of these men, because it is somewhat difficult to distinguish.
I will leave a video showing a little of this situation, and notice how easy it is to get confused.
The video below shows a café in Akihabara called NewType where boys dress as maid servants. Probably some foreigner must have visited this place thinking they were being served by beautiful girls.
This coke is fanta!
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