Taboos of pain pack

An itabag is a bag covered with anime character badges and dolls. Because such a bag makes people feel "strange and exaggerated (note: the Japanese word "pain" has this meaning)", it is called an "itabag". As a way to express their favorite characters among the fan base, more and more people like "pain bags"

Overview

The anime bag trend or the "pain bag" trend has been around for quite some time, but it gained traction across Japan in 2015. Most young otakus who love anime will buy anime accessories to make their bags look dazzling. These female otakus think the trend has a simple meaning. Otakus say that pain packs allow them to confess their love to their favorite anime/manga characters and have their love visible to everyone.

Popular phenomenon

It is reported that on a Sunday afternoon in late July, in the theme park "NAMCONAMJATOWN" in Sunshine City in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, Otsuka Natsuki, a senior high school girl from Yokohama, was carrying a very personalized bag.

According to reports, the surface of the bag is covered with about 100 badges, and the handles are also hung with key chains, teddy bears and other accessories. This is the "pain bag."

"Namco Conan Castle" held a joint event for the game "Uta no Prince-sama". The accessories on the Otsuka bag are all the character "Shinomiya Natsuki" from "Uta no Prince-sama". She said: "I am taking pleasure in wanting others to see how strong my love is."

A female childcare worker in her 30s from Ayase City, Kanagawa Prefecture, also participated in the event. On her "pain bag" is another character, "Jinguji Ren". He emphasized, "My love for the character will never lose to anyone else in my life."

It is reported that there is a "Girls Road" near Sunshine City where many anime-related stores are gathered, and women carrying "pain bags" are very eye-catching. Nana Uchida, who is wearing the "Kagami Taiga" pain bag from "Kuroko's Basketball," said, "Pain bags have become part of fashion."

spend

Some of the accessories in the decorative pain packs can only be obtained by purchasing game products, and for some, the contents of the package are not known in advance when purchasing. Therefore, if you want to buy the badge you want, you may have to spend 10,000 to 15,000 yen (about RMB 515 to 772).

Popularity Analysis

Takayuki Fujimoto, an associate professor at Toyo University in Japan who is familiar with the "otaku culture", analyzed: "Pain bags are a manifestation of self-display and a high sense of pride. For young people, badges and other peripheral products are a simple way to show their preferences."

Some of the world's high-end luggage brands have added Japanese otaku culture to their designs, and some celebrities have worn anime-themed accessories to promote "painful" fashion. The otaku culture embodied by the "pain bag" seems to be spreading to an unexpected world.