Yandere
Overview
The term "yandere" is a combination of "yami" (sick) and "dere" (lovestruck). Derived from the earlier term "tsundere," it spread mainly through male-oriented moe (cute) culture in the mid to late 2000s. It refers to a state where rationality, conscience, and common sense are lost due to chronic conflicting emotions and frustrations regarding a love interest (usually the protagonist), often caused by unfulfilled possessiveness.
To put it simply, it means "a person whose affection for someone grows so strong that it leads to a pathological mental state, or such a state of mind itself."
In reality, there is a mental illness called Clérambault syndrome, in which a person delusionally believes they are loved by someone. Since "yandere" is a spontaneously created term born out of impressions from various works of fiction, the definition may slightly vary depending on the person, but it is generally interpreted as follows:
Originally, the character’s personality is gentle and reserved, or introverted and socially awkward. Being a loner, their thoughts become increasingly extreme since they aren’t exposed to different opinions. Because of their personality, they are bad at progressing a romantic relationship themselves. That’s why they desperately cling to any small chance that comes their way. They start to become aware of someone as a romantic interest through trivial everyday events. Once fixated, they feel the need to know everything about that person, and in extreme cases, might resort to stalking behaviors like surreptitious photography, eavesdropping, or theft. In some cases, the "condition" starts even before direct contact, with an imaginary romance playing out in their mind from the start. They become excessively helpful and overprotective towards their object of affection, trying to get attention only from them. Women often become "bad boy creators," while men may turn into moral harassers. Once they start dating, their entire life revolves around the love interest. At the same time, they wish for their partner to center their life around them too, ideally creating a codependent relationship. Because their own social relationships are weak, they become overly worried and extremely possessive. Their stance is to eliminate any source of anxiety, and contact with anyone of the opposite sex (or same sex for those attracted to the same gender) is seen as completely unforgivable. They generally direct their anger not at themselves or their partner, but at third parties. Sometimes, even if actual cheating occurred, they ignore their partner’s wrongdoing. The difference from a so-called "choro-in" is that even if they seem to accept things on the surface, their "sickness" gradually progresses unconsciously. If they feel their love is being rejected, they become extremely pessimistic. Afterwards, it's common for them to either escalate their displays of affection or shift the blame to outsiders. Once this growing "illness" reaches a certain threshold, they may go insane and, in severe cases, commit violent acts against themselves or others. At such times, their mindset may be something like, "If we destroy everything and make a world just for the two of us, it’ll be fine," or "If I die, I won’t have to feel anymore," which is a kind of self-destructive attitude. Except for a few rare cases where the partner’s personality and tolerance can accept these extremes, most of these stories end in tragedy, and even if things don’t end badly, the romance rarely proceeds as ideally imagined. As you can see, "yandere" characters do not really try to communicate properly with the object of their affection, let alone with others. For these characters, what they call "love" often begins in self-righteous infatuation and ends in paranoid self-absorption.
Development of “Yandere”
Although the term itself is fairly recent, this archetype can be found throughout history and across cultures.
In ancient times, characters resembling yandere can be seen in Japanese mythology with Izanami and Konohanasakuya-hime, in Greek mythology with Hera, and in the New Testament’s story of Salome. In literary works, you can even trace it back to Lady Rokujo in "The Tale of Genji," making it a classic character type. However, the word "yandere" only began to spread in the 2000s; before that, there was no defined name for such characters. For example, Yukako Yamagishi from "JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Part 4: Diamond is Unbreakable" (1992) is now seen as a typical yandere, but in the story, she was called “Puttun Yukako” (Unhinged Yukako).
Most characters of this type are female, and they often appear in stories as a kind of allegory, showing the dangers of cheating or infidelity by exaggerating the strength of jealousy and resentment. One reason yandere became popular in modern times is that it reflects these anxieties.
Originally, in love comedies and harem shows like "Urusei Yatsura," it was common to see heroines react with violence to the main character’s cheating or accidental perverted moments.
