What is Ecchi?
The ecchi genre is a sub-genre of Japanese manga, anime, computer games etc. and is characterized by suggestive, light, and playful sexual imagery and themes, usually used for comedic effect, or brought on by a mishap or misunderstanding of the situation.
In Western terminology, the ecchi genre can be categorized as softcore media as there are no graphic depictions of sex or genitalia, normally prevalent in the hentai genre; instead sexual themes are referenced and construed.
Many Japanese media that fall under the ecchi genre are specifically created as a form of fan service – to please the target audience – and are commonly featured in comedy shonen and seinen manga and anime along with harem manga and anime.
Etymology of “Ecchi” and Its Use in the Japanese Language
The name “echhi” is derived from the Japanese pronunciation of the Latin alphabet, “H”, which in turn comes from the infamous Japanese genre, Hentai.
Hentai and ecchi saw a revival after World War II and continued to gain popularity, resulting in them gaining their own places in the Japanese lexicon.
As an adjective, the word “ecchi” can be used in the context of “sexy”, “dirty” or “naughty”.
As a verb, it’s used in the phrase, ecchi suru, which became popular to use in the 1980s, and means “to have sex”.
Lastly, as a noun, the term, “ecchi” can be used to describe someone lascivious or lecherous.
Common Themes and Elements Of The Ecchi Genre
The ecchi genre plays heavily upon double entendres and innuendo – many interactions and conversations between characters in ecchi media are loaded with sexual references or misunderstandings that can be construed as sexual, flirtations, or come ons.
Intentionally or unintentionally suggestive poses are also a characteristic of the ecchi genre. This is usually coupled with revealing or sexualized clothing, clothing malfunctions, walking in on characters in seemingly compromising positions etc.
Many of the above situations are usually used for comedic effect, resulting in humor and slapstick situations being another common theme featured in the ecchi genre.
Popular Ecchi Anime Recommendations
There is no short supply of anime, manga, video games etc. that fall under the ecchi genre. However, if you’re new to this sub-genre of Japanese media, are curious, or simply looking to broaden your Japanese media consumption, here are five popular anime that have gotten many ecchi fans’ stamp of approval.
High School DxD
High School DxD is a Japanese manga series written by Ichiei Ishibumi and illustrated by Miyama-Zero.
The premise of the series revolves around a delinquent and sexually deviant high schooler named Issei Hyodo, who goes to Kuoh Academy. The character is murdered by his first date and is then resurrected by Rias Gremory, a devil princess. The caveat is that in return for his life, Issei must serve Rias and her family.
The manga was adapted into an anime series in 2012 and is considered by many anime and ecchi fans to be the greatest ecchi anime of all time as the series is chock-full of titillating moments, sexual innuendo and fan service. Many of these themes are brought on by the main character’s dream and desire to be a harem king and his constantly succumbing to his Peeping Tom proclivities. There are also numerous references and nods to oppai (breasts).
The Café Terrace and its Goddesses
The Café Terrace and its Goddesses is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Koji Seo.
The series is set in Miura, Kanagawa and follows Hayato Kasukabe, protagonist and orphan who relocated to Tokyo for school and aspirations to attend The University of Tokyo. He passes his university entrance exams but is summoned back to Miura after being notified of his grandmother’s passing and the struggling café she left behind. However, upon his return, Hayato discovers 5 women who worked for and lived with his grandmother and decides to reopen and revitalize the café.
The manga was adapted into an anime TV series by Tezuka Productions in April 2023 and has a tantalizing mix of ecchi and harem themes, many of which revolve around hijinks and awkward situations the protagonist finds himself in whenever in close proximity with the 5 women working at his late grandmother’s café.
Yosuga No Sora
Translated to “Sky of Connection” in English, Yosuga No Sora is a Japanese romance drama visual novel that started life as a game released for Windows in 2008 before it was adapted into a manga and then an anime series.
The story focuses on fraternal twins, Haruka and Sora Kasugano who are tragically orphaned by a car accident and travel back to their grandparents’ abode in Okukozome, where they spent their childhood days. Being back in the place where they spent their youth revives a lot of memories and feelings, leading to revelations, new experiences, and unexpected feelings.
This anime is a perfect example of ecchi media in that it is full of fan service and capitalizes on the element of forbidden love leading to awkward, uncomfortable and incestuous interactions between the main characters that is characteristic of the ecchi genre.
To Love Ru
To Love Ru is a Japanese manga series written by Saki Hasemi and illustrated by Kentaro Yabuki. It was adapted into an anime TV series in 2008.
The series follows Rito Yuuki, a male high schooler wrestling with his feelings for his schoolmate, Haruna Sairenji. His inability to confess his crush becomes further complicated and a challenge when an alien from outer space, Lala, suddenly appears to him and he somehow accidentally becomes engaged to her.
One of the ecchi highlight moments in this anime is when Lala magically appears to the protagonist stark naked while Rito himself is in the bath. There are also numerous interactions between Rito, his crush, Haruna, Lala, and Momo, Lala’s younger sibling who develops a crush on Rito, that play to the ecchi themes of awkwardness, misunderstanding, innuendo, and double entendres.
This series is particularly popular among ecchi anime fans as it’s known for its blatant fan service and pushing the boundaries on what is allowed and appropriate for a shonen manga. The creators of the series themselves revealed that when the lewd scenes became of particular interest to its audience, they went about testing the limits on what they were allowed to draw and publish while remaining “appropriate”.
Monster Musume No Iru Nichijou
Monster Musume No Iru Nichijou translates to “Everyday Life with Monster Girls” and is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Okayado.
The series takes place in an alternate universe where mythical creatures such as mermaids, lamias, centaurs, and harpies exist but the Japanese government had previously taken to hiding their existence. The implementation of the Interspecies Cultural Exchange Act allows for these creatures to be revealed to the world and live among humans and society like foreign exchange students as they are assigned a host family. The creature hybrids have to fulfill certain obligations and duties while obeying certain restrictions while engaged in this program.
Japanese student, Kimihito Kurusu is accidentally inducted into joining the program when he is accidentally assigned a lamia named Mila and consequently has to care for.
The series has plenty of ecchi moments to keep fans satisfied, many of which are triggered by the fact that the creature hybrids go into heat, resulting in the protagonist and other humans having to deal with the creatures’ raging hormones, increased flirtations, and persistent propositions due to the creature hybrids wanting to date and marry humans.
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