What are Furries Called in Japan?

In the land of anime, catgirls, and cosplay, Japanese furries go by the name kemono – which literally translates to "beast." Let‘s dive into the fascinating local spin on furry fandom!

A Beastly Evolution of Furry Culture

Before we detail the unique aspects of kemono culture, it‘s important to understand the broader furry community that inspired it.

The furry fandom originated in 1980s America as a fusion of anime, science fiction, and comic book fans who enjoyed artwork of anthropomorphic animal characters. This art-centered community soon adopted fursonas, attended dedicated conventions, and kickstarted the furry industry we know today.

Japan‘s early anime conventions similarly brought lovers of nekomimi (catgirls), mecha creatures, and shapeshifting tanuki together through a shared appreciation for humanized animals. It was inevitable that Western furry culture would cross pollinate with these Japanese fan groups.

So as the internet shrank distances in the 1990s, a uniquely Japanese furry variant emerged: kemono.

The Beast Awakens: Origin of Kemono Culture

Kemono translates literally to "beast" or "creature" – an apt name for Japan‘s furry community. This fandom centers around media and artwork of anthropomorphic animal girls and boys, known as "kemonomimi" (猫耳, beast ears).

Common kemono species include perky nekomimi (cat people) and fierce okamimimi (wolf people). Avid kemono fans may call themselves "kemoners" whilst their fluffy or scaly animal alter-egos are termed kemonosonas.

So why do beastly anime girls and boys resonate so strongly with Japanese fans compared to traditional American-style furries?

Cute Beats Cool – The Kemono Aesthetic

Kemono culture prioritizes kawaii (cute) and colorful visuals over realism. In contrast with furries seeking creative personal expression, kemono leans heavily into established anime tropes and moe character archetypes.

Popular species have distinctive stylistic markers – nekomimi sport bright technicolor hair alongside tactile pawed gloves and swishy tails. Floofy okamimimi flaunt flowing ears and dresses with stylized paw prints or bones.

For kemoners, exaggerated features and candy-colored fur patterns take priority over accurately representing animals. This explains the proliferation of original kemono species absent in nature! Why be a plain brown fox when you can escort your date to prom as a glittering pink foxbunny princess?

Kemonomimi Meets Moe Meets Furry

Humanized critters have been embedded in Japanese media since ancient times. Mischievous shapeshifting tanuki and noble warrior komainu dogs populate folk tales whilst catgirls prowl manga pages. Anime in particular normalizes nekomimi through iconic characters like Blair from Soul Eater.

Kemono culture intersects with cosplay and anime fandoms. For example, dressing as Felicia from Darkstalkers offers a socially acceptable avenue of fursuiting. In fact, kemonomimi-style fursuits are dubbed kigurumi to dissociate from Western furries.

East Meets West: Comparing Furry Scenes

But kemono doesn‘t only attract cosplayers. Like furries, dedicated fans craft their own kemonosonas which may represent an ideal self — cute, carefree and unconcerned with social judgement.

Some key differences between Western furries and Eastern kemono:

Of course, plenty of overlap exists between international furry communities thanks to the unifying power of the internet!

Kemono Karnival: Events and Media

While the kemono scene remains more niche than Western furry fandoms, fans still meet at dedicated conventions across Asia such as:

• Neko Nation (Malaysia)
• Nekocon (Philippines)
• Kemocon (Thailand)
• Moscow Kemono Friends Fest (Russia)

Popular kemono media includes the hyper-cute anime Kemono Friends which stars various kemonomimi:

Beastars also gained a following abroad for its slick CGI animation and tense drama between herbivore, carnivore, and hybrid beast races. Its leading heartthrob Legoshi even beat out Zootopia‘s Nick Wilde in a 2020 furry survey!

Whilst many kemono creations cater specifically to an East Asian audience, this beastly offshoot of the furry fandom continues to pick up fans globally.

The Wild World of Kemonosonas

Earlier I mentioned kemoners creating their own kemonosonas as animal avatars. Let‘s outline popular species in kemono culture:

Mammals

Predictably, classic furry species like foxes, wolves and felines lead the pack here. However nekomimi dominate mindshare due to their deep roots in Japanese media:

• Nekomimi (cats): ~30%
• Kitsunemimi (foxes): ~20%
• Okamimimi (wolves): ~15%
• Usagimimi (rabbits): ~10%

Reptiles/Amphibians

Cold-blooded cuties like sneks, turtles and froggos have a strong following. Hardcore herpers can commit fully with convincing reptilian fursuits!

• Lamia (snakes): ~15%
• Ryū (dragons): ~10%
• Kaeru (frogs): ~5%

Avians

Birds of all feathers flock together here, with a bias towards majestic raptors and corvids over less glamorous poultry…

• Karaimimi (crows/ravens): ~15%
• Washamimi (eagles): ~10%
• Torimimi (birds): ~10%

Mythicals

Fantastical creatures draw creative fans longing to stand out. Inari foxes, tengu, and even strange original species help kemonosonas reflect inner dreams over boring reality.

• Kitsune (spirit foxes): ~20%
• Ningyo (mermaids): ~10%
• Kirin (unicorns): ~5%

Hybirds

Creativity knows no bounds with hybrids, combining favorite aspects of multiple beings into one perfect kemonosona! Floofy ears plus a badass maw? Why not both!

Common combos include:

• Wolfoxes
• Cabbits (cat + rabbit)
• HuskyBats (husky + bat)

Rarer hybrids get creative fusing insects, aliens and extinct species. Nothing is off limits with fantasy fursonas!

Final Thoughts

At first glance kemono culture appears as a kawaii offshoot of Western furry fandoms drowned in fanservice. But peer closer and you‘ll discover a diverse community celebrating the human desire for self re-invention by literally becoming their dreams.

What animal encapsulates your true self – a majestic gryphon, a cute bunnyboi or maybe an otherworldy hybrid? In the end we‘re all a bit beastly inside; kemono culture simply internalizes that playful spirit we repress as "adults" for a while.

From darling anime girls to fierce wolf warriors, kemono breathes vibrant life into anthropomorphic characters that resonate across languages and cultures. Whether you say tomodachi or fur-ever friend, furries worldwide unite in imagining a more beastly humanity free of judgement or societal constraints.

We could all take notes from kemono culture about embracing self-expression with less inhibition. As part animal kingdom and part fantasy fulfillment, perhaps kemono represents the best of both worlds – kawaii comfort with limitless creative potential.