Oyaji

In the Japanese language, Nihongo|oyaji|親父, おやじ, オヤジ is an informal word meaning "dad". It is a juvenile linguistic corruption of Nihongo|"oyachichi"|親父Fact|date=January 2008, which means "father". The word, used to describe one's father, is very rough and not polite, and its use is usually confined to men. See also Gender differences in spoken Japanese. If the word san is added to the word to form "oyaji-san", it becomes more polite.

Like other kinship terms, such as "onee-san", literally meaning "older sister", but often used for a young woman, the word "oyaji" is often also used in Japan to refer to middle-aged men who are not relatives, usually in an unflattering way. For example, an Nihongo|"oyaji gag"|親父ギャグ is a stale pun of the type favoured by middle-aged men, and Nihongo|"oyaji kusai"|親父臭い means "middle-aged" or "unfashionable". Overweight dancer Papaya Suzuki formed a dancing group known as the "Oyaji dancers".

However, in Japanese art and character design, oyaji is a cultural ideal of masculine men who are old enough to be experienced fathers or grandfathers, or to at least seem like them. This takes the form of an aesthetic appeal and personal appeal, emphasizing matured looks and experienced behavior. All of these factors can actually make oyaji seem attractive and vigorous, qualities more often associated with youth than with age. Part of this may be because of the frequent association of oyaji with hard work, capable leadership, and well-borne longsufferings, not unlike the expectations a young child has for a father or grandfather figure.

The floor age for oyaji is typically in the 30s, but oyaji characters can be as young as their 20s if they still look the part — this is more likely if the man has more facial hair, body hair, body mass, and smoking a cigarette. Older male characters don't as often need these things to look like oyaji.

Capitalizing on the already venerable nature of oyaji as experienced role models, much (though not all) popular oyaji actually emphasizes the often humorous quirks and faux pas of oyaji behavior, which would be considered flaws by some, and endearments by others, such as the "old fart" paradigm or perverted yet ultimately harmless behavior in many Japanese comedies.

Sometimes this is elevated to a sex symbol or even a fetish, not entirely unlike the rustic appeal of Sean Connery or Nick Nolte in the Western world.

Oyaji in Japanese popular fiction

The following is a brief list of noteworthy oyaji in Japanese popular fiction, known for their distinctive seasoned personality and their idealized or exaggerated mature looks.