In the second half of the 2000s, with the rise of "virgin purists" in fandoms, yandere became central to male-oriented moe culture. This was also a time when harem genres began to decline, and there was more criticism of "sexual immorality" in creative works. The yandere’s obsession with stopping every sign of cheating could be seen as a trickster-like way to protect chastity and punish inappropriate behavior, making them a symbol of that era.
Additionally, new genres emerged by merging moe with horror, mystery, and violence, such as "When They Cry" and "School Days," which contributed to the mainstream popularity of yandere characters.
From a traditional perspective, the presence of yandere could not be ignored. At the time, moe culture was largely independent of other genres. This "closed" environment meant that heroines often overly fawned over the protagonist (≒ the "customer"). Even tsundere characters would, in the end, always come around to the protagonist; strong negative emotions or insanity were rare, so when intensely obsessive characters like yandere appeared, they felt especially novel and thrilling.
Moreover, the "narrow world due to poor communication skills" is a trait familiar to many otaku, making these characters somewhat relatable, not entirely out of reach. Yandere’s devotion to maintaining a relationship at any cost was appealing from both sides and was even seen as attractive in its destructive potential.
Yandere became popular exactly because of these extreme behavioral principles.
As awareness grew, works were made explicitly as “yandere stories” and pursued even more provocative expressions, frequently including plot elements like:
Persistently convincing (coercing or brainwashing) the love interest to focus solely on them.
Creating situations where the love interest must rely on them, through means such as confinement or even limb severing.
Sinking into paranoia, leading not only to an obsessive romance but also to eliminating any perceived “obstacle.”
Visually, they also became easy to recognize by certain features:
Vacant eyes with no highlights (“rape eyes”).
Unusual or manic expressions of happiness (a signature smile).
Carrying dangerous weapons (often knives, hatchets, etc.).
Depictions of blood (typically splattered from someone else).
The last two visuals are often why such works are rated for older audiences (R-15G, R-18G), and there are cases where anime containing these scenes had to be canceled.
While yandere characters causing death or injury has existed since ancient myths, with the rise of MAD videos on Nico Nico Douga, this pattern was accepted as a form of “serious comedy.” Thus, these developments have clearly become a new “template” for the genre.
Non-R18 Yandere
Like tsundere and kuudere characters, yandere can also be portrayed as a milder moe element, and things like knives, self-harm, curse tools, or pale faces (such as gradient foreheads, glowing eyes, or ominous muttering) may sometimes appear as meta jokes.
Yandere in non-R18 works are often depicted as follows:
The "downer" type (strange girl, graceful and quiet, shy, bad at socializing, etc.) in love mode rather than an "upper" energetic type.
Lovesickness shown in a comedic way that isn’t self-absorbed (the same style can be seen with maiden-like characters).
Showing off their infatuation by obsessing over their own inner world more than people around them (usually, these characters have some degree of interaction with friends and possess common sense).
Many people think of "non-R18 yandere" as those with a love-obsessed flavor similar to the Barnum effect.
Their traits include:
Although they are realistic, they cling more to their mental world than to reality.
They may be abnormal, but they don’t glorify themselves excessively or show negative romance traits like “emphasizing how loved they are rather than focusing on their crush,” “boasting about their crush’s status more than their qualities,” “trying to show off their love rather than actually doting on their crush,” “believing in impossibly unrealistic ideals,” or “falling into a type of resentment-focused suffering where the only problem is ‘I want but can’t have sex.’”
Whether for better or worse, their actions require them to genuinely love their crush.
They can be obsessed with things that are grotesque, not just erotic.
It’s easy to tell them apart from fake yandere, who only care about themselves and don’t care who their object of affection is.
Sometimes, it’s revealed in serious (not comedic) scenes that they have engaged in mild self-harm. Examples include:
"She was bullied for her looks before falling in love and repeatedly attempted suicide."
"She would cut up or burn photos and fanart showing her crush with a girl she hates, or paintings where her crush is poorly treated."
"A yandere girl who resents the mother of a molester more than the molester himself for not stopping him."
