Sekai-kei and Genjitsu-touhi: Long Shadow of the Lost Decade

Research Article
Open access

Sekai-kei and Genjitsu-touhi: Long Shadow of the Lost Decade

Yihang Cai 1*
  • 1 Oakville Trafalgar High School    
  • *corresponding author l.yihang.cai@foxmail.com
CHR Vol.70
ISSN (Print): 2753-7072
ISSN (Online): 2753-7064
ISBN (Print): 978-1-80590-147-1
ISBN (Online): 978-1-80590-148-8

Abstract

When the reality is undesirable, one dimension to which the public can respond depends on whether the reality can be changed. When such change is possible, one tends to be more active, extroverted, and rebellious. When otherwise, one tends to be more passive, introverted, and fearsome. Countercultures that took form from such reactions to reality would inherit such quality, evident in how queer culture tends to possess the quality of the former. In contrast, the otaku culture has the latter. As a culture of indulgence and fear of reality, a phenomenon of genjitsu-touhi is evident in the works of related industries after this period, which is a vicious cycle involving lucid reflection and blinded indulgence that points toward death. Sekai-kei anime follow the same step as genjitsu-touhi, as they provide an exaggerated and unrealistic commendation of otaku’s personal matter by tying it to affect the life and death of the entire world – an externalization of narcissism. Some of these works, however, strive for a therapeutic purpose in addition by demonstrating the change, challenge, and growth of equally defective main characters that were previously used to provide narcissistic indulgence, though the efficacy of such therapy is hard to evaluate.

Keywords:

Japan, sekai-kei anime, otaku, Lost Decade, Vocaloid

Cai,Y. (2025). Sekai-kei and Genjitsu-touhi: Long Shadow of the Lost Decade. Communications in Humanities Research,70,169-177.
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References

[1]. Hack, Brett. "Transmedia as environment: Sekai-kei and the social in Japan’s neoliberal convergence." Transmedia Storytelling in East Asia. Routledge, 2020. 201-224.

[2]. “The Thing I Hate About Anime.” YouTube, uploaded by penguinz0, 3 Jan. 2022, https://youtu.be/FVxGmkk_3bw?si=ANsLBxzgnGO8Necs

[3]. “Cha Dian Hui Mie Dong Man De Nan Ren, Wu Hui Zhai Nan Cong Zher Kai Shi [The Man Who Almost Destroyed Anime: The Beginning of Misunderstanding of Otaku].” Bilibili, uploaded by aiyalaofu, 13 Aug. 2022, https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1dB4y167ke

[4]. Vocaloid Lyrics Wiki. “Rolling Girl.” Vocaloid Lyrics Wiki, Fandom, Inc., 2024, vocaloidlyrics.fandom.com/wiki

[5]. “Hatsune Miku - Rolling Girl PV (English Subs).” YouTube, uploaded by ghostsubs, 22 Mar. 2010, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIqm73xsias

[6]. Vocaloid Lyrics Wiki. “Strobe Last.” Vocaloid Lyrics Wiki, Fandom, Inc., 2024, https://vocaloidlyrics.fandom.com/wiki

[7]. Hiroki, Azuma. Gēmuteki Riarizumu No Tanjō: Dōbutsuka Suru Posutomodān 2 [Japan’s Database Animals 2: Game-like Realism]. Kōdansha, 2007.

[8]. Neon Genesis Evangelion. Created by Hideaki Anno, Gainax, 1995.

[9]. Puella Magi Madoka Magica. Created by Akiyuki Shinbo and Yukihiro Miyamoto, Shaft, 2011.

[10]. No Game No Life: Zero. Directed by Atsuko Ishizuka, Madhouse, 2017.

Cite this article

Cai,Y. (2025). Sekai-kei and Genjitsu-touhi: Long Shadow of the Lost Decade. Communications in Humanities Research,70,169-177.

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About volume

Volume title: Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Interdisciplinary Humanities and Communication Studies

ISBN：978-1-80590-147-1(Print) / 978-1-80590-148-8(Online)
Editor：Heidi Gregory-Mina
Conference website: https://2024.icihcs.org/
Conference date: 29 November 2024
Series: Communications in Humanities Research
Volume number: Vol.70
ISSN：2753-7064(Print) / 2753-7072(Online)

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References

[1]. Hack, Brett. "Transmedia as environment: Sekai-kei and the social in Japan’s neoliberal convergence." Transmedia Storytelling in East Asia. Routledge, 2020. 201-224.

[2]. “The Thing I Hate About Anime.” YouTube, uploaded by penguinz0, 3 Jan. 2022, https://youtu.be/FVxGmkk_3bw?si=ANsLBxzgnGO8Necs

[3]. “Cha Dian Hui Mie Dong Man De Nan Ren, Wu Hui Zhai Nan Cong Zher Kai Shi [The Man Who Almost Destroyed Anime: The Beginning of Misunderstanding of Otaku].” Bilibili, uploaded by aiyalaofu, 13 Aug. 2022, https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1dB4y167ke

[4]. Vocaloid Lyrics Wiki. “Rolling Girl.” Vocaloid Lyrics Wiki, Fandom, Inc., 2024, vocaloidlyrics.fandom.com/wiki

[5]. “Hatsune Miku - Rolling Girl PV (English Subs).” YouTube, uploaded by ghostsubs, 22 Mar. 2010, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIqm73xsias

[6]. Vocaloid Lyrics Wiki. “Strobe Last.” Vocaloid Lyrics Wiki, Fandom, Inc., 2024, https://vocaloidlyrics.fandom.com/wiki

[7]. Hiroki, Azuma. Gēmuteki Riarizumu No Tanjō: Dōbutsuka Suru Posutomodān 2 [Japan’s Database Animals 2: Game-like Realism]. Kōdansha, 2007.

[8]. Neon Genesis Evangelion. Created by Hideaki Anno, Gainax, 1995.

[9]. Puella Magi Madoka Magica. Created by Akiyuki Shinbo and Yukihiro Miyamoto, Shaft, 2011.

[10]. No Game No Life: Zero. Directed by Atsuko Ishizuka, Madhouse, 2017.

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