Oyaji
From Academic Kids
In the Japanese language, oyaji (親父, おやじ, オヤジ) roughly means "daddy." It is a juvenile linguistic corruption of chichi-oya (父親, ちちおや), which means "father-parent" or simply "father." In Japanese art and character design, oyaji is a cultural ideal of masculine men who are old enough to be experienced fathers or grandfathers, or to at least seem like them. This takes the form of an aesthetic appeal and personal appeal, emphasizing matured looks and experienced behavior. All of these factors can actually make oyaji seem attractive and vigorous, qualities more often associated with youth than with age. Part of this may be because of the frequent association of oyaji with hard work, capable leadership, and well-borne longsufferings, not unlike the expectations a young child has for a father or grandfather figure.
The floor age for oyaji is typically in the 30s, but oyaji characters can be as young as their 20s if they still look the part—this is more likely if the man has more facial hair, body hair, body mass, and smoking a cigarette. Older male characters don't as often need these things to look like oyaji.
Capitalizing on the already venerable nature of oyaji as experienced role models, much (though not all) popular oyaji actually emphasizes the often humorous quirks and faux pas of oyaji behavior, which would be considered flaws by some, and endearments by others, such as the "old fart" paradigm or perverted yet ultimately harmless behavior in many Japanese comedies.
Sometimes this is elevated to a sex symbol or even a fetish, not entirely unlike the rustic appeal of Sean Connery or Nick Nolte in the Western World.
The character Ohno in the Genshiken manga and anime has an oyaji character fetish, which is unusual for a 'typical' otaku fangirl.
Oyaji in Japanese popular fiction
The following is a brief list of noteworthy oyaji in Japanese popular fiction, known for their distinctive seasoned personality and their idealized or exaggerated mature looks.
- Big O
- Dastun
- Norman
- Breath of Fire III
- Garr (ガーランド)
- Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
- Julius Belmont
- Chrono Cross
- Lynx (ヤマネコ)
- Zappa
- ZOAH
- Cowboy Bebop
- Dragon Ball series
- Gyūmaō (Ox King)
- Muten-Rōshi a.k.a. Kame-Sen'nin (Master Roshi)
- Final Fantasy II
- Borgen (ボーゲン)
- Cid (シド)
- Josef (ヨーゼフ)
- Richard (リチャード)
- Final Fantasy III
- Cid (シド)
- Final Fantasy IV
- Cid Pallendino (シド)
- Final Fantasy V
- Galuf Baldesion (ガラフ)
- Kelgar Vlondett (ケルガー)
- Zezae Mathias Surgate (ゼザ)
- Final Fantasy VI
- Banon (バナン)
- Duncan (ダンカン)
- Sabin René Figaro (マッシュ)
- Cyan Garamonde (カイエン)
- Stragos Magus (ストラゴス)
- Final Fantasy VII
- Cid Highwind (シド)
- Reeve (リーブ)
- Barret Wallace (バレット)
- Final Fantasy VIII
- Headmaster Cid
- Final Fantasy IX
- Steiner
- Final Fantasy X
- Final Fight series
- Mike Haggar
- Full Metal Alchemist
- Alex Louis Armstrong
- Phoenix (Hi no Tori) series
- Saruta
- Sarutahiko
- The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
- Tarin
- Mario series
- Princess Mononoke
- Monk Jiko
- Reign: The Conqueror
- Star Fox series
- Street Fighter series
- Vandread
- Grandpa
- Wild ARMs 2nd Ignition
- Brad Evans
- Xenogears
Oyaji on the Internet
Some Japanese artists on the Internet draw oyaji to emphasize beauty, virility or humor, and post artworks on their websites. This is a brief list of websites that feature oyaji art. Some sites may contain themes considered by some to be mature in nature, including homosexuality.
- Oyaji Artists
- エイジ Eiji (http://home.att.ne.jp/blue/cerberus/www/home.htm)
- Dorotabo (http://www.interq.or.jp/snake/keichi/)
- ＨＡ－ＫＵ HĀKU (http://fukuoka.cool.ne.jp/ha_ku/top.htm)
- もりたち みつる Mitsuru Moritachi (http://shirayuki.saiin.net/~fan/)
- Oyaji-Kemono Fusion Artists
- Sinbeh Ashino (http://www7.ocn.ne.jp/~life-p/)
- 太田もとき Motoki Ōta (http://www.tya.1st.ne.jp/~ota6911/inter/)
- 一馬 Kazuma (http://wolf.fang.or.jp/kazuma/)
- 玄谷狂屈 Kyōkutsu Kurotani (http://ww81.tiki.ne.jp/~kurotani/)
- SATORU (http://www6.big.or.jp/~matsu/)
- 大地千尾 Seno Daichi (http://yanusi.hp.infoseek.co.jp/)
- 二木 かざお Kazao Niki (http://www.interq.or.jp/dog/kazao/nk.html)
- pokoya (http://www45.tok2.com/home/pokoya/)ja: 親父