"Situations where hatred for a third party forced between her and her crush becomes stronger than her love, literally turning the relationship into a mix of love and hate (love-hate >= pure love)."
The Shift in "Yandere"
As the trend for yandere characters intensified and the number of works skyrocketed, the genre gradually started to show signs of quantity over quality, with many stories featuring "random stabbings" just for the sake of including yandere elements. This led original fans to start questioning the direction things were taking.
People voiced concerns that the characters only showed "madness for its own sake" (which is the true sense of "ryona"—fetishizing brutality), while the genuine "dere" (lovestruck/caring side) was being lost. Originally, like "tsundere", "yandere" was supposed to be a moe (charming) element that, depending on the situation, could become very sweet and affectionate; the focus was never meant to be only violent acts as a last resort in their "madness". As a counter-reaction, the overlapping concept of "menhera" (mentally unstable/attention-seeking characters) was drawn into a process of redefining these terms, resulting in the updated distinctions below.
Yandere
Loves a particular person above all else, often not even caring about themselves or other people.
Their actions are based on "protecting and being devoted to" the person they love, doing anything for them.
Their greatest fear is being rejected by the one they love; they don't care what anyone else thinks of them.
In short: "If you won't love me, I'll just kill the one that's in the way!"
Menhera
Desperately wants someone to love them, and cherishes themselves for being this way.
Their actions are based on "attention-seeking"—doing anything to make others notice them.
Their greatest fear is being shunned or ignored as a person; they don't care what happens to anyone else.
In short: "If you won't love me, I'll just die right here!"
(Source: Copy-pasted texts from the Internet)
Because of these shifts, the self-centered and aggressive aspects that used to be part of "yandere" were now assigned to "menhera", leading to reconsideration of characters previously called "yandere".
For example, the "Drama CD where you’re loved to death by a yandere girl and can’t sleep" was once massively popular as meme material and was considered a representative yandere work, but now its utter lack of communication is seen as closer to "menhera". Accordingly, stories about characters who were "mad from the start" have dropped off sharply. If someone's madness arises independently of the object of their love, they're now categorized as "menhera". The focus of depiction has shifted from "madness" to "blind obedience/devotion as a result of that madness", and now any behaviors in daily life that negatively impact the love interest are more often avoided.
On the other hand, the term "menhera", which originally referred to all sorts of mental instability, has come to carry increasingly strong associations with "nymphomania" or "narcissistic personality disorder". Particularly with female characters, there's a growing discourse hinting at preemptive rejection along the lines of, "They won't be loved anyway, so there's no need to show them any affection."
You could also see this as a process of purifying "yandere" as a moe element. In practice, distinctions such as "in 2D (anime/manga) it’s yandere, in 3D (real life) it's menhera" are often made. Like with "tsundere", stories with more predictable conclusions have become preferred, drawing the genre closer to its original moe context. However, the definition of a "happy ending" in yandere works is still unique—many still want a "co-dependent ending". Simply put, as long as the love interest (protagonist) is satisfied, that's enough (leading to what’s called a "merry bad end"—a mutually destructive but mutually satisfying conclusion).
Still, as of the mid-2010s, this trend was mostly limited to male-oriented moe culture, and there are plenty of cases where the boundary between yandere and menhera remains unclear. Since yandere lacks a strict definition—unlike tsundere, for instance—a useful rule of thumb is: if the character acts for their love interest, they're yandere; if they act for themselves, they're menhera.
It’s important to note that these distinctions originated in online subcultures and are not common knowledge. Sometimes people get mad when a work or a game is advertised as having a yandere, only for the actual character to be a menhera, accusing the creators of trickery. But often, the creators simply don't know about these subtle distinctions and use "yandere" based on outdated, mainstream usage, with no intent to deceive.
Lastly, since these definitions are not universally known, it's unreasonable to blame creators or streamers for not following them. If you feel strongly about it, a gentle suggestion that "there's a more precise definition" may be a better approach than directly criticizing those involved.
