Otaku2 Interview: Nakano Fujoshi Sisters

20.02.2009 by Patrick W. Galbraith

Nakano Fujoshi Sisters (中野腐女子シスターズ) are a seven-girl idol unit taking advantage of the rising profile of fujoshi and Nakano. They were formed in 2006 and mainly appeared on the Internet TV show "ShowTime&GyaO" and live-houses around Nakano. Their debut hit, was released for cell phones in July 2008, and was produced by the eccentric Jazzy Hanawa (an alter ego of comedian Hanawa). The group consists of Inui Yoko, Kyan Chiaki, Kyomoto Yuka, Ura Erika, Konan Yuka, Harada Mariru, Arai Hirono. Suzanne was a member before she became a TV talent. Hanawa also produces Fudanjuku, a group of seven beautiful boys (the Sisters in danso). This group had its major break first with “Otokozaka” in September 2008. Fudanjuku was praised by Suzanne as “otakakkoi,” or “otacool.” They sang the opening for the "Yatterman" anime in 2009. Their second single, goes on sale March 18, 2009. Nakano Fujoshi Sisters dreams are fourfold: 1) Release a CD, 2) sing an anisong, 3) do a live in Nakano Sun Plaza, and 4) spread joy and hope to the children of the world. What connects these is the concept of “uchu heiwa,” or “space peace.” Simply, they believe otaku will save the universe, and so want to spread the culture.


PG: Why choose Nakano?
Yokyun: Akihabara is a really famous otaku holy land in Japan, and after Ikebukuro is well know for female fans, fujoshi. But Nakano has a very developed subculture. It has the good parts of both Akihabara and Ikebukuro. There are so many stores there to get immersed in. One visit to the shopping arcade reveals so many great things all at once. We wanted to work to be part of that and promote it. … It isn’t just young people or new stores. It is a town beloved by people of all ages.

PG: What stores do you recommend?
Yokyun: Mandarake. It has like 20 stores in Broadway! They have everything there, even really rare stuff like "Sailor Moon" toys. Even when the price is high and I can’t buy it, just seeing the real thing makes me happy.

PG: Where do you buy?
Yokyun: Online – EBay! You can get really good deals when you buy from people overseas. The box is different, but the same toys were shipped overseas. So I am on EBay a lot these days searching for these toys. My English is really bad, though.

PG: What do you think of Nakano Broadway?
Kyanchi: It’s kind of similar to Yokyun, but Broadway is 30 years old now. Akihabara changed recently from the Electric Town to a moe-kei otaku area. Broadway’s style has not changed for decades. There is a chaos there that is the spirit of the Lower City. People are truly kind. That kindness is not common in a lot of places that are known for otaku these days. I think Broadway is connected to the world [in its products and visitors]. I personally like to go there when the store shutters are closed.
Uraa: When we did a performance for the release of Fudanjuku’s CD on September 23, 2008 [below image], and the people of Nakano really just supported us so much. They even made us a stage right inside Broadway! I couldn’t believe people would go so far out of their way for us. Also, they have professional wrestling shops and bookstores for fairies, anything you can imagine.














PG: Do you still perform in Nakano?
Kyanchi: Our activity is based around Nakano, but for live performances there aren’t any places that are large to fit the audience in. We are starting to perform in Shibuya more now. We used to perform for 30 people, now it is a thousand. It is really amazing that we came this far. It is all because of the fans who walked the path with us.

PG: How many came to that live Uraa mentioned?
Yokyun: About 1,000 people. The stores had to close to make room for them. Everyone was so great! When we said “konnichaha” [a combination of “hello” and “kamehameha” from "Dragon Ball" used by the group as a greeting] everyone responded with energy.

PG: I’ll bet. And your thoughts on Nakano?
Piro: My family home is in a shopping arcade, but all the stores have closed and it is really sad. Nakano was the first time I saw a shopping arcade that is thriving even in modern times.
Marirun: Nakano is a great place to find old and rare game software. I recommend Galaxy, the Mandarake game store. You can also find signed stuff, original cells and scripts and other wonderful things.

PG: You call yourselves fujoshi, but in what sense?
Yokyun: We are female otaku. Some of us read yaoi, but others are just normal otaku who are women.
Uraa: We take fujoshi to mean someone who carries things to extremes. We call this ota zokusei (ヲタ属性), and it is different for each one of us. What connects us is being rotten because of our passions.

PG: One of your members who couldn’t be here today (Conanmaru) is a fashion otaku, right? She was a top teen model. Fashion and otaku sounds like a contradiction in terms. So, what separates a hobbyist from an otaku?
Kyanchi: It is the intensity of it.

PG: Fair enough. Any particular reason you all use wotaku instead of otaku?
Kyanchi: Not really. When was it that people starting using wo instead of o?
Marirun: It was kind of like before I even noticed.
Yokyun: Isn’t it Net jargon? Like 2channel?
Kyanchi: But isn’t using the wo sound instead of o kind of more Japanese?
Uraa: Some people say that otaku became a common word after Okada Toshio used it and brought otaku to the public. People who didn’t want to be associated with him or that image, especially younger otaku, started using wotaku to purposely show they weren’t associated with that. Or at least that is one explanation.

