The Oshi-Katsu Glossary145 terms

A dictionary of Japanese fandom slang, from oshi and doutan kyohi to ita-bag and nui-katsu, with meanings, examples and context.

The Basics25 terms

Start here: the words the whole culture is built on.

2D / 2.5D / 3D2次元・2.5次元・3次元Anime, stage and real-life fandom

2D / 2.5D / 3D: Fan Dimensions

CVVoice-actor credit

CV: Character Voice and Voice-Actor Fandom

DDLoves them all

DD: The Fan Who Loves Them All

EmoiエモいFeels

Emoi: When Time Overlaps and You Feel It

FlagフラグForeshadowing

Flag: Reading the Signs Before the Announcement

Gainen-oshi概念推しConcept fave

Gainen-Oshi: Making a Concept Your Oshi

Hako-oshi箱推しGroup stan

Hako-Oshi: Loving the Whole Group

Kaiwai界隈Fandom circle

Kaiwai: The Fandom Sphere Around Your Oshi

KemiケミChemistry

Kemi: The Chemistry Between Two Members

Kojinzei / Kigyozei個人勢・企業勢Independent & agency VTubers

Kojinzei and Kigyozei: Independent vs. Agency VTubers

Kyokyu供給Content supply

Kyokyu: Content Supply From Your Oshi

Numa沼Rabbit hole

Numa: The Oshi Rabbit Hole

Oshi推しYour fave

Oshi: The Person You Champion

Oshi shika katan推ししか勝たんMy fave wins

Oshi Shika Katan: Nothing Beats My Oshi

Oshi-katsu推し活Fan activities

What Is Oshi-Katsu? The Complete Guide

Oshi-mashi推し増しAdding a new favorite

Oshi-Mashi: Adding a New Oshi

Oshigoto推し事Fan duties

Oshigoto: Working for Your Oshi

Oshimen / Jitan推しメン・自担Favorite member & my member

Oshimen and Jitan: Your Favorite Member

Ota-katsuオタ活Otaku activities

Ota-Katsu vs. Oshi-Katsu

OtakuオタクSuperfan

Otaku: From Insult to Badge of Pride

Sai-oshi最推し・神推しTop fave

Sai-Oshi: Your Top Oshi

Suko / Shindoi / Babumi / Wakarimiすこ・しんどい・バブみ・わかりみFan slang

Oshi-Talk Slang Guide

Tan-oshi単推しSolo stan

Tan-Oshi: Devoted to One Member

Toutoi尊いPrecious

Toutoi: When "Cute" Isn't Enough

Yome: The Origin of "Waifu"

Live Shows & Events27 terms

From traveling to shows to fan service, the vocabulary of the live experience.

Call / Kechaコール・ケチャChants & kecha

Call and Kecha: Chants and Arms-Out Cheering

ChekiチェキInstant photo

Cheki: Instant Photos With Your Oshi

Demachi出待ちStage-door waiting

Demachi: Stage-Door Waiting and Why It's Banned

DrichikeドリチケDrink ticket

Drichike: The Live House Drink Ticket

Ensei遠征Fan trip

Ensei: Traveling to See Your Oshi

FansaファンサFan service

Fansa: Those Little Moments From the Stage

Furi-copy振りコピChoreography copy

Furi-Copy: Dancing Along at the Show

Genba現場Live venue

Genba: Where You Meet Your Oshi

Ginte銀テStreamer tape

Ginte: The Silver Tape From the Stage

Hako箱Venue / Group

Hako: The Venue, or the Whole Group

Honnin kakunin本人確認Identity verification

Honnin Kakunin: ID Checks at the Gate

Irimachi入待ちWaiting for arrival

Irimachi: Waiting for Performers to Arrive

Kagiake / Kagishime鍵開け・鍵閉めFirst & last in line

Kagiake and Kagishime: First and Last in Line

Kamiseki神席Best seats

Kamiseki: The "God Seat" Everyone Prays For

Online sansenオンライン参戦Online attendance

Online Sansen: Attending a Show by Stream

Otageiオタ芸Glow-stick dance

Otagei: Japan's Glow-Stick Dance

Ouen uchiwa応援うちわCheering fan sign

Ouen Uchiwa: The Concert Fan Sign

PenlightペンライトLight stick

Penlights: Japan's Concert Light Sticks

Renban連番Seat buddies

Renban: Seat Buddies at Live Shows

Repo: Fan Event Reports

ResuレスOn-stage response

Resu: On-Stage Response

Sansen参戦Concert-going

Sansen: Going to the Show

Seiri bango整理番号Admission number

Seiri Bango: Admission Numbers

Sesshoku event接触イベントMeet & greet

Sesshoku Events: Meeting Your Oshi

SetoriセトリSetlist

Setori: The Setlist, Spoiler Manners Included

Tanban単番Solo ticket

Tanban: The Solo Ticket

Zentsu全通Full attendance

Zentsu: Going to Every Show

Merch & Collecting22 terms

Collecting, displaying and trading: the language of fan merchandise.

