Yamato Nadeshiko - Television Tropes & Idioms

alt title(s): Classic Japanese Beauty

A traditional Japanese girl. Okay, not incluing the art style.

''My woman from Tokyo

She's so good to me''

—Deep Purple, "Woman From Tokyo"

Roger Stone: But everybody in this family thinks it's funny to try to get around Pop. [...] You, too, Edith. You give in until you get your own way.

Edith Stone: Yes dear.

Roger Stone: See what I mean?

— The Rolling Stones, by Robert A Heinlein

A complicated Japanese aesthetic and cultural concept. Breaking the expression down: "Yamato" is one of the older (and thus fancier) names for Japan and the Japanese culture; "nadeshiko" is Japanese for Dianthus superbus, a wildflower native to the Japanese highlands. Broadly speaking, a yamato nadeshiko is the "flower of Japanese womanhood", a woman with attributes that were traditionally desirable in Japan from the perspective of male-dominated society; generally ascribed to people with traditional upbringings. Basically it revolves around acting for the benefit of the family and obeying and assisting authority figures (father, husband, sometimes father-in-law or older brothers, as well as older females of similar personality traits). Virtues include loyalty, domestic ability, wisdom, maturity, and humility.

This sounds like an Extreme Doormat, especially to modern Westerners, but don't be fooled; the nadeshiko is a wildflower, after all. A properly done yamato nadeshiko will show a subtle, but definitely present, touch of iron, in that she is unwilling to let circumstances hurt the ones she cares about or distract her from her goals or missions. (Conversely, in poorly done cases this come across as a forced attempt at trying to convince the audience that the YN in question isn't just a doormat with no personality) This is often accomplished so subtly that the target isn't quite certain how things got redirected — a kind of influence judo, if you will. Older yamato nadeshiko are better at this, while a younger one will make up for it in determination — especially when it comes to the man she loves, because that trumps everything else. Aoi loves her parents, but she will step over them to be with Kaoru if she has to, since that's what she wants and no one will take that away from her.

With some notable exceptions, physically yamato nadeshiko will be tall, willowy, modestly endowed, and pretty rather than beautiful, and they will have dark eyes and long, dark hair with bangs; you know, the kind of hair a Japanese person can actually have. They'll dress girlishly: skirts, blouses, lace, ribbons and simple hair ornaments. Some may use jewelry and make-up, but not to the extreme. Their voices will often be gentle, calm, and warm as that melted butter you get to dip your shellfish in at Red Lobster.

Sometimes, these seemingly ultra peaceful ladies will also handle at least the basics of self-defense, even if they would rather not fight unless it can't helped. If that's the case, they'll be very graceful and effective in the battlefield, and their preferred weapons will be polearms, lances, or bow/arrows. They're more likely to be Staff Chicks or Barrier Warriors, though.

Yamato nadeshiko characters pop up a lot in Magical Girlfriend series (usually in the character who will win the male lead's heart) and in Betty And Veronica love triangles. Similar to an Ojou, although more likely to be played straight. They tend to be very sympathetic, but their passive, reactionary nature puts them in danger of becoming Satellite Characters for more "interesting" people, as well as target of bashing from fans who prefer either Action Girl or Tsundere types (and not all of them being "so-called feminists"). They are much more popular in Japan for obvious reasons.

More information on this concept can be found in the sci.lang.japan FAQ

. Compare Stepford Smiler for a critical take, and Yandere for a girl who seems to be a Yamato Nadeshiko but hides a far more unstable psyche. Her sort-of early Western equivalent is the Determined Widow. An attempt to take this trope's appealing traits Up To Eleven while still playing it straight runs the risk of producing a Purity Sue.

Most likely will be voiced by Kikuko Inoue (and formerly, Sumi Shimamoto) if she's from an anime. If the character is on the young age and is already showing lots of Yamato Nadeshiko traits, it's probably Mamiko Noto voicing that character. Sayaka Ohara, often referred as "the new Kikuko Inoue", might be heading towards this direction.