vipperと腐女子の歴史を勝手に綴ってく…
This article delves into the intriguing, often unexpected, history of two distinct online communities: VIPPERs and Fujoshis. From the early days of anonymous bulletin boards to the present, it unravels how these groups evolved independently and, at times, surprisingly intersected, all from the author's unique perspective.
Prepare for a casual yet insightful journey through their cultural shifts, uncovering unexpected commonalities and how their contrasting values shaped Japan's internet landscape. It's a topic that's sure to spark nostalgia and perhaps a few "I never would have thought of that!" reactions online.
Related Keywords
VIPPER
VIPPER is a term referring to users who frequented the "News Flash (VIP) board" on the anonymous forum "2channel" (now 5channel). From the early to mid-2000s, they significantly influenced Japanese internet culture. Their characteristics included free-spirited expression leveraging anonymity, creation and widespread use of AA (ASCII Art), collective excitement for specific events or individuals termed "matsuri" (festivals), and the creation of original characters like "Yaruo." Their activities sometimes became social topics, sparking online flame wars, but also introduced many terms and expressions that became internet memes. For example, phrases like "kuso warota" (super lol) and "warota" (lol), or chants like "Put AA!" and "It's a matsuri, it's a matsuri!" are said to have originated from VIPPERs. Their collective actions can also be interpreted as a prototype for later "going viral" phenomena on social media and collective responses to specific topics. This article is expected to delve into the points of contact and evolving perceptions between this strongly individualistic VIPPER culture and Fujoshi culture, exploring their relationships and interactions across different eras. The theme of how two seemingly incompatible cultures developed and influenced each other on the common ground of anonymous forums will be fascinating.
Fujoshi
Fujoshi is a term referring to women who love creative works such as manga, novels, anime, and games that depict romance between men, commonly known as "Boys' Love (BL)." Originally, it began as a self-deprecating slang term used by women to express their enjoyment of male-male romance, but it is now widely recognized and has established itself as a major genre in Japanese subculture. Its origins can be traced to magazines like "JUNE" in the 1970s, and its fan base expanded with the rise of doujinshi (fan magazine) culture from the 1980s onwards. The spread of the internet brought significant changes to Fujoshi culture, greatly expanding platforms for enthusiasts to share works and information, and interact through personal websites, blogs, social media, and anonymous bulletin boards. Particularly active is the "fan fiction" culture, where original stories are created using characters from existing works, giving rise to many writers and fans. The market size is also substantial, with numerous BL specialized publishers and labels, engaging in diverse media mix developments including comics, novels, drama CDs, anime, and live-action dramas, said to reach hundreds of billions of yen annually. This article is expected to detail how this uniquely developed Fujoshi culture met VIPPER culture, sometimes creating friction, sometimes finding unexpected commonalities, and how it has woven its history, including the changes in their relationship over time and its modern-day impact.
Anonymous Bulletin Board Culture
Anonymous bulletin board culture refers to the unique culture fostered on online platforms, typified by 2channel (now 5channel), where users could freely post opinions without revealing their identity. Developing from the dawn of the internet, its greatest feature is that users can post as "Nanashi" (anonymous), without using handles or fixed IDs. This anonymity significantly lowered the barrier to posting for users, facilitating a diverse exchange of opinions while also fostering free discussion, information exchange unbound by existing media or common sense, and at times, extreme behavior and collective actions. From the 2000s onwards, various subcultures and movements developed on these anonymous bulletin boards, such as groups like VIPPER intentionally creating phenomena called "matsuri," or Fujoshi communities exchanging information and publishing fan fiction on specific boards (categories within the forum). It's no exaggeration to say that this culture laid the foundation for modern internet culture, with specific AA (ASCII Art) and slang terms emerging and spreading as internet memes to society at large. However, due to its anonymity, negative aspects such as the spread of misinformation, defamation, and privacy infringement have repeatedly been pointed out, sometimes escalating into social problems. This article will deeply explore how VIPPER and Fujoshi, two different cultures, coexisted or clashed on the common stage of anonymous bulletin boards to weave their "history," and how the unique culture of anonymous bulletin boards influenced their relationship.