* "Astro Boy"
** Dr. Tenma
** Professor Ochanomizu
** Shunsaku Ban (a.k.a. Higeoyaji)
* "Big O"
** Dastun
** Norman
* "Bleach
** Isshin Kurosaki
** Kisuke Urahara
** Kenpachi Zaraki
** Shunsui Kyōraku
** Barragan
* "Blood+"
** Collins
** David
** Lewis
** Amshel
** George Miyagusuku
* BoBoBo-Bo-Bo-BoBo
** Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo
** Don Patch
** Tokoro Tennosuke
** Gunkan/Captain Battleship
* "Breath of Fire III"
** Garr
* ""
**
* "Chrono Cross"
** Fargo
** Lynx
** Zappa
** ZOAH
* "Cowboy Bebop"
** Jet Black
* "Death Note"
** Watari
** Soichiro Yagami
* Donkey Kong
** Cranky Kong
* "Dragon Ball" series
** Gyūmaō (Ox King)
** Muten-Rôshi a.k.a. Kame-Sen'nin (Master Roshi)
** Dr. Gero
* "Escaflowne"
** Vargas
* "Eureka Seven"
** Charles Beams
** Adroc Thurston
** Axel Thurston
** Dewey Novak
** Holland Novak
** Captain Jurgens
** Hap
* "Final Fantasy II"
** Cid
** Josef
** Richard
* "Final Fantasy III"
** Cid
* "Final Fantasy IV"
** Cid Pollendina
** Tellah
** FuSoYa
* "Final Fantasy V"
** Galuf Baldesion
** Kelga Vlondett
** Zeza Mathias Surgate
* "Final Fantasy VI"
** Banon
** Duncan
** Sabin Rene Figaro
** Cyan Garamonde
** Strago Magus
* "Final Fantasy VII"
** Cid Highwind
** Reeve Tuesti
** Barret Wallace
** Veld
* "Final Fantasy VIII"
** Headmaster Cid Kramer
* "Final Fantasy IX"
** Steiner
* "Final Fantasy X"
** Auron
* "Final Fight" series
** Mike Haggar
* "Full Metal Alchemist"
** Alex Louis Armstrong
** Maes Hughes
** Bradley
* "Hellsing"
** Alexander Anderson
** Walter
* "Initial D"
** Bunta Fujiwara
* "King of Fighters"
** Geese Howard
** Goenitz
** Heidern
** Ralf Jones
** Rugal Bernstein
** Saisyu Kusanagi
** Takuma Sakazaki
** Wolfgang Krauser
*"Lupin III"
** Daisuke Jigen
** Inspector Koichi Zenigata
* "Phoenix" ("Hi no Tori") series
** Saruta
** Sarutahiko
* ""
** Tarin
* ""
** Ganondorf
**
**
**
**
**
* "Mario" series
** Bowser
** Luigi
** Mario
** Wario
* "MegaMan NT Warrior"
** Masa/Commander Beef
*"Metal Gear"
** Solid Snake
** Big Boss
** Roy Campbell
** Revolver Ocelot
** Solidus Snake
* "Mother 3
** Porky Minch/The Pig King
** Flint
** Duster
** Alec
** Wes
** Dr. Andonuts
** Yokuba
* "Naruto"
** Third Hokage
** Asuma Sarutobi
** Jiraiya
** Shikaku Nara
** Gamabunta
* "One Piece"
** Franky
** Brook
** Red-Haired Shanks
** Buggy the Clown
** Dracule Mihawk
** Monkey D. Dragon
** Monkey D. Garp
** Zeff
* "Princess Mononoke"
** Monk Jiko
* ""
** Philip II of Macedon
* "Ranma 1/2"
** Genma Saotome
** Soun Tendo
* "Rival Schools"
** Hayato Nekketsu
** Raizo Imawano
** Hideo Shimazu
* "Rurouni Kenshin"
** Seijuro Hiko
* "Skies of Arcadia"
** Centime
** Drachma
** Gilder
** Gregorio
* "Speed Racer"
** Pops Racer
* "Star Fox series"
** Peppy Hare
** General Pepper
** Beltino Toad
** James McCloud
** Andross
* ""
** Adray Lasbard
* "Scryed
** Martin Zigmarl
** Kyouji Mujo
* "Street Fighter" series
** Guile
** M.Bison
** Sagat
** Zangief
** Rolento
* "Tekken" series
** Heihachi Mishima
** Baek Doo San
** Wang Jinrei
** Doctor Boskonovitch
* "Vandread"
** Grandpa
* "Wild ARMs 2"
** Brad Evans
** Ptolomea
* "Xenogears"
** Ricardo Banderas
** Jesiah Black
** Kaiser Sigmund
* "Yu-Gi-Oh!"
** Sugoroku Mutou
* "Zatch Bell"
** Dr.Riddles

*The character Ohno in the Genshiken series has an oyaji character fetish, rather than the expected bishōnen fetish of most fangirls.

Oyaji on the Internet

Some Japanese artists on the Internet draw oyaji to emphasize beauty, virility or humor, and post artworks on their websites. This is a brief list of websites that feature oyaji art. Some sites may contain sexual themes.

* Oyaji Artists
** [http://home.att.ne.jp/blue/cerberus/ エイジ Eiji]
** [http://www.interq.or.jp/snake/keichi/ Dorotabo]
** [http://fukuoka.cool.ne.jp/ha_ku/top.htm ＨＡ－ＫＵ HĀKU]
** [http://shirayuki.saiin.net/~fan/ もりたち　みつる Mitsuru Moritachi]

* Oyaji-Kemono Fusion Artists
** [http://www.tya.1st.ne.jp/~ota6911/inter/ 太田もとき Motoki Ōta]
** [http://wolf.fang.or.jp/kazuma/ 一馬 Kazuma]
** [http://ww81.tiki.ne.jp/~kurotani/ 玄谷狂屈 Kyōkutsu Kurotani]
** [http://www6.big.or.jp/~matsu/ SATORU]
** [http://yanusi.hp.infoseek.co.jp/ 大地千尾 Seno Daichi]
** [http://www.interq.or.jp/dog/kazao/nk.html 二木　かざお Kazao Niki]