fudanjuku

Meet the boys of Fudanjuku!



I based this intro on a combination of official trivia on their high school student personas (mostly bullet-points) and how they actually present themselves (my notes.) There are also translations, journal references, and video clips, because ultimately, I think the boys sell themselves best.

Fudanjuku literally means "cram school for rotten guys." It's a play on fujoshi, "rotten girl" (so a fudanshi would be a rotten "guy"), the term used for female otaku; the implication is that these girls have been corrupted by their obsessions, but fujoshi have reclaimed the word and use it to describe themselves proudly, much as their male counterparts use wotaku or wota. And Nakano, the base of operations for Fudanjuku and their alter-egos Nakano Fujoshi Sisters, is famous as an "otaku paradise." So the first thing you should know about Fudanjuku is that they're all huge geeks.

One obvious hint: Their catchphrase greeting is コンニチ波. This is kind of like saying "Kamehame-hi!"


Konnichi-ha!
"Officially," Fudanjuku is an otaku club at the fictional Nakano Fudanshi Academy--with only seven members, just a step away from being abolished. They hold concerts under the name same.

Their slogan is "One for all, all for one"--but the "for" is actually the "fu" from Fudanjuku. In fact, if you can think of a pun using "fu," Fudanjuku have probably done it. This doesn't translate well into English, so I've largely left it out, but know that pretty much whatever they're talking about--their values, their titles, their fanclub, their superhero alter-ego weapon names--they're making puns on their name.

Members

Click to enlarge images.

Shijuin Yosuke (紫集院 曜介)



Nickname: You-kun
Birthday: April 29
Canon age 17; actual age 28
Cosplay wota

- Leader/president of Fudanjuku.
- Takes his position very seriously, often leading him into conflict with his members.
- When struggling with some issue, tries to reevaluate himself while imagining that he is standing under a waterfall.
- Nickname: "Zettai Toushou"--"Our fearless leader"
- Favorite phrase: "area of certainty"
- Favorite food: katsudon
- Represents the ideal of honesty.

Yosuke is probably the most responsible member and takes his job very seriously: he's generally the one bullying his members into practicing when they'd rather goof off. In the TV skits, he also has a huge crush on Koji which he will not in any circumstances admit.

YOSUKE: You know what makes Fudanjuku special?
MEMBERS:
MEMBERS: Dunno.
YOSUKE: It's KY! KY!
KOJI: Got it! Kojiro is, yeah, really cool.
YOSUKE:
YOSUKE: ... well, that's true, but |D;
KOJI: :Db

[Koji has decided to study really hard so as not to fail the next test]

YOSUKE: Hey. :[ I'm helping Koji, don't get in the way.
KANBEI: I wasn't!
URAMASA: He's right, they were just studying.
KYOHEI: You're acting really strangely today, President. What's wrong?
MOMO: I knew it! :D President totally likes--
YOSUKE: That's not it! Sorry, Kanbei.
KOJI: Hey, look, I seriously don't care who it is, just help me.
KOJI: So right here, these odd numbers (kisuu) and even numbers...
YOSUKE: Kiss? (kisu) You want me to teach you how to kiss?!
KOJI: Come on. :D
YOSUKE: I-I can't. Impossible!

Yosuke's into both making and wearing cosplay, and says he's made over 200 outfits.

He draws and writes some of the cutest journal entries ever. Witness:

I'm in the bath right now (don't peek!)
Ahhhhh
Swish swish

Shall we get in together ?

... what

Stuuuuuupid
Eeeven though it says "don't peek"

He also spends roughly 80% of the time looking like this :Db

Bukiya Momotaro (武器屋 桃太郎)



Nickname: Momo, Megane (= "four-eyes")
Birthday: March 13
Canon age 17; actual age ?
Anime wota

- Vice president of Fudanjuku
- More interested in anime than in his studies, and joined Fudanjuku without his parents' knowledge.
- Somewhat scatterbrained; hates violence.
- Wants to open a used bookstore.
- Nickname: "Dougenkyou no Suisei"--"Comet from paradise." (It's a pun on his name: dougenkyou, "paradise," is written with the kanji for "peach," also first in Momo's name.)
- Favorite word: "correction"
- Favorite food: soba noodles
- Represents the ideals of wisdom and understanding of good and evil.

