Kabedon or kabe-don (Japanese: 壁ドン; kabe, "wall", and don, "bang") refers to the action of slapping a wall fiercely, which produces the sound "don". One meaning is the action of slapping the wall as a protest which occurs in collective housing like condominiums when the next room makes noise.[1] Another meaning often appears in shōjo manga or anime when one character forces another against the wall with one hand or leans against the wall and makes the sound of "don", and this has become popular as a "clever move of confession", it's creating an intimate atmosphere. [2][3]
Origins edit
The term kabedon first appeared in 2008 when voice actor Ryōko Shintani described it as "lovely situation".[citation needed] It has been popularized in the shōjo manga L DK by author Ayu Watanabe;[4][5] and in April 2014, the manga was adapted into a live-action film.[6] Afterwards, the term started to become familiar to the public and has appeared in multiple shojo manga stories.[1]
Usage edit
Kabedon typically appears in Shōjo manga or anime when a man corners the woman against the wall; at the same time, one or both of his hands slaps the wall on either side of the woman and the sound of "don" is produced.[7]
In Japan, the walls of many accommodation buildings are thin and not insulated against sound. As such, simple actions like closing a door or turning on the television can easily be heard by neighbors. When this noise becomes too loud to bear, Japanese people tend to bang their connecting walls in protest.[1]
The practice of kabedon was borrowed into Chinese with the pronunciation bidong (壁咚, bìdōng) through television dramas like My Sunshine.[8] In Hong Kong, the actor Gregory Wong performed the bidong in a commercial for Listerine mouthwash.[9]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b c Ashcraft, Brian (4 July 2014). "Manga Trope Appears in Noodle Commercial, Confuses Some People". Kotaku.
- ^ "Feeling Exhilaration, Even Through a Mistake: Experiencing the "Kabe-Don" Japanese Girls Love So Much". Japanese kawaii idol music culture news | Tokyo Girls Update. November 2014.
- ^ "Would kabe-don work outside of Japan?【Video】". March 13, 2015.
- ^ Junko (15 December 2015). Kiss Him, Not Me Vol. 2. Kodansha Comics. Translation Notes. ISBN 9781682330340.
- ^ Green, Scott. "Kodansha Announces Manga Licenses Including "Princess Jellyfish"". Crunchyroll.
- ^ "Kento Yamazaki's Best Movies and Dramas". ReelRundown.
- ^ "Move Over Udon and Gyudon : It's Time For "Kabe-Don" !!". Wow! Japan. 30 January 2015. Archived from the original on 6 March 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ^ Xing, Shaofei (2015). "Why is "Bidong" So Popular in China Nowadays".
- ^ Berman, Margo (July 1, 2016). The Blueprint for Strategic Advertising: How Critical Thinking Builds Successful Campaigns. Routledge. ISBN 9781317211624 – via Google Books.