The term ikemen is a portmanteau neologism derived from the Japanese words ikeru or iketeru and menzu. Ikeru and iketeru mean "cool", "good" and "exciting", while menzu is the Japanization of "men". This term has been used to reference good looking men featured in Japanese pop culture. Ikemen are typically characterized as being sharply dressed individuals with slanted, intelligent eyes, husky voices, slender wrists and fingers, a manly build, an unruffled appearance, pale skin, and clean smelling with an air of mystery around them. Ikemen are typically reserved with the ability to become passionate in their interests with the impression that they are literary geniuses.
History
It is believed that the concept of ikemen and older, masculine men may have stemmed from a stylized transformation of the wakashuaesthetic of a beautiful boy-like nobleman during the Edo period in kabuki plays.
The concept of ikemen has been developed for various Japanese dramas such as Ikemen desu ne and Korean dramas such as Winter Sonata, and Stairway to Heaven . Unlike popular men in American culture who are popular due to their outstanding physical and personal attributes, ikemen often focus on “feminine” qualities that balance out masculine qualities of a good looking man. Ikemen in Korean and Japanese dramas are showcased as having patience, gentleness, and the ability to self-sacrifice for the woman they love while being able to express a wide range of human emotion. These traits are seen as desirable, as Japanese culture finds clever, self-centered, and larger than life figures to be both intimidating and appealing. Ikemen characters are seen in various genres of anime and manga, especially in dating simulations and visual novels for women. Men in visual novels such as Hakouki: Demon of the Fleeting Blossom and manga such as Ikemen Paradise often are portrayed as mysterious, strong, damaged, and passionate men who often have a throng of female admirers. Professional wrestlerJiro Kuroshio portrays an Ikemen character, reflected in his ring attire, hair, wrestling style and mannerisms. He has also adopted "Ikemen" as part of his ring name.