Momo is... kind of an ditz. But he is the most well-meaning ditz ever! He's the group peacemaker: if his members are fighting, Momo will break it up. (Momo will probably also get punched for his troubles.) Momo talks a lot (a LOT) (a LOT) and he's often the one teasing Leader, but you can tell he loves him a lot. He tends to stutter and adjust his glasses whenever he gets flustered. As the group's comedian, this happens a lot.

He's also really into punning, which makes him really hard to translate, sob.

Gundam wota to the max.

Momo is a total yaoi fanboy. He ships Yosuke/Koji. Or possibly Koji/someone else...

[Koji finds a note in his desk]

URAMASA: Lemme see. What's this? "My dear red, whenever I see you, my chest hurts. Everything you say and do is adorable." Isn't this a love letter?
KOJI: What? Seriously? This is a boys' school! Ugh, a guy might have written this--gross!
YOSUKE: Huh? Really? Guys aren't allowed to send each other love letters?
URAMASA: Lol, did you write it? ;D
YOSUKE: No! Man, you guys are always so annoying.
MOMO: Hey, guys, what's going on?
URAMASA: Koji found this in his desk.
MOMO: A-ah! This is...
KOJI: Just get to it. Who wrote this?
MOMO: Well, it must have been someone in our class, right?
URAMASA: Out with it. Who wrote it?
YOSUKE: That's enough! You're always--

[Yosuke punches Uramasa. Uramasa, also angry, threatens to quit.]

MOMO: Oh no! Fudanjuku will split up because of me!
MOMO: ... actually...
MOMO: I wrote that letter.
KOJI: Seriously?
MOMO: Don't get me wrong, it wasn't for you... It was to the person I like. When we were getting ready for the club meeting, it must have gotten into Koji's desk by mistake.

KYOHEI: Momo... did you actually get the wrong desk?
MOMO: O-of course! #>.<# I'll just be going, then~

Don't call him "Megane."

Seimyoji Uramasa (青明寺 浦正)



Nickname: Maa-kun
Birthday: June 2
Canon age 17; actual age 23
Professional wrestling and Hello! Project wota

- Hobby: weight training.
- Very competitive; talks with his fists, not his words.
- Currently training through remodelling his family's garden.
- Debuted as a pro wrestler in May 2009.
- Nickname: "Moeru Fudamashii"--"The bad guy with a crush"
- Favorite phrase: "No creation without destruction"
- Favorite food: meat
- Represents the ideals of honor and human righteousness.

Uramasa has a tough-guy, "yankee" image in the TV skits: he gets defensive, aggressive, and someone gets punched. Butts heads most with Renji.

URAMASA: I... can't find my club fee. I put it in my desk for safekeeping, but... it's not there.
KOJI: No way there's a thief here, right?
URAMASA: Well... it's true this has never happened before...
RENJI: Oi. You accusing me?
URAMASA: I wasn't! It's just that this is the first time... and you new guys just got here...
RENJI: Stop ****ing around!
KANBEI: Don't joke about that. Maybe you put it somewhere else.
RENJI: What he said!
URAMASA: No way! You're really affensive, you--
MOMO: "Offensive."
URAMASA: Shut up!

Y-yeah, Ura isn't necessarily the brightest bulb.

But the Ura/Renji teasing is, deep-down, affectionate. Probably.

YOSUKE & KYOHEI: [pointing to Renji's scar] What's this? What's this? What's this?
RENJI: Don't ask me that. :|
YOSUKE & KYOHEI: LOL
URAMASA: Renji, Renji, Renji! You okay?
RENJI:
URAMASA: LOL :D
URAMASA: It's okay. We're all here for you.
RENJI: Pig.

Midorikawa Kyohei (緑川 狂平)



Nickname: Kyou-kun
Birthday: April 6
Canon age 17; actual age 23
Fairy and reptile wota

- Hobby: visiting sushi bars.
- Watches from the sidelines without disturbing his "cool" image.
- Loves animals; has a pet chameleon.
- Would like a pet snake.
- Wants to open a used bookstore. (He can partner up with Momo!)
- Favorite word: "gratitude"
- Favorite food: yellowtail (a kind of fish)
- Represents the ideal of gratitude.

Kyohei spends about half his time being :| unimpressed by his bandmates... and the rest of it being *_* about snakes, lizards, and all kinds of creepy crawlies unknown to human eye. Dream vacation: the Amazon.

Kyohei doesn't really seem to like the limelight and consequently comes off as a bit cold and reserved if not actually antagonistic. Tsundere!

