Stanning and Religion
Stanning and religion
To be a fan is, in many ways, an act of faith.
In Japanese fan culture, the term “oshi” refers to the person or character you support with unwavering devotion—someone who becomes the center of your enthusiasm. There are sacred places for our oshi, special days of celebration, a kind of evangelism, and devoted believers. Just as the religious have their rituals of worship, those who devote themselves to their oshi have their own.
They build altars, arrange photos and acrylic stands, and on their oshi’s birthday, they celebrate with cake.
Through this devotion, even in difficult times, they find emotional support and a sense of salvation. For many of us living in a largely secular world, this might be the closest thing we have to a personal religion.
I had never really thought of myself as someone who takes part in “oshi” culture. But when I once went to a concert of an artist I loved, I caught a small glimpse of what it might feel like. Everyone in the venue was there for the same reason—they all loved the same artist. The way people raised their arms, clapped in unison, and moved together created a sense of unity among complete strangers. The comfort and sense of belonging I felt in that moment was something I rarely experience in everyday life. It made me want to feel that again.
Religion may change its form depending on the era or society, but it never truly “ends.” An oshi, however, can be graduated from. They may retire, or in some cases, even pass away. That very sense of an “ending” is, I think, what makes oshi culture so different from religion—and what makes it fascinating. Some people continue to support the same oshi forever, while others eventually find a new one. Perhaps this is the most human form of faith in our modern world.