Types of Yandere
Introduction Yandere refers to a character type whose strong love transforms into obsession or pathological behavior. Generally, their deep feelings for their romantic interest spiral out of control, sometimes leading to dangerous actions. There are many types of yandere in Japanese subculture. Here, we’ll explain some of the main "types of yandere".
Main Types of Yandere
Classic Yandere This is the most basic type. They are usually calm but become mentally unstable due to their love for someone. They have an intense desire to possess the person as their “one and only,” and may take extreme actions out of jealousy or anxiety. Example: Kotonoha Katsura (School Days)
Sickly Yandere In this type, romantic feelings escalate to the limit and result in mental illnesses such as depression or anxiety disorder. They feel like they can’t live without their loved one, suffering pitifully along the way. They often display self-sacrificing or self-denying behavior. Example: Yuno Gasai (Future Diary / Mirai Nikki)
Violent Yandere Driven by intense possessiveness, these characters turn violent. They become aggressive toward romantic rivals or anyone who interferes, sometimes even resorting to criminal acts. Example: Rika Nikaido (CHAOS;HEAD)
Stalker Yandere This type monitors the target’s actions and private life obsessively, following them day and night. Using tools like GPS or wiretapping, they stick close no matter where the person goes, often overwhelming their target. Example: These are standard behaviors often seen in typical male and female yandere characters.
Devoted Yandere They’ll do absolutely anything for their loved one and devote themselves completely. However, the depth of their love sometimes twists and ends up causing pain for the object of their affection. Example: Kosaki Onodera (Nisekoi)
Summary There are many types of yandere, but they all share an overarching theme: "love gone out of control." Each type offers a different flavor of fear and charm, so how they’re portrayed can vary between works. Yandere characters have a distinctive popularity in Japanese subculture.
About Yandere Boys
Introduction When people think of "yandere," female characters tend to get most of the attention, but in recent years, "yandere boys" have also become popular. Japanese sites like Pixiv Encyclopedia, Mynavi, and RENOTE are seeing a growing number of articles and discussions about yandere boys.
Characteristics of Yandere Boys
Excessive Possessiveness Yandere boys have a very strong desire to make the person they like "theirs alone." Because of this, they can get jealous even if their crush merely talks to someone of the opposite sex, sometimes displaying intense emotions.
Extreme Actions Unable to control their feelings, yandere boys are sometimes depicted engaging in stalking, threats, or even violence. They often claim it’s for the safety of their love interest, but more often it’s their unwillingness to let anyone else have them that drives them to such extremes.
Overly Pure Love It usually starts as innocent, pure love, but the intensity soon becomes abnormal and turns into pathological obsession. Lines like "You’re the only one for me" or "I’d risk my life for you" are typical.
The Gap Between Kindness and Madness Most yandere boys are quiet, gentle men in daily life but undergo a drastic change when love is involved. This contrast is one reason why they are so popular among female fans.
Examples of Yandere Boys
Light Yagami (Death Note): Shows possessiveness and a desire to control Misa in several scenes.
Takane Enomoto (Kokuhaku Jikkou Iinkai): Portrayed as a man who becomes excessively obsessed with his love interest and takes extreme actions.
Kazunari Saito (Higurashi When They Cry): The type willing to sacrifice everything for the one he loves.
Japanese Reactions and Analysis
On Japanese internet forums, yandere boys receive a variety of opinions—some supported by women who "want to be protected," some by fans seeking emotional stimulation. While there aren’t as many male yandere characters as female ones, their strong impact and unique personalities are notable, and recently the number of male yandere is increasing in romance games and anime.
Summary Yandere boys deepen stories with their extreme expressions of love, adding a unique sense of tension. While their possessiveness and obsession can be frightening, their single-minded devotion is also attractive, stimulating the desire to "be protected" or "be loved" in many people.
References: Pixiv Encyclopedia “Yandere Boys,” RENOTE “Yandere Boy Character Special,” Mynavi Woman “Traits of Yandere Boys Who Captivate Women,” etc.