An Examination of the History and Current State of Jirai Kei in China and Japan

Abstract

"Jirai Onna" is a phrase that originated in Japanese anonymous forums and is most commonly used to denote a variety of women who are considered to be psychologically sub-healthy. However, with changes in times and discourse environments, the meaning of the term has evolved based on social realities, developing different nuances. The term itself has also expanded its reach with the advancement of communication technologies, particularly forming a new youth subculture phenomenon in China. This article separately outlines the developmental history of "Jirai Onna" in both China and Japan, and provides a distinct summary of the developing history of "Jirai Onna" in both China and Japan. Finally, it provides a potential analysis of the factors that contribute to the disparities in the Landmine Girl culture that exist between China and Japan. The expectation is that this will be of use to researchers in the future who are investigating different young subculture organizations.