A Question About Azumanga Daioh...

[Radical Dreamer]

So lately, I've been watching a lot of Azumanga Daioh, and I've been loving it! But I have a question about one of the characters...

The character I'm talking about is Kaorin. I read in the anime review that she's a little obessed with Sakaki, but it seems like she's skirting along the border of "romantic interest." At least, that's how it comes across. So I was wondering, is that what this is supposed to be? Does it really continue much in the series (I finished ep 8 last night)? I've really been loving this series, but I don't really like to tolerate homosexuality in anime, especially when it's shown in a positive light. Anyways, I was just wondering.

[mechana2015]

As far as I remember it never go's beyond a sort of "hero worship" phase, and absolutely nothing comes of it in the show.

[meboeck]

After their first year of school she ends up in a different class from the rest of the characters, so you don't even see her much later on.

[Arnobius]

Well, while she doesn't get seen as much, Kaorin still has her attraction to Sakaki all through high school. So, while nothing comes of it, I think the point of it was supposed to be an "inappropriate attraction."

[Bobtheduck]

Hmm... I'm going to be the minority here, but... Kaorin is more obviously gay than haruka and michiru in Sailormoon... I can't stand her, really... Of course, I can't stand about half the characters on this show, yet I still love the show overall... Osaka alone makes up for Kaorin and the Pervy classic Japanese teacher and the main teacher lady... Osaka is THE reason to watch this show...

[Arnobius]

Well I was beating around the bush to avoid problems with the mods, but since that was apparently worrying over nothing, yes I agree, I thought the homosexuality was obvious on Kaorin's part, and far more obvious than Haruka and Michiru in Sailor Moon S (though not the over the top levels of Sailor Moon Stars).

[Linksquest]

Osaka is THE reason to watch this show...

Really? I found TOMO-chan to be more enjoyable than Osaka.

As others have said, the relationship is what you first suspected. Sakaki is pretty much oblivious to Kaorin's attraction... so it doesn't go both ways at all. That part of the anime really bothered me as well as the perv teacher... but in the end the anime is one of my fav's despite these shortcomings.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Ahh Kaorin.. that crazy... quasilesbian weirdo XD

No, it doesn't get too bad. ^Y^ You will be fine

[Mithrandir]

I feel the need to point out that up until about a hundred years or so this kind of "hero worship" or "quasilesbian" feeling that MSP is talking about was totally normal. Check out the old stories of Kind Arthur some time. You have girls having crushes on the stunning ladies all the time. It wasn't sexual in nature, it was innocent. It seems like no one realizes this anymore.

That being said, you could make a case for either interpritation here. I hold that it's hero worship. The fact of the matter is, you're not going to find anyone coming out and saying otherwise in this pro-gay rights society.

If she *IS* gay, you're not going to see anything other than her being infatuated, so I wouldn't worry too much about it. It's not like she's shown spuring males (except the creapy perv teacher who EVERYONE spurns). They just don't make that big a deal out of it.

[Arnobius]

Well it is true that such relationships did exist. But I think there is also a tendency for western anime fans to try to put that meaning into relationships when the Japanese intent is the lesbian. The series that deal with this theme also tend to be subtle (Sailor Moon S, Maria sama ga miteru, Utena) and deniable.

However it is left open to interpretation, deliberately so I think in Azumanga Daioh and there is nothing overt. So while I personally disagree with Mith on the idea of hero worship in this series, there is certainly nothing that can be pointed to that is a "smoking gun" level of proof either way. So those are my 2¢ on the issue

[Radical Dreamer]

Thanks for all your input, everyone! After seeing all your veiws on this, I'm still going to continue in the series, especially since Kaorin is seen less as the series progresses, and because it's more of a "hero worship" than an actual portrayal of homosexuality. Thanks for your time in explaining it, though!! I really appreciate it!