What Is an "Oshi"? The Japanese Word for the One You Root For Most
In Japan, "oshi" means the idol, character, or person you support above all others. Here's what the word means, why it makes great comedy material, and a Japanese comedy routine built around it.
What does "oshi" mean?
"Oshi" (推し) is a casual Japanese word for the person or character you root for the most. That's often a member of an idol group, but it can also be an anime character, an actor, an athlete, or even a mascot. It's especially common among young people and fans, though plenty of people use it in everyday conversation too.
It's less about liking someone and more about backing them. Your oshi is someone you cheer on, buy things for, and show up for. Fans often say "my oshi" the way someone else might say "my team." People who follow K-pop may find it close to the idea of a "bias," though every fandom has its own feel.
Why oshi culture works so well in comedy
Having an oshi means being a little blinded by love. Fans tend to describe their favorite in breathless, larger-than-life terms, and what sounds perfectly reasonable to the fan can sound very strange to anyone else.
That gap is made for manzai, a Japanese comedy format in which a duo performs a fast back-and-forth on stage: one performer (the boke) says something off, and the other (the tsukkomi) calls it out. An excited fan gushing about their oshi, and a partner trying to make sense of it all: it's an easy, relatable setup. Anyone who has been that fan, or had to listen to one, will recognize both sides.
The Boyfriend Sales Pitch
A hopeful dater sweetens the pitch with every no. The friend listening won't budge.
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We use AI as part of how we create our articles.
Subtitles on this video: AI translation from the Japanese.