Japanese Men Obsess Over Rei Ayanami

by ReverseHarem
Sep 3, 2007 6:27 AM | 43 Comments

In a highly-respected Japanese economics newspaper, Japan Economic Times, they recently published a news column in which an otaku claimed that over a million men in Japan are obsessed with Rei Ayanami of Neon Genesis Evangelion. In the column it claimed that figurines of Rei Ayanami helped people (those generally in their 30's and 40's) with depression during the recession and that the figurines are a "subconscious religion". For more information: Comi Press.

20 of 43 Comments Recent Comments

Well i'd raep Rei Anayami *_*

Sep 6, 2007 4:04 PM by Ranivus

magentaanbu said:
"subconscious religion"?!
WTF! o__O i love anime but japan is screwed up!

yeah seriously..

Sep 6, 2007 3:57 PM by Lab-Member-000

"subconscious religion"?!
WTF! o__O i love anime but japan is screwed up!

Sep 6, 2007 3:52 PM by magentaanbu

gzeus said:

CitizenGeek said:
I don't understand the massive appeal of Rei Ayanami

What I find even more baffling though is the number of Asuka fans. Few people would actually like to hang around somebody with such a (bitchy) personality in real life. She's violent, volatile, self-centered, abusive, insolent, insubordinate, etc.

Hmm, I think I agree! Rei is kind, IMO. Cold, but kind. Asuka has some serious issues (who doesn't in Eva?) but for her they spill out more in her everyday actions. But Asuka seems like a good friends when she's around Hikari .... so I don't know what to think, actually! All I know is that I really enjoyed Asuka as a character. If I had to choose a friend - Rei or Asuka - I'd go for Rei, though! ^_^

Sep 6, 2007 2:08 PM by CitizenGeek

I wouldn't say that this a valid statistic since they didn't actually take a sample of the population. But hey man, if it gets you through the hard times, why not? I mean, most of us rely on anime and other fandoms when we get depressed, how is it any different?

Sep 6, 2007 1:29 PM by removed-user

Is it really news that men are obsessed with Rei? XD

Sep 6, 2007 12:53 PM by url_elf

CitizenGeek said:
I don't understand the massive appeal of Rei Ayanami

Sep 6, 2007 11:43 AM by Yuunagi

I don't understand the massive appeal of Rei Ayanami, but that's probably because she's not designed to appeal to someone like me. In any case, I think it's awesome that lots of people have been comforted by here ^_^

Sep 6, 2007 8:32 AM by CitizenGeek

I don't really buy that, but I'm ignorant so... xD

Sep 6, 2007 7:47 AM by asandari

Preteen kids and Naruto? Oh wait, that's happening right now.

Sep 6, 2007 6:29 AM by Yuunagi

And The next obsession shall be....

Sep 6, 2007 2:45 AM by LovelongSought

omg. rei is 10x better than asuka. any day. :P

Sep 5, 2007 9:51 PM by Korvis

Asuka can help me anytime.

Sep 5, 2007 6:16 PM by zq

That's... a bit disturbing.

And how an obsession brings one out of depression, I'm not sure. I find it works the other way around for me, more times than not. Anime is like a drug... you (well, I) get a high off it, but then the way down afterwards is lousy. That might just be a personal issue of mine, though...

Mind, at least I can remember things and giggle about them later... even if it earns me stares... >_>;

Anyway, I've never watched NGE, but I couldn't personally get into a character who can kill people with a touch of her hand. No. Just, no.

Of course, I prefer comedies anyway. :P

And if the numbers in that article are even slightly realistic, there are a lot of people who need real lives even more than I do, and that's sad.

Sep 5, 2007 6:14 PM by Goldmare

thats awsome, see i knew that anime was magic!! WOOT

Sep 5, 2007 4:19 PM by AnchientProphet

gzeus said:

ReverseHarem said:
figurines of Rei Ayanami helped people (those generally in their 30's and 40's) with depression during the recession and that the figurines are a "subconscious religion".

I expect that Japan will soon be flooded by pools of LCL once their AT-fields break down.

Instrumentality ftw.

:D:D
Wow..
But, whatever.. I don't like Rei.. she's cool and all,but no..

Sep 5, 2007 4:15 AM by Alastourblaque

<3 Rei.

Sep 4, 2007 6:19 PM by temporary

is this for real.....or is this some other way to sell rei ayanami dolls.there are others ways to come out of depression.AGH

Sep 4, 2007 5:47 PM by Tachi-Kun

That's sad...

Sep 4, 2007 2:20 PM by saizo6

get a life :/

Sep 4, 2007 1:14 PM by Itachi-san

See All Comments