PG: I see. What makes you each of you rotten?
Yokyun: I love cosplay, especially photographing on location. I really am particular about the location! As I take pictures, I collect them into albums and sell them at Comike. That is how my yearly schedule is organized.

PG: I see. And you make your own costumes?
Yokyun: Yes. I have made over 200 outfits myself.

PG: Wow. Including your stage uniforms?
Yokyun: We all designed these original costumes. The image is of fighting heroines!

PG: And your ota zokusei is?
Kyanchi: Anime. I really love Japanimation. I especially like "Gundam."

PG: In a fujoshi way, like Amuro and Char coupling?
Kyanchi: Of course I have BL fantasies! But more than that, I think anime is Japan’s culture and its treasure. I am interested in learning the history of anime, like about the first TV anime, "Tetsuwan Atomu" by Tezuka Osamu. I research the ways that history is reflected in anime.

PG: What are you watching now?
Kyanchi: "Gundam 00" is in its new season, so I am checking that regularly.

PG: And your ota zokusei is?
Uraa: I am into professional wrestling. I always enjoyed watching it, and then before I knew it I was up in the ring myself. … I really wanted to be a diva like in the WWE. I especially like Hiroko, the partner of Tajiri. … I am into weight training. I get excited when I see muscles! I even have preferences for the ways muscles are drawn in manga.

PG: I am a little intimidated right now... And your ota zokusei is?
Piro: My otaku zokusei is, is, it’s cooking. It’s cooking [second time in English].

PG: Cooking? Where is the otaku in that?
Piro: Um, my mother, my mother [second time in English] was a cooking instructor and sommelier. Ever since I was a kid I have been deeply tied up in cooking. I research recipes and techniques of cooking.

PG: Your English is very good.
Piro: I scored an 810 on the TOIEC. I am really interested in foreign cooking and going abroad. I am good at making Borscht [a Russian soup].

PG: What is your ota zokusei?
Marirun: For me it is games and manga. I especially like dating simulators. I like everything from PC games to commercial stuff. I am into games for guys, for girls, for kids and for adults. I have over 7,000 games right now.

PG: Holy Hannibal! That is on par with game idols.
Marirun: I also have 1,000 anime DVDs and 10,000 manga.

PG: Right. You are a “manga sommelier,” as I hear it. And you were honored as race queen of the year 2005? Hardcore.
Marirun: Thank you.

PG: Last but not least.
Kyomo: I am a fairy and reptile otaku. Fairies aren’t something you can see, so I can pretty much study them any way I want without a lot of criticism. I used to be attracted to their beauty as a child. I read lots of books about fairies. But the more I studied them, the more the darker, scarier side became clear. That interested me.

PG: What kind of music do you all make?
Kyanchi: Our music is produced by Jazzy Hanawa Do you know the song ? That was made by Hanawa, and Jazzy Hanawa is his relative. That is the setting, anyway, because they are both actually the same person. We’ve gotten used to it by now, but when we first heard the original music he made for us we thought, “What is this?” It was really weird.
Yokyun: But the more you listen to it, it kind of get’s stuck in your head. If you do the same things as other people then you will always be second. In that sense, the new and catchy songs made by Mr. Jazzy Hanawa are really great. The lyrics for the Nakano Fujoshi Sisters are often beyond comprehension.
Uraa: The first song, “GO! FIGHT! Fujoshi Sisters,” was female otaku as seen through Jazzy Hanawa’s eyes. For example, finding boyfriends online, or having anime character boyfriends.
Kyanchi: And with that everyone could come together and enjoy, like fujoshi sisters. Go fight!














Yokyun: Fudanjuku [above image] are more oriented towards society. Cherish humanity, friendship and love. That sort of simple message is common, but there are points to be learned for it and people can respond to it. Even though the lyrics are simple and kind of lame, the value to the message is high. The music is fun. Like, even if you are down, cheer up!
Kyanchi: The fans listen to it and yell with us.
Yokyun: Performing these songs is not just about a show. We sing and dance together with the audience. The fans are part of Nakano Fujoshi Sisters and Fudanjuku. We would be nothing without them. The song isn’t complete until their calls are there. When you hear the CD with them, something is missing. The songs are complete at the live performances.
Kyomo: The fans feel about idols the way I feel about reptiles, so I think we are the same. I can understand how they feel.

PG: What is your dream?
Yokyun: To sing an anime song. We love anime, and the message is simple enough that children can understand. The songs have a lot of soul. They are simple, but they can move people. When people grow up, they often look down on anisongs, but we don’t ever want to forget those feelings. We want to spread them with more anisongs! And once we have made a song that moves people, it will connect us to space peace.
Kyomo: I am blessed by the people around me. I can’t take pride in many things, but I can be proud of them. I want to become famous so they can take pride in me.

PG: What is something people don’t know about you?
Yokyun: We actually pronounce our name Fujo Sisters (fujoshiisutaazu).
Kyanchi: Yokyun and I also appeared in the JTB book, in 2008.

PG: Any words for fans?
Yokyun: We really want to know more about what otaku are doing overseas and what they think of Japan. We want to go overseas and perform, like at Anime Expo. Please invite us!