Anime and Manga Terminology - H

H

Hentai (変態, ヘンタイ?)

"Abnormal" or "perverted". Used by Western Audiences to refer to sexually explicit or pornographic anime and manga. However, in Japan the term used to refer to the same material is typically Poruno or Ero.

Hikikomori (引き籠もり, ひきこもり, 引きこもり?)

A hikikomori is someone who secludes themselves within their home, sometimes refusing to leave their home at all in an effort to isolate themselves from society. It can be viewed as a social phobia similar to agoraphobia. Hikikomori are often associated with otaku but the terms are distinct.

Henshin (変身, henshin?)

"transformation," literally meaning, "to change or transform the body." This word is primarily used in manga, anime, and tokusatsu dramas for when a character transforms into a superhero. Henshin heroes (変身ヒーロー, Henshin Hīrō?) usually have a "henshin call", a catchphrase which they recite when they transform. The word "henshin" is most often used by characters in the Kamen Rider Series, whereas other programs use various words such as souchaku (装着, sōchaku?, meaning "equip"), or will use phrases unique to the story.