Where Did Uke Meaning Originate In Anime And Manga?

Question

I'm deep into BL manga and keep seeing this dynamic everywhere, but honestly, where does the whole uke/seme terminology even come from originally?

Glenda Smallwood · Answer

The word ‘uke’ is often used within Japanese fan communities to describe the recipient, or bottom, of a pairing. Often used in contrast to ‘seme’ (the dominant, or top, partner) in similar pairings, this term has since been incorporated into mainstream manga and anime. ‘Tokyo Romansu: Love’s Pathway’ is an example of a contemporary story that utilizes such roles in the context of two office workers, first entering into a contract relationship but eventually transitioning into something more as the characters learn to be beyond just their given roles.

Nathan · Answer

The term ‘uke’ originates from the Japanese verb ‘ukeru’ which means to receive. Within the context of anime and manga the definition of male/male relationships greatly affects the dynamic between characters, particularly in yaoi. The two archetypal character roles of ‘uke’ and ‘seme’ add much drama to the storyline, as seen with the character of Usagi from Junjou Romantica. Fans worldwide are able to relate to his ‘uke’ personality. Terms like ‘uke’ have become integral parts of fan discussions and are often brought up within fan communities. This allows fans to not only discuss the storyline of their favorite series but also how they interpret certain relationships and how they relate to them in real life. Fan culture is constantly evolving and is very vibrant.

Ulysses · Answer

So I finally got around to learning what ‘uke’ means in terms of anime and manga and it’s pretty cool. The word for ‘uke’ comes from ‘ukeru’, which translates as ‘to receive’. In Yaoi, the uke is the more submissive of the two leads, typically portrayed as the one who receives affection from the seme. I read about this while reading some fanfic a while back. Seeing the different dynamics between seme and uke characters in fanfic was really interesting to me. In a lot of the Yaoi that I have read (such as ‘Junjou Romantica’), the way that the characters interact with each other really brings depth to their stories. Fans love these two types of characters and are very creative in how they can be reworked and re-interpreted.

Claire · Answer

One of the most interesting uses of the term ‘uke’ (from the Japanese verb ‘ukeru’ meaning to receive or to take) in anime and manga is within the context of yaoi stories of male/male relationships. In these stories, the ‘uke’ is often the more submissive of the two males, in contrast to the ‘seme’ (from ‘semeru’ meaning to strike or to take actively). The terms have become especially prominent within the shonen-ai and yaoi genres of manga and anime of the 1990s and later, in which these character archetypes have been solidified and stories built around them. This has led to a massive amount of fan work, both written and drawn, centered around exploring these relationships in which the ‘uke’ plays the weaker, more passive character and the ‘seme’ is the stronger, more active character.

Many fans who follow anime and manga create their own doujinshi (self-published comics) and write their own fanfiction (stories based off a particular anime or manga). Most of these pieces of work feature the ‘uke’ and ‘seme’ archetypes, and many fans enjoy taking these characters in different and unexpected directions. An example of this is a traditionally ‘uke’ character taking on a much more dominant role in a story.

It’s also really interesting to see how other anime and manga go on to explore the same archetypes in different ways. The classic such as ‘Junjou Romantica’ have set the bench mark for characters like these but more modern stories are beginning to blur the lines of gender and explore different relationships. Each new take is really interesting in its own way and highlights why these kinds of characters are so timeless yet remain so current today.

Mia · Answer

'Uke' is derived from the Japanese word for 'to receive', 'ukeru’. In the manga and anime world, the term has found considerable use in stories that belong to the yaoi and shonen-ai genres. These softer male characters are depicted as typically being submissive to their seme partners. Audiences all over the world are fascinated by the unique relationships depicted in these stories. Many fans of these genres are also inspired to write their own stories of fan fiction, and some even go as far as to dress up as their favorite characters and engage in cosplay. The way in which these fans create their own unique take on the typical seme/uke relationship is amazing to watch. The stories within this genre provide many examples of how people express their love for others, not only romantically but also emotionally. These are just some of the many reasons why I love this genre so much. The complicated relationships between characters are always so interesting to read about.

Kara · Answer

Learning more about the origins of the term ‘uke’ in anime and manga has been really interesting. The Japanese verb ‘ukeru’ translates to ‘receive’ or ‘take’ and the term ‘uke’ is most often used to refer to the recipient or more passive partner in same sex relationships, most commonly depicted in yaoi or boys love (BL) stories. The term for the dominant or aggressive partner is ‘seme’. BL stories have become incredibly popular around the world in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Part of the appeal for fans is the unique combination of romance and deep emotional connection found in these stories. Additionally, how characters portray relationships and challenge traditional views of gender are also key. The way in which characters’ perceptions of relationships have evolved over time is also really interesting to see, especially how it challenges the typical gender roles that most other stories portray.

erna.pilit · Answer

For practical purposes, 'uke' originated as a tag. I use it as a search term to narrow down results to stories in which a certain character or persona is in the uke role. Thus, for example, one would search for 'uke [Character Name]'. The functional origin of 'uke' and its current, largely practical use are far more significant than its entire history and all the ensuing polemics. After all, it works. So, it gets to stay.

Larasati Wulandari · Answer

It came from Japan. The end. We don’t need 50 comments to debate this issue. Sometimes a simple answer is enough. Fandom jargon has invaded the rest of the online world and this is just one of many examples. It’s becoming a constant.

Shereka Dennis · Answer

Not to be confused with the somewhat loaded term “bottom” in queer communities, “uke” comes from a specific tradition of genre fiction, as opposed to lived community language for “bottom”. And as such, “uke” feels somewhat like a toy to me in terms of narratives to play out with it, whereas “bottom” is more of an identity term and therefore oftenNOT interchangeable with “uke”. Often there is tension when people use the two terms, and I think recognizing the two terms come from different places with different cultural weight is key to knowing when to use each and why people might get upset about the other.

marce.roprinel · Answer

This is a pretty typical fandom etymology – a term is borrowed from one language and then sort of gets expanded upon in another language. In Japanese, “uke” comes from the word “ukemi,” which refers to the receptive partner in a martial arts performance or in dance. In yaoi/BL fandom, “uke” has been shortened from this word and is now used to refer to the receptive character in a pairing. The dynamic of the uke can be subverted quite a bit in fiction, but generally the uke is the character who receives, as opposed to the seme, who gives. The term for the seme comes from a similar place in martial arts – it refers to the aggressor in a match, and in dance it refers to the leader of a pair performing. It is often used in fandom to refer to the dominant character in a pairing, and again, the dynamic can be subverted in all sorts of ways. In Western fandom, terms for these two roles have taken on more of a narrative and character-based meaning than their literal translations would suggest. The terms have evolved since being borrowed from Japanese to reflect their uses in fiction, and are now often used in tags for fanfiction of all kinds.

Sometimes older fans object to its use as opposed to more literal terms (e.g. ‘bottom’) but, as with any subculture, language develops in unexpected ways.

Alfonso Espinoza Azpeitia · Answer

The term has elicited aggressive arguments for a term related to receptive roles. Ironic. The comments under this post for example, are proof enough that this word still has a charge to it. Although its origins are technical, its current interpretation is emotive. People have powerful associations with terms such as these, good or bad, and they have become part of the word’s current meaning on top of its original definition.

Where Did Uke Meaning Originate In Anime And Manga?

11 Answers

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