An index for tropes dealing with Asian countries and peoples, especially (but not necessarily limited to) East and Southeast Asia.
How Asiatic can you get?
Related indexes:
- All Asians Know Martial Arts: Asian characters in a work have some skill in martial arts, even if it's never been implied before and they don't seem the type.
- All Asians Wear Conical Straw Hats: An Asian character wears a conical straw hat, if only for pure aesthetic.
- All Chinese People Know Kung-Fu: Every Chinese character in a work knows Kung Fu.
- Anime Chinese Girl: A Chinese girl in a Japanese anime, with Odango Hair, traditional clothes, and/or a very stock Chinese name.
- Asian Airhead: An Asian who, contrary to stereotype, is dumb as a brick.
- Asian and Nerdy: The Smart Guy of the group is an (East) Asian.
- Bollywood Nerd: Similar trope of smart, nerdy characters who are Indian or South Asian.
- Asian Babymama: Once upon a time, a white character had a romantic tryst with an "exotic" Asian lover. This led to a child, but she kept it a secret from him.
- Asian Buck Teeth: A stereotypical depiction of an Asian person, with prominent buck teeth.
- Asian Cleaver Fever: Characters cooking Asian food will wield knives as though they're engaged in battle.
- Asian Drivers: The stereotype that Asians can't drive.
- Asian Hooker Stereotype: When an Asian woman appears with the sole purpose of being a prostitute.
- Asian Rudeness: Asian characters are depicted as snappy and rude.
- Asian Rune Chant: Kuji-in ("Nine Syllable Seals") are used in a work with mystical purposes.
- Asians Eat Pets: The stereotype that Asians eat meat from cats and dogs.
- Asians Love Tea: Asians characterized as avid tea-drinkers, often in contrast to non-Asians.
- Asian Speekee Engrish: The stereotypical, mangled version of English Asian characters speak.
- Asian Store-Owner: An Asian (usually from the Southeast) owns a store in a predominantly English-speaking country. They usually have a humorous accent.
- China Takes Over the World: A future or alternate version of China manages world domination.
- Chinese Laborer: In a work taking place in the 19th/20th century, a Chinese character appears in America doing hard labor for pay.
- Chinese Launderer: Laundry operations are run by Chinese characters, usually those of the Funny Foreigner variety.
- Ching Chong: A non-Chinese (or non-East Asian) character speaks a gibberish version of the language to mock Chinese people.
- Dragon Lady: An Asian villainess, sexy, decked out in traditional clothing, and probably skilled with a slashing weapon.
- Dragons Up the Yin Yang: Asian stuff that is supposed to be "awesome" is represented by dragons and/or the yin-yang symbol.
- Ear Cleaning: A social and hygienic practice largely unknown outside Asia.
- Eastern Zodiac: In a "cycle" of 12 years, each year is represented by its own animal, and your personality is defined by when you were born.
- Far East Asian Terrorists: Terrorists whose base is in the Far East area of Asia.
- The Four Gods: In an ancient Chinese system of astrology, the central figures were four gods—the Azure Dragon (God to the East), the Vermillion Sparrow (God to the South), the White Tiger (God to the West), and the Black Tortoise (God to the North).
- Friendly Local Chinatown: The setting of the work features a "Chinatown", a part of a city wherein Chinese shops, restaurants, services, and people in general are all together in a defined area.
- Holiday in Cambodia: Southeast Asian countries and cities are portrayed as violent, run-down, and possibly primitive.
- The Idiot from Osaka: A character in an anime/manga hails from the Kansai region, and is shown as being idiotic, loud, probably alcoholic, and comedic.
- Inscrutable Oriental: Asian character who is also The Stoic.
- Interchangeable Asian Cultures: The different cultures of Asia are all lumped together into one.
- Japandering: Western celebrities star in Japan-only commercials which would otherwise be a source of embarrassment back home.
- Japanese Politeness: Japanese character(s) depicted as being overly polite.
- Japanese Ranguage: Japanese character(s) specifically can't get their "R" sounds and "L" sounds straight.
- Japan Takes Over the World: A future or alternate version of Japan manages world domination.
- Magical Asian: A wise and (maybe) magical mentor to another, (usually white) character.
- Mighty Whitey and Mellow Yellow: The heroic white male hero has an Asian, female, submissive love interest.
- Red China: The depiction of Communist China in a work.
- Samurai: Swordsmen in feudal Japan.
- The Triads and the Tongs: Chinese organized crime.
- Tokyo Is the Center of the Universe: If anything happens, it's going to happen in Tokyo.
- Yakuza: Japanese organized crime.
- Yamato Nadeshiko: The traditional depiction of an Asian woman, elegant and docile without being a pushover.
- Yellow Peril: An Asian villain originating from 19th century bigotry.
- Yellowface: White people pretending to be Asian via bad make up and poor accents.
- Zen Slap: Slaps as a method of spiritual enlightenment in Zen Buddhism.
Useful Notes
- The Far East: East Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Eastern area of North Asia.
- The Japanese Invasion: The impact of Japanese culture on American culture.
- Kawaisa: The popularity of cute stuff in Asian countries, especially Japan.
- Korean Wave: The international popularity of South Korean culture.
East Asian militaries:
- Chinese with Chopper Support: The Chinese military.
- Filipinos with Firearms: The Filipino military.
- Indonesians with Infantry: The Indonesian military.
- Kaiju Defense Force: The Japanese "Self-Defence Force".
- North Koreans with Nodongs: The North Korean People's Army.
- The Other Chinese Army: The Chinese Armed Forces.
- Singaporeans with Stealth Frigates: The Singaporean military.
- South Koreans with Marines: The Republic of Korea Armed Forces.
- Thai Fighters: The Thai military.
- Vietnamese with Kalashnikovs: The Vietnamese Army.
East Asian nuclear weapons:
- The Dragon's Teeth: A Useful Note on some nukes the Chinese have.
- The Hooves of Chollima: A Useful Note about North Korean nukes.
