Iyashikei (癒し系) is a genre specific to Japanese works, primarily manga and anime. It is a sub-genre of slice of life, portraying characters living out peaceful lives in calming environments, and is intended to have a healing effect on the audience. The word iyashikei could mean "healing type" or just "healing" in Japanese.[1][2][3]
Origins
Iyashikei's origins are in the late seventies, but it emerged as a distinct subgenre in 1995, in the wake of the Great Hanshin earthquake and the Tokyo subway sarin attack. These traumatic events, combined with the economic recession, would lead to what scholar Paul Roquet calls the iyashi trend, or healing boom.[4] The trauma suffered by the Japanese public provided "the emotional context for the emergence of calm as a lucrative and marketable feeling."[4]
Examples
- Adachi and Shimamura[5]
- Aria[1][6]
- Azumanga Daioh[5]
- Boku no Natsuyasumi series[7]
- Flying Witch[3][5][6][8]
- Girls' Last Tour[9]
- Hakumei and Mikochi[9]
- The Helpful Fox Senko-san[5][10]
- K-On![8]
- Kiyo in Kyoto[11]
- Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear[5]
- Laid-Back Camp[5][6][8]
- Magical Emi, the Magic Star[2]
- Mushishi[5]
- My Neighbor Totoro[5][8]
- Natsume's Book of Friends[6]
- Non Non Biyori[5][9]
- Super Cub[5]
- Tamayura[5]
- Wakakozake[3]
- Yokohama Shopping Log[1][6]
References
- ^ a b c Hairston, Marc (2008). "A Healing, Gentle Apocalypse: Yokohama Kaidashi Kikō". Mechademia. 3 (1): 256–258. doi:10.1353/mec.0.0036. ISSN 2152-6648.
- ^ a b Nozawa, Shunsuke (2016). "On Two-Dimensional Cute Girls: Virtual Idols". In Galbraith, Patrick W.; Karlin, Jason G. (eds.). Media Convergence in Japan. [United States]: Kinema Club. p. 156. ISBN 0-692-62995-5. OCLC 952520172.
- ^ a b c Orsini, Lauren (27 April 2020). "8 Soothing Anime to Help You Relax in Quarantine". Forbes. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
- ^ a b Paul Roquet (2009). "Ambient Literature and the Aesthetics of Calm: Mood Regulation in Contemporary Japanese Fiction". The Journal of Japanese Studies. 35 (1): 87–111. doi:10.1353/jjs.0.0050. ISSN 1549-4721. S2CID 143601802.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Crusch, Marley (August 17, 2021). "Anime girls can finally chill". Polygon. Vox Media. Archived from the original on August 17, 2021. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e "Iyashikei: Let Anime's 'Healing' Genre Soothe Your Pandemic Stress". CBR. November 25, 2020.
- ^ "怖すぎる! 「ぼくのなつやすみ」幻の"8月32日"を知っていますか?". ITmedia.
- ^ a b c d Lum, Patrick (April 25, 2022). "In praise of iyashikei: why we love soothing anime where nothing happens". The Guardian. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
- ^ a b c "What is Iyashikei and Why Should You Care?". Sentai Filmworks.
- ^ Dennison, Kara (September 21, 2020). "The Anime Genre Dedicated to Relaxation". Otaku USA Magazine. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
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: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Moore, Caitlin; Beckett, James; Silverman, Rebecca; Dupree, Nicholas; Loveridge, Lynzee (April 1, 2021). "The Spring 2021 Preview Guide: Kiyo in Kyoto: From the Maiko House". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on April 27, 2021. Retrieved September 5, 2021.