KYOHEI: Ah, hello. I'm the reptile and fairy fan Midorikawa Kyohei.
KYOHEI:
KYOHEI: Please look kindly on me.

But you can also see him being the smart, snarky one behind the scenes and mothering his members when they get hurt. Uramasa in particular... and could it be mutual?

[Kyohei finds a letter in his desk]

KYOHEI: "My dear green, I've liked you for a long time. Are you dating anyone at the moment?"
KYOHEI:
KYOHEI: First red, then green? Is this some kind of mistake too? Or are they making fun of me? It's just like the fox and the tanuki cheating each other.
KYOHEI: If this is the real... red fox and the green tanuki~ :D

Kyohei is often the most emotional and sincere on his blog. After Muteki! Natsu Yasumi reached #6 on the Oricon, Kyohei wrote:

It's our bond, huh (；ω；)

I'm so glad I met you (；ω；)

Let's stay together forever.

He apparently loves ramen so much that the other members gave him ramen for his birthday.

Yosuke and Renji say he looks so good in photos he must be the devil.

Akazono Kojiro (赤園 虎次郎)



Nickname: Koji
Birthday: July 10
Canon age 17; actual age 20
Fashion wota

- Moved from Hokkaido to Tokyo during his first year of high school.
- Was popular with "jackal" women in his hometown. (No source for this, but my hunch is that "jackals" are akin to English "cougars." XD)
- Seems like a superficial flirt, but deep down, he's very serious.
- His family is very poor; the school gave Koji permission to work part-time to support his younger brother and sister.
- Nickname: "Akabukidanshi." (A pun on the aka ("red") from Koji's name and "kabuki," Japanese theater, suggesting that Koji is a dandy who loves flashy clothes and music.)
- Favorite word: "LOVE"
- Favorite food: natto
- Represents the ideals of compassion and love for other people.

lololol Koji is such a player. On the surface, he's a total narcissist: he spends much of their TV skit meetings fixing his hair in a mirror he keeps in his desk. Beneath that, he's a devoted hard worker.

Beneath that, he's a player.

YOSUKE: And Koji, stop fixing your hair! >:|
MEMBERS: He's not even here...
URAMASA: Oh yeah, I saw him in town a while ago.
YOSUKE: Picking up girls again!
URAMASA: No, he was handing out packs of tissues.
KYOHEI: Actually, I heard he got special permission to work part-time.

[The boys sneak into town to stalk Koji]

KOJI: *is actually working*
MEMBERS: :o!
MEMBERS: Omg Koji, we're so sorry, we assumed you were off picking up girls.

[Koji has dropped something]

KYOHEI: Wait, that's not tissues.
KOJI: Oh, this? It's a business card. Got it from this lady. :Db

KOJI: Everyone, it's okay to fall in love with me.

Koji's a light-hearted people person, but he can also be pretty KY: despite his flirty ways, he seems oblivious to anyone who might actually like him.

Koji's really into taking pictures, of himself or of anyone in the vicinity.

Also, Kojiro can sing. No, seriously, he gives most of Japan's male idol population a run for their money.

Ruhara Renji (流原 蓮次)



Nickname: Ren-kun
Birthday: February 12
Canon age 17; actual age 24
Game and manga wota

- Suspended for fighting on the day he entered the school.
- Has been suspended countless times for fighting since then.
- Runner up in the Fudanshi Academy "World War" to determine the strongest guy in the school during his third year.
- Joined Fudanjuku in an effort to stop getting into fights.
- Has a scar on his right cheek, but refuses to say when or how he got it.
- Very egotistic.
- Nickname: "Tenka Fuyatsu no Dandyism"--"Prince of Bad Guys"
- Favorite word: "coup d'état"
- Favorite food: cookies
- Represents the ideal of courage in times of danger.

Renji joined Fudanjuku after their first single, but no one mentions this much, probably because Koki is a much more satisfying kouhai. Renji has this strong, silent image... but the fact is, he's totally squishy for his bandmates. He has a particular soft spot for Koki.

Koki worked really hard.
He didn't hold anything back, so much I might even say
Maybe his sweat became my tears...
Renji and Koki, friends til the very end.

There were also more pictures of Renji with Kanbei (now graduated) than anyone else in the group. Aww, Renji. Maybe he just likes yellow.

With over 13,000 manga, 7000 games, and 1000 first-edition anime DVDs, Renji is probably the most traditional otaku of the group. He likes to fanboy on his blog; he once called voice actor Ono Daisuke (Kuroshitsuji) the "teacher of his heart." And Yosuke said that Renji once asked him for love advice... for a dating sim.