Akkii / Rabusutoアクキー・ラバストKeychains & straps

Akkii and Rabusuto: Keychain and Strap Goods

AkusutaアクスタAcrylic stand

Acrylic Stands: Your Oshi, Standing Beside You

Bromide / Posukaブロマイド・ポスカBromide & postcard

Bromide and Posuka: Photo Merch

Enban円盤Physical discs

Enban: Why Fans Still Buy Discs

Gainen code概念コーデConcept outfit

Gainen Code: Wearing Your Oshi Quietly

Goods kokanグッズ交換Merch trading

Merch Trading: Posts, Shipping, Safety

Goods sensou / Kareruグッズ戦争・枯れるMerch war

Merch Wars: When Popular Goods Sell Out

Ichiban Kuji一番くじCharacter-goods prize lottery

Ichiban Kuji: Every Ticket Wins a Prize

Ita-bag痛バッグ（痛バ）A tote covered in your oshi’s merch

Ita-Bag: The Bag That Wears Your Oshi

Jigo-tsuhan / Juchu-seisan事後通販・受注生産Post-event sales

Jigo-Tsuhan: Post-Event Merch Sales

Kan-badge缶バッジTin badges

Kan-Badge: Japan's Pin-Back Button Badges

Koshitsu case硬質ケースCard protector

Koshitsu Case: The Hard Card Protector

Mugen kaishu無限回収Infinite collecting

Mugen Kaishu: Collecting the Same Goods Endlessly

Nui-doriぬい撮りPlushie photography

Nui-Dori: Photographing Your Plushie Oshi

Nui-katsuぬい活Plushie life

Nui-Katsu: Life With Your Plushie Oshi

Oshi color推しカラーMember color

Oshi Color: Your Oshi's Signature Shade

Random goodsランダムグッズBlind-box merch

Random Goods: Blind-Box Merch

Saidan祭壇Fan altar

Saidan: The Oshi Fan Altar

SloganスローガンFan-held message banner

Slogan: The K-Pop Fan Banner

Tokuten特典Purchase bonus

Tokuten: Purchase Bonuses in Oshi-Katsu

TorecaトレカTrading card

Toreca: Sizes, Trading and Storage

Toreca decoトレカデコTrading-card decoration

Toreca Deco: Decorating Trading Cards

Money & Spending12 terms

Paying in, gacha pulls and living with the costs of being a fan.

Bakushi爆死Bad pulls

Bakushi: Striking Out on Blind Goods

FC (fan club)FC（ファンクラブ）Official membership for fans

FC: How Japanese Fan Clubs Work

GachaガチャRandom-draw capsule toys and game pulls

Gacha: The Language of Oshi Apps

Gacha-kinガチャ禁Gacha abstinence

Gacha-Kin: Gacha Abstinence

Kakin / Mitsugu / Ofuse / Omukae課金・貢ぐ・お布施・お迎えSpending slang

Oshi-Katsu Money Slang

Mukakin-zei無課金勢Free-to-play fan

Mukakin-Zei: Fans Who Don't Pay In

Musen無銭No-spend fan

Musen: The No-Spend Fan

Oshi-katsu credit card / oshi-katsu points推し活クレカ・推し活ポイントFan credit cards

Oshi-Katsu Credit Cards: Fan-Themed Finance

Resaleリセール

Resale: Official Face-Value Ticket Transfer

SupachaスパチャSuper Chat

Supacha: Super Chat Culture in Japan

Tenjo天井Pity system

Tenjo: The Gacha Pity System

Tsumu積むBulk buying

Tsumu: Bulk-Buying for Your Oshi

Fan Psychology & Relationships16 terms

How fans relate to their oshi, and to each other.

