Obatarian (word)

In Japan an "Obatarian" nihongo|"Obatarian"|オバタリアン| is a slang term for a middle-aged and possibly cantankerous, pushy or dim-witted woman.

The word is a portmanteau of the suffix for "aunt" in Japanese ("Oba") and the loanword "batarian" (Romanised from the English/French word "battalion", which was name the film "Night of the Living Dead" was released under in Japan); the idea being that according to the stereotype such women would aggressively work in packs to secure their common interests, such as in claiming seats when boarding a subway carriage.

The term was common in the 1980s, and saw life as a newspaper cartoon strip and later as a manga series by Katsuhiko Hotta.

ee also

* Obatarian (manga)