In the western media, the term Bachelor has been a glorified to describe a life of pure fun, unbothered freedom, and selfish indulgence of food with travel that ignore stigmas of being past a prime marriage age. But those who grow into adulthood find out even being single has its responsibilities of self sufficient capabilities in cooking, cleaning, and bills that follow lifes basic needs. These needs are commonly thrown down as apart of the stereotype of a stay at home mom or married women in duties that are not under a single persons necessities in life, even if no matter the relationship status of the person they still need those life basics.
In old school western family values there was an unspoken prime age, but it wasn’t called anything other then the statement of being “Past their prime”. Later on popular terms such as “Cougar Women” for older women for a more common trend on dating younger males than themselves. What many feel is the politically correct idea would be that there is no prime age or category placement. However, with people always quickly over viewing other peoples situations, such terms make it easier for discussion, regardless of their political incorrectness. In Asia the topic of marriage has changed over the years in its messages of parents to children. The value of marriage has been emphasized for survival of the family heritage with fertility and babies, sharing the burdens of life through finances and house chores, traditions of whats typical of the olden days. Or even in the case of relationship status slang to describe certain groups of people. In China, there is a term "Sheng Nu", which stands for left over women & "Bare Branches for left over men. After the slang of Sheng Nu and Bare Branches stuck there were many women in china who were being called "Sheng Nu" who fit the description, but also those who were career based women who decidedly stayed single. The term was used in a positive way, a negative way, and sometimes in a very disrespectful manner. This created the need for a category to accurately define the career based single status versus the left overs that was called "A-Quality Women" for single girls pride. While this had been going on in China, Japan had stayed with the old phrase of "Left over Christmas Cake" that was used as a similar description as Sheng Nu. Japanese Left Over Christmas Cake is based on a type of sponge cake with snow-white whipped cream and strawberries that symbolizes positive prosperity after World War II. The idea that is in the phrase of "Left over Christmas Cake" from the sale of discounted Christmas cakes that go on sale after December 25th which is considered the prime Christmas cake eating time. So, in the terms of unmarried women over 25 there is the slang of "Left Over Christmas Cake", "Discounted Christmas Cake", and "Being Part of the Christmas Cake Sale for Clearance". There was no equivalent to the male demograph in assuming all men were career based in Japans societal mold, but if they happen to stray they would be labeled as "Otaku", "Neets", or "Hikkikomori", which all have their own characteristics to their label. Those who are called "left over christmas cake" have a variety of stigmas that are included in what people would assume of someone that fits the description. As for their appearance it is imagined that they are not at their best, their hygiene is non existent, their are many social issues that cloud desirability, the persons high expectations are fantasy like and childish, they are otaku or neet. The idea also comes to mind of double standards, but there is a not as common term for a male version of Christmas cake with terms of "Empty Sake Bottle", "Old School Boy", and "leafless branch", but none are comparing to a cake. In Otaku culture, women had traditionally been expected to be alone as Fujoshi from young age to elder age with no term usage of Old Christmas Cake, but teased as Rotten Christmas Cake. There were different levels of dirtiness as Fujoshi aged and the terms in comparison to Rotten cakes were similar to the types of Fujoshi age groups. The early ages are labeled as Fujoshi (rotten woman), and as women get older into their 25+ they are Kifujin (rotten lady), and anything older than 40 is a Ochoufujin (disgraceful super rotten woman). The term Fujoshi brings the immediate thought of its direct translation of "rotten woman", however the slight difference in kanji can make it a different word entirely. As some Fujoshi stay in their hobbies as their primary priority in life there are some who put relationships and romance in equally high priority. For those who stray from the Fujoshi ways it is seen as breaking the bond of the secret fujoshi sisterhood that is further explained in the article: Traditions of the Fujoshi Sisterhood. Fujoshi had first been beaten down by the lesser than old christmas cake idea, until there was a different term being used from a few prideful Fujoshi who saw fujoshi as apart of a social growth process. This would be compared to the process and structure of the makings of a finely made beautiful Kasutera Cake. The idea of Kasutera comes from the appearance of the cakes delicate form that is also strong with a rectangular molded shape in its posture that represents carrying one self. This element is oftentimes compared of a childish otaku/fujoshi to grown up otaku/fujoshi who have stood up to lifes challenges. Those who were called a “Fresh Kasutera” are generally assumed to be capable of adult responsibilities of a job, cooking, and cleaning in its structure. The changes in personality when dealing with different situations in the non-otaku community and societies social expectations with tactfulness and likeableness would show the persons flavor. Balancing life and fandom in equal parts where decor and collections are manageable and not hurting the eyes in a room or dress of the person in casual home, formal work, or dressy play, is compared to the presentation of the Kasutera. Those who were a couple of Kasutera qualities were seen as lucky and referred to as Kasutera Couples (Sponge Cakes). The term Kasuterako had emerged through the relationship patterns of how otaku had shown their love while alone that was similar to school lovers in a romantic slice of life Animanga. The childhood envy of high school couples and their story love chemistry of Animanga brings the ideas of husbando and waifu fantasy moments of a relationship. For more information on Kasuterako, refer to article: Kasuterako is Otaku Love In the Otaku community, kasutera couples often remain with stigmatization of the previous otaku stereotypes of being alone forever, so its not so easy to make the jump to taking on a responsible relationship. This is for a variety of reasons, some couples who are happy and otaku are met with suspicion of their otaku dedication. There is resentment by others who don’t have a relationship or those who have negated the idea of getting an appreciative partner of their hobbies. Awe in the achievement of attaining a happy otaku couple status. The Kasutera cake is slowly gaining term usage in Otaku culture, but isn’t too popular in its meaning from its parting from hardcore otaku life to a more core otaku or casual otaku. The term is part of the whole complex of things adopted from Japan, but modified for otaku needs from the host society and becomes apart of the slang of both.
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