These are tropes that originate in Japan and are found in Japanese Media. Before adding a page here, please ensure that it doesn't fall under a sub-index. Also, please make sure that it actually originates in Japan, and that simply isn't the place you've run into it the most.
Related but not exclusive is Animeland, The Theme Park Version of Japan as seen in media in general.
Sub Indexes
See also:
- Anime Reality: Tropes that follow the Anime X naming convention.
- Anime Settings
- Bushido Index
- Japanese Stock Phrases: Stock phrases from Japan.
- Japanese Visual Arts Tropes: Visual style of drawn and rendered artwork from Japan. Most visual tropes from anime/manga will be here. Using these is the key to becoming Animesque.
- Japanese Animation Tropes: subset of Visual Art tropes that requires being animated.
- Manga Effects: Visual effects used in manga
- Stock Japanese Characters: Stock characters that have originated in Japan. Several (such as Ninja) have been adopted by the outside world.
Tropes
- Adjective Noun Fred: Common title structure.
- Alternate Character Reading: Depending on which characters you use to write a Japanese word and which pronunciation system you base it on, the word can have different meanings.
- Always in Class One
- Anime Catholicism (cultural portrayal of "exotic religion" trope)
- Asian Fox Spirit (the kitsune is a stock Japanese monster)
- Bakeneko and Nekomata
- Bicep-Polishing Gesture
- Bishōnen Line (powerup visualization trope)
- Biting the Handkerchief (melodrama trope)
- Body Sushi
- Boke and Tsukkomi Routine
- Bokukko (dialogue/characterization trope)
- Cherry Blossoms (symbolism trope)
- Cicadian Rhythm (setting trope)
- Compensated Dating
- Cosplay Café
- Cram School
- Daruma Doll
- Demon King Nobunaga (Portrayals of Oda Nobunaga that make him a demonic bad guy)
- "Dinner, Bath, or Sex" Offer
- Ear Cleaning
- Eyelid Pull Taunt (insulting physical gesture, from Japan)
- Excited Title! Two-Part Episode Name!
- Festival Episode
- Formal Characters Use Keigo
- The Four Gods
- Four Is Death (language/pun/superstition trope)
- Fundoshi
- Furo Scene
- Gashadokuro
- Goldfish Scooping Game
- Goroawase Number (language trope)
- Gyaru Girl
- Hatsuyume
- Headbutt Thermometer
- Henohenomoheji (written Japanese language trope)
- Hihi'irokane
- Hime Cut (personal appearance trope)
- Hitodama Light (portrayal of ghosts)
- Host Club
- Hot Springs Episode (fanservice trope)
- Hu Mons (Mons that resemble Humans)
- Idiot Crows (symbolism trope as well)
- Idiots Cannot Catch Colds
- Image Song
- Japanese School Club
- Japanese Spirit
- Jesus Taboo (symbolism trope)
- Kabuki Sounds
- Kabuki Theatre
- Kaiju
- Kamaitachi
- Kappa (stock Japanese monster)
- Karakasa
- Karaoke Box
- Kigo
- Killing Intent (metaphysics/superstition trope)
- Kimodameshi
- Kimono Fanservice
- Kimono Is Traditional
- Kishōtenketsu (traditional East Asian four-act plot structure without a driving conflict)
- Kyu and Dan Ranks
- Lettered Sequel
- Love Hotels
- Maneki Neko
- Martial Arts Headband
- Mascots Love Sugar: Critters have a massive Sweet Tooth.
- Measuring Day
- Meido
- Mono no Aware
- Moon Rabbit
- Mukokuseki
- Mystical 108
- Night Parade of One Hundred Demons
- Noblewoman's Laugh
- Nue
- Nuns Are Mikos
- Ondo
- Oni
- Onmyōdō
- Onee-sama
- One, Two, Three, Four, Go!
- Orochi
- Paperfan Of Doom (stock physical comedy)
- Paper Talisman (stock prop)
- Patient Childhood Love Interest (stock romance character type)
- Personality Blood Types
- Personal Seals
- Phenotype Stereotype
- Phonýmon
- Pillars of Moral Character
- Pose of Supplication
- Raijū
- "Rashomon"-Style
- "Reborn as Villainess" Story
- Red Armband of Leadership
- Red Spider Lilies of Mourning
- Red String of Fate
- Robeast (standard giant monster)
- Ryokan Inn
- Sacred First Kiss
- Sailor Fuku
- Samurai Ponytail (appearance trope)
- Sarashi
- School Festival
- Schoolgirl Series
- School Sport Uniform (stock costume)
- School Swimsuit (stock costume)
- Seahorses Are Dragons (related to Japanese nomenclature)
- Seiza Squirm (Body Language trope)
- Seppuku
- The Seven Mysteries (plotting trope)
- Seven Is Nana (language trope)
- Shinigami
- Shrines and Temples
- "Silly Me" Gesture
- Smashing Watermelons (cultural pastime)
- Sneeze Cut
- Sprint Scrubbing
- Standing in the Hall
- Standard Japanese Fantasy Setting
- Stealth Clothes (stock Japanese Costume)
- Stock Light-Novel Everyman
- Stock Light-Novel Hero
- Stock Shōnen Hero
- Stringy-Haired Ghost Girl
- Surprise Santa Encounter
- Tanuki
- Tanuki/Kitsune Contrast
- Tengu
- Teru-Teru Bōzu (stock Japanese prop)
- The Tokyo Fireball
- 1000 Origami Cranes
- Toast of Tardiness
- Tokyo University
- Tsuchigumo and Jorogumo
- Tsuchinoko
- Vampire Lolita Archetype
- Visual Kei
- Yamato Nadeshiko
- Yonkoma
- Years Too Early (stock Japanese insult)
- Youkai (stock Japanese monster)
- Yuki-onna
- Zettai Ryouiki
- Zigzag Paper Tassel
