Dakimakura
A dakimakura (抱き枕) (from daki (抱き) "to embrace or cling" and makura (枕) "pillow"), also called Dutch wife, is a type of large pillow from Japan. The word is often translated in English simply as "hug pillow". In Japan, dakimakura are similar to Western orthopedic body pillows, and are commonly used by Japanese youth as "security objects".[1]
In the West, "dakimakura" is associated with a love pillow. Love pillows are a subset of dakimakura usually portraying life-size pictures of anime characters. Some pillows may portray anime characters or pornographic film actors in suggestive poses.
History
During the 1990s, dakimakura began to intertwine with otaku culture, leading to the production of pillow covers featuring printed images of bishōjo and bishonen from various anime or Bishōjo game. Many of these early otaku dakimakura covers were released through Cospa, a character goods and apparel store which continues to release official dakimakura covers to this day.
Although sometimes called a Dutch wife, the original definition of this phrase is closer to the chikufujin.
References
- ↑ Galbraith, Patrick W. (2009). The Otaku Encyclopedia: an Insider's Guide to the Subculture of Cool Japan. Tokyo: Kodansha International. ISBN 9784770031013.
External links
- Kohler, Chris (February 6, 2004). "Getting in Bed With the Customer". Wired News. Retrieved 2014-02-13. - An article on the release of a Japanese limited edition Xbox, which includes a Kasumi (from Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball) dakimakura.
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