Doutan同担Same-fave fan

Doutan: Fans of the Same Oshi

Doutan kangei同担歓迎Same-fave friendly

Doutan Kangei: Fans of My Oshi Welcome

Gachikoiガチ恋Serious crush

Gachikoi: When Your Oshi Feels Like a Real Crush

Jirai地雷Personal no-go

Jirai: Your Personal Fandom No-Go

Kaishaku-chigai解釈違いInterpretation gap

Kaishaku-Chigai: When It Doesn't Match Your Oshi

Kami-taio / Shio-taio神対応・塩対応God-tier vs. salty

Kami-Taio vs. Shio-Taio: How Your Oshi Treats You

Koho-ude-gumi kareshi-zura後方腕組み彼氏面Proud veteran fan

Arms-Crossed Boyfriend Face: The Proud Veteran Fan

Kosan古参OG fan

Kosan: The Long-Time Fan

Ninchi認知Being recognized

Ninchi: Being Recognized by Your Oshi

Ondosa温度差Enthusiasm gap

Ondosa: The Enthusiasm Gap

Oshi wa oseru toki ni ose推しは推せるときに推せSupport while you can

Support Your Oshi While You Can

Oshi-kaburi / Genba-kaburi推し被り・現場被りSharing a fave

Oshi-Kaburi: Sharing an Oshi

Oshi-katsu kyushi推し活休止Fan activity break

Oshi-Katsu Kyushi: Taking a Break From Fandom

Ota-tomoオタ友・推し友Fandom friends

Ota-Tomo: Fandom Friends

RiakoリアコReal-love crush

Riako: A Real-Love Crush on Your Oshi

Tsuyobi otaku強火オタクHardcore fan

Tsuyobi Otaku: The High-Heat Fan

Fan Culture & Creativity16 terms

Celebrations, evangelizing and fan-made works.

ComiketコミケJapan’s giant fan-made comics market

Comiket: Japan's Fan-Made Book Fair

Coupling (CP)カップリングShipping

Coupling (CP): Shipping, Japanese-Style

Fujoshi腐女子BL fangirl

Fujoshi: The Word BL Fans Gave Themselves

Fukyo布教Fan evangelism

Fukyo: Sharing Your Oshi With Friends

Gensaku-zei / Anime-zei原作勢・アニメ勢Source readers & anime viewers

Gensaku-Zei and Anime-Zei: Source vs. Anime Fans

Kaishaku icchi解釈一致Matching interpretation

Kaishaku Icchi: When Your Reading Matches

Nijisousaku二次創作Fan works

Nijisousaku: Fan Works in Japan

Oshi mark / Fan name推しマーク・ファンネームFan emoji & fandom name

Oshi Mark and Fan Name

Ouen koukoku応援広告Fan-funded ads

Ouen Koukoku: Fan-Funded Ads for Your Oshi

Rishu / Mirishu履修・未履修Consumed & not yet consumed

Rishu / Mirishu: Consumed and Not Yet

Seichi junrei聖地巡礼Pilgrimage

Seichi Junrei: Anime Pilgrimage

Seitansai生誕祭Birthday celebration

Seitansai: Your Oshi's Birthday Festival

SenilセンイルBirthday (Korean)

Senil: K-Pop Birthday Culture

Streaming archive配信アーカイブWatching a stream after it ends

Streaming Archives: Watching Live Streams Later

VTuber mama / papaVTuberのママ・パパVTuber artist & rigger

VTuber Mama and Papa: The Creators Behind the Avatar

Yume-joshi夢女子Self-ship fan

Yume-Joshi: Self-Ship Fans and Dream Fiction

Graduations & Milestones10 terms

The turning points of a fan’s journey.

Budokan / Dome武道館・ドームBudokan & dome milestones

Budokan & Dome: Milestones Measured in Venues

Hatsuhaishin / Debut haishin初配信・デビュー配信Debut stream

Hatsuhaishin: The Debut Stream

Oshi-hen推し変Switching faves

Oshi-Hen: Switching Your Oshi

Ota-sotsuオタ卒Fandom graduation

Ota-Sotsu: Graduating From Fandom

Saba-banサバ番Survival audition show

Saba-Ban: Survival Audition Shows

Shunen-iwai周年祝いAnniversary celebration

Shunen-Iwai: Celebrating an Oshi's Anniversary

Sotsugyou, kaisan, intai, kakkyu卒業・解散・引退・活休Graduation, disbandment & hiatus

Graduation, Disbandment & Hiatus: Oshi Milestones

Takai / Hosu他界・干すLeaving the fandom

Takai and Hosu: Stepping Back From Fandom

Tan-ori担降りLeaving a fave

Tan-Ori: Stepping Down From Your Oshi

Zense / Tensei / Raise前世・転生・来世Reincarnation

Zense, Tensei, Raise: VTuber Reincarnation

Sports Fandom1 terms

Soccer, baseball, basketball and volleyball: how Japan cheers for teams and players.

Season seatシーズンシート（年間チケット）Season ticket

Season Seats: Your Own Seat for the Year