Japanese Titbits #3 – 絶対領域

As you may or may not have noticed, there are two new banners in the random rotation. Don’t try refreshing this page because I’m using WP-Cache so the banner changes only after the cache expires. Instead you can view the new banners (rei.gif and zettai.jpg) using the direct link.

I’m sure everyone knows and loves Rei, but what the heck is 絶対領域? Answer lies after the break.

絶対領域 (zettai ryouiki) literally means “absolute territory”. It is used in Evangelion for Absolute Terror Field (AT Field) which powers the Eva units. Although the term “absolute terror” was derived from Sigmund Freud‘s writings, “zettai ryouiki” was first used by Eva and has absolutely no relationship to “absolute terror” in psychology. (Absolutely. Get it? LOL!…nvm)

And right now, zettai ryouiki has almost nothing to do with Evangelion either, although it is frequently printed in the same style as it appeared in Evangelion (pictured above) as a form of homage. In fact, 絶対領域 today has more to do with knee socks than angst-filled mecha pilots.

Here’s a typical example of the zettai ryouiki.

絶対領域

In the online Japanese geek lingo, “zettai ryouiki” refers to the area of uncovered thigh between the skirt and the knee sock. It can be found in almost any moé-type game or anime. It’s considered a moé attribute, just like nekomimi, megane and tsundere.

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The presence of zettai ryouiki requires socks that go above the knees. Thus in the above picture, Tama-nee (red hair) is the only girl with it. In fact, Tama-nee from ToHeart2 is well-known for her awesome zettai ryouiki. :P

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Another well-known zettai ryouiki belongs to Rin Tohsaka from Fate/stay night.

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Pretty much all maid characters with short skirts have zettai ryouiki, such as the girls from He is My Master. Here’s a Mitsuki cosplayer.

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Akiba-blog regularly goes around checking out the cosplayers at Akihabara for zettai ryouiki.

In fact, zettai ryouiki has become a science. According to Hatena Diary, the golden ratio for the ultimate zettai ryouiki is 4:1:2.5 (length of skirt : zettai ryouiki : length of socks above knee) and the acceptable margin for error is ±25％. The ratios are generally off because it is thought that the ultimate zettai ryouiki would generate so much moé that the equivalent energy would be enough to vaporize the planet.

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While the term was originally used in Evangelion, it was not until the new millennium before zettai ryouiki was first used in its current context. According to Wikipedia, it was apparently used in reference to a desktop mascot program in the creator’s blog on 21 March 2001 and took off after becoming a web meme and subsequently referred to in various doujinshi.

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Banpresto (a division of Namco Bandai Holdings and the makers of Super Robot Wars) registered 絶対領域 as a trademark under digital media last year but it is unknown whether it is related to Evangelion, for which they have the rights to develop games.

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And not too long ago, COSPA released an event-limited zettai ryouiki shirt which I have yet to find.

The subtitle of Broccoli’s Galaxy Angel II for PS2 is 絶対領域の扉 (zettai ryouiki no tobira) or “Door of the Absolute Territory”. I wonder what that means? <_<

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In conclusion, 絶対領域 are cool. <3 Tama-nee

This ends yet another useless post brought to you by DM.