Kind of a camwhore; takes 2094582 pictures of himself looking exactly the same.

Renji speaks Kansai-ben.

Seto Koki (瀬斗 公黄)


:( !!! It's not that I love Koki less, he just doesn't have a blog yet and therefore camwhores less than the rest of them.

Nickname: Kou-kun
Birthday: September 16
Canon age 16; actual age 18
Mystery wota

- The only first year in Fudanjuku.
- Loves gossip, mysteries, and the paranormal.
- Joined Fudanjuku under the misimpression that it was a secret society.
- Favorite word: "mystery"
- Favorite food: pork miso soup
- Represents the ideal of filial piety.
- His weapon is the "Yellow Gun Carry-on." (Or "Carrion?" LOL idek.)

Koki is the most recent Fudanjuku member, joining just in time for their fourth single, Muteki! Natsu Yasumi. According to Uramasa, the Muteki! PV making explains why Koki entered Fudanjuku but I haven't found the video yet.

Koki says the other members bully him.

YOSUKE: That's a surprise!
MOMO: Who is it, Kou? Who exactly is it?
MEMBERS: Who, who? It's okay, you can tell us.
KOKI: Megane.
MEMBERS: LOL
MOMO: Oi! Hold on!
STAFF: We're starting!
MOMO: Just a moment! This is getting interesting! We can't leave it like this.
YOSUKE: 'Cos Momo was the bully, right?
MOMO: It's not me! Oi, Ren! Uramasa! That's enough!
KOKI: Give it up, Megane.
MEMBERS: LOL
MOMO: Kou doesn't know the truth! Someone must have tricked him! Oi, Renji! Uramasa!
URAMASA: What exactly are you saying?
YOSUKE: Was it you guys?

[Renji points to Koki]

KOJI: Koki has something to say.
YOSUKE: What is it, Koki?
KOKI: It was Megane.

Speaking of bullying. Koki has deadpan down to a science.

YOSUKE: Koki, look, your senpai are all working hard. Say something to them.
KOKI: :3
KOKI: Don't mess up, Megane.

YOSUKE: Okay, Momo's done. Your impression, please.
KOKI: Well, Megane-senpai... please try harder next time.

MOMO: Everyone, Koki isn't the kind of guy who says things like that! He's a really, a really good kid.

KOKI: Shut up, Megane.

Former members

Fudanjuku has had some trouble keeping their yellow member: the original seventh member was Saiki Kanbei, also known as Arui Hirono. Kanbei auditioned in the 2008 new member search and participated in the Ore no Sora and Katsunda! singles and the first album, Kizuna, as well as taking part in later episodes of the group's TV skit show. His wota passion was cooking, he tended to have head-eating curls and pretty feminine make-up, and that is pretty much all I know about Kanbei. He graduated in November 2009.

Before Renji, Kanbei, and Koki, actress and idol Suzanne was the sixth member of Fudanjuku, also using yellow as her image color. Half-Filipino Zan Kisaragi, health food and diet wota, was even less convincingly male than Kanbei.


Have some group shots!






Have some pairings!












Fudanjuku/Fudanjuku




PVs

Five-member Fudanjuku:
Otokozaka

Seven-member Fudanjuku:
Ore no Sora
Katsunda!
Kimi no Monogatari
Muteki! Natsu Yasumi


Live
Chijo no Buki: musical member intro + GIANT WEAPONS
Otakisuto: They based this dance around reading manga slkdfj I can't even ♥
Kimi no Monogatari ♥ ♥ ♥


More video

Image.tv photoshoot promo: featuring bathhouse! and sleepover!Fudanjuku
Fudanjuku's netbook feature wishlist
Yosuke TV @ Otokozaka or, Making Faces with Momo and Koji
Yosuke TV @ Ore no Sora: moe!Kyohei, sulky!Renji, and the mystery circle.
Katsunda! making Part 1 Part 2: An old guy on the street asked Kyohei to wear the rabbit costume.
Muteki! making, Momo version: Koki has a wicked sense of humor. He takes it out on Megane.
Muteki! member comments (& PV): Fudanjuku self-introductions! IF YOU ARE ONLY GOING TO WATCH ONE VIDEO, WATCH THIS ONE. No longer on Youtube, download to watch!


Extras
Official Fudanjuku blog


THE END. oh god.