7099


In the anime (episode 2) it is shown that Mamimi is bullied, and apparently
has her shoes taken away from her. I understand she is probably bullied due to
being odd, but why did they take her shoes of all things? it seems bizarre to
me.

As seen in the anime itself:

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/TfTCl.png)
![Bullies](https://i.stack.imgur.com/ydPVb.png)


CC BY-SA 4.0
2014-01-21T16:08:10.757
7097
2023-04-27T15:53:38.240
2023-04-27T15:29:49.383
19307
3433
question
flcl
Why was Mamimi bullied for her shoes?


In Japanese schools, typically they have set of outdoor street shoes and
indoor shoes called "[Uwabaki](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uwabaki)." Inside,
there are typically individual shelves or lockers for everyone's shoes. These
shelves/lockers will occasionally have a space for students to put and swap
their outdoor shoes for their indoor shoes. This is typically done to keep the
floor from being marred by outside elements and maintain its polish for a
longer period of time.

The general idea (depicted in anime and manga) of bullying is to either steal
them (and toss them away or place them in an inconvenient place) or fill them
with tacks or garbage (sometimes also defacing them). The purpose is usually
humiliate them and/or cause them distress without actual confrontation. The
sandals she wears are probably her indoor shoes, and the idea is probably to
take enjoyment in humiliating her by making her walk home without shoes or in
her indoor shoes. In essence, the idea of this is to shame the bullied victim
(who typically react passively), who loses dignity/"face", which elevates the
ego/status of the bully or bullies.


CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-21T16:53:07.263
7099
2014-01-21T16:53:07.263
63
7097
answer


кяαzєя♦'s answer, while good in most regards, seems to be missing the
convenience aspect. In anime, and possibly in real Japanese schools, these
shoe lockers are often not locked, and sometimes are just open shelves as seen
in the second image below.

[![anime](https://i.stack.imgur.com/wmzY4m.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/wmzY4m.jpg)

[![real
life](https://i.stack.imgur.com/h4HqSm.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/h4HqSm.jpg)

source: <https://gowithguide.com/blog/welcome-to-the-japanese-school-visiting-
is-believing-shoe-lockers-3496>

Though I can't speak much to real Japanese schools, in anime, these lockers
are almost always not locked, thus making the shoes inside an easy and
convenient target for bullies.

See also:

<https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/UsefulNotes/InsideShoes>

<https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/StockShoujoBullyingTactics>


CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-04-27T15:53:38.240
67938
2023-04-27T15:53:38.240
19307
7097
answer