Random Flavors of Pocky #07: Girls in Glasses, Spring Break Edition
As many people know, I am a fan of the “meganekko” (眼鏡っ子), or “girl in glasses”. If you asked me why, the answer would be that I’ve always felt glasses equal intelligence, and I’ve always found intelligence to be attractive in a woman.
But what IS a meganekko? I will try to illustrate what I feel a meganekko is here. (please note that when I say “girl”, it also refers to boys – but writing “people in glasses” or “boys/girls in glasses” would get annoying really fast. And the guys are sometimes called “meganekkun”.)
“There is a deep and large gap between a “girl who wears glasses” and a “girl in glasses”! – Kuriko Kazetsubaki, Maburaho, Episode Five
I whole-heartedly believe that statement.
A “girl who wears glasses” is one that one that only wears their glasses when they have to. They usually either go for contacts, or suffer through their bad eyesight because they’re ashamed or something of wearing glasses.
A “girl in glasses” is one that wears their glasses most, if not all, of the time. They often times wear them due to their own actions – too much reading or studying, for example. These girls tend to be smart, or at the very least studious. There ARE non-intelligent meganekko, but they’re rare in media.
There are many examples of meganekko, in anime and in other forms of media. Yomiko Readman from the Read or Die series, is a prime example. For more generic examples, you’ve got the “cute scientist”, the “sexy librarian”, and the “hot teacher”.
Unfortunately, many people see meganekko and think, “Meh, a nerd.” And they pass them by for more “exciting” characters. I think the negative stereotype towards meganekko is sad – who says that smart girls can’t be sexy, or fun, or outgoing, or anything else? They can and often times are, especially with writers/artists designing them to be that way.
So get out there and support the meganekko, real and fictional! Show the world that they’re just as wonderful as everyone else!
Meganekko uber alles!
Stumble it! Explore posts in the same categories: Sprouting, Richard Kim, anime
October 23rd, 2007 at 7:00 am
You are such a fucking japan-o-fag! What other projects do you have going on nowadays? I’d like to read more about you as a person.
October 23rd, 2007 at 9:37 am
Real nice there…
Anyways, one example that jumps to mind for sexy and outgoing in glasses is Emma from the game Wild Arms.
October 23rd, 2007 at 12:29 pm
Fredd: Since my job involves me translating Japanese into English, it helps to actually like Japan, Japanese culture and such. But my love for girls in glasses has been around well before I started studying Japanese culture. As for my other projects, none of the games I’m currently working on have been announced yet, so I can’t talk about them at this point. And me, I’m boring. I’m just an assistant project coordinator at a little company known as Atlus.
Viredae: Emma is a good example, true. Here’s hoping we get more characters like her from here on.
October 23rd, 2007 at 5:12 pm
Nodoka from Negima! (aka “bookstore girl”) is probably my favorite “girl with glasses” … even though she actually doesn’t have any >.> The glasse are in her mind, darn it. Every single other aspect of her personality fits, and, and … aargh, she’s just so CUUUUTE.
October 24th, 2007 at 12:52 am
Azhrei: She does have the normal “girl in glasses” characteristics, doesn’t she? I like her quite a bit, in addition to Haruna and Hakase. I wonder how she’ll be cast in the live-action Negima.
October 24th, 2007 at 10:40 am
No part of read or Die was not hot. My contender in this arena would be Sheska from Fullmetal Alchemist. Timid and little noticed, she is brilliant, and has no outstanding faults. In no way not attractive.
But I honestly think the appeal behind meganekko is its original flavor. It is not boobs Boobs BOOBS to the face, and for once, if your IQ is better then a goldfish, you suddenly have a character you can associate with on a deeper level.
Now if only I could find a girl like that that is also attracted to me and not previously engaged.
(And I am not sure who Fredd is, but Pocky, the rest of us appreciate that you shared these wonderful thoughts with us, thank you)
October 26th, 2007 at 7:56 pm
Many happy thanks from all the meganekko out there. ;D
(Yes, I know my neat website isn’t working yet. >.
October 28th, 2007 at 5:33 am
I must agree with the sentiment about meganekko. I actually find them quite attractive myself.(I’m REALLY into girls that think, rather than girls that just want to spend your money on rediculous things and never have any idea what you’re talking about.)
If any of you have ever played the Harvest Moon Games, especially Back To Nature, or Friends of Mineral Town, you would know immediately what female counter part I choose when I decide to play these delightful games. Mary(Maria) is my favorite. I always thought she was the cutest.
October 28th, 2007 at 5:11 pm
Dustin: Read or Die is indeed quite an awesome series (both the OAV and the TV series), for many reasons. As for original flavor, I don’t know if I’d say it was “original”, but definitely “long overlooked”. But yes, smart girls are more appealing to me, since I can imagine actually talking to them. Good luck on finding your own meganekko!
Eris: You’re very welcome, from all of the meganekko lovers out there. And I look forward to seeing your site.
Johnu: It seems that many of the people who have posted a response here are in agreement - girls in glasses are attractive because of their perceived intelligence. As for Harvest Moon, I do know who you are talking about, and yes, she is quite cute and appealing.
November 22nd, 2007 at 12:33 am
I actually came across your blog post while searching for more meganekko to cosplay (Yomiko was such a fun character to dress up as). Like Eris said, thank you from all the meganekkos.
You make a really good point about the choice to wear glasses. My meganekko friends and I only wear contacts on special occasions, usually when we’re geting dressed up. Even if we had the time to fuss over contacts every day, we’d rather spend it doing something else than make ourselves look “prettier.”
I also would like to point out that guys with glasses are just as attractive as the girls. Even if they’re often stereotyped as the geek or the mad scientist, anime does a good job of providing a good selection bespectacled bishounen, like Kyouya from Ouran High School Host Club, Tezuka from Prince of Tennis, and Yuki from Gravitation. So here’s the both the guys and girls with glasses and the people who love them! ^_^
January 18th, 2008 at 6:01 am
my personal pick? naru narusegawa, from love hina. Ü
–plus the character, ooh i so looove meganekkos. Ü