

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/Gy8g9.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/Gy8g9.png)

Harem is genre in Anime and Manga involving a Male protagonist surrounded by
girls who have feelings for him

Harem is a popular genre in the anime/manga industry but what are the origins
of how it become one of Anime and Mangas popular genres?


CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-05T16:45:33.770
40728
2017-06-08T09:42:47.350
32925
question
anime-history manga-history
Whats the origin of Harem genre


The first anime or manga to have all the elements of the harem genre is
[Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenchi_Muyo!_Ryo-Ohki)
(OVA anime: 1992). It has multiple female characters pursuing the same male
lead, a constant presence in his life, in this case living with him in the
same house. Like most examples of this genre the main character acquired his
harem accidentally and doesn't actually want all these women pursuing him.
Also like many examples of the genre the female characters are very
extraordinary, far from ordinary Japanese girls.

You can see the origins of the genre in other manga and anime series that had
many of the same tropes but never put them all together. For example [Oh My
Goddess!](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oh_My_Goddess!) (manga: 1988, OVA
anime: 1993) has three goddesses living in the same house with the main
character, although only one is interested him romantically. [Ranma
1/2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranma_%C2%BD) (manga: 1987, TV anime: 1989)
has a main character with a number of different suitors over the course of the
long series, both female and male, but they don't form a harem as most of
these characters only make occasional appearances.

A likely influence of harem genre is the reverse harem genre. While you'd
think from its name the reverse harem genre came later, the trope of a woman
with many suitors is probably old as storytelling. The [suitors of
Penelope](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suitors_of_Penelope) in the
[Odyssey](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odyssey) (ca. 700 BC) were 108 men who
pursued Penelope, the wife of the presumed dead Odysseus, while all living
together in his home. While the Odyssey probably wasn't a direct influence on
the genre, shoujo romance series like [Fushigi
Yuugi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fushigi_Y%C3%BBgi) (manga: 1992, TV
anime: 1995) and [Hanasakeru
Seishounen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanasakeru_Seish%C5%8Dnen) (manga:
1987, TV anime 2009) have pretty much all the elements you'd expect in the
harem genre except with the male/female roles exchanged.

Another possible influence would be love triangles appearing various male
oriented series like [Maison
Ikkoku](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maison_Ikkoku) (manga: 1980, TV anime:
1986) and [Kimagure Orange
Road](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kimagure_Orange_Road) (manga: 1984, TV
anime: 1987). Yet another possible influence are dating sim and ren'ai visual
novel games were the player can pursue one or more of a number different love
interests. While the structure is different, when these games get turned into
anime shows they're often become harem anime.

As for why the harem genre is popular it's hard to say. The obvious answer is
that it provides the stereotypical shy-with-women male otaku with a sort of
escapism and wish fulfillment they can't get from other genres. However I
don't think it would be as popular if it was just that. I think subverting the
age old trope of a woman with many suitors is a big part. It provides a lot
comedic potential in what in real life would seem absurd: a number of always
attractive and usually exceptional women all openly pursing the same ordinary
looking usually kind of awkward guy.


CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-07T00:34:25.780
40754
2017-06-07T00:34:25.780
7861
40728
answer


One thing I want to pick up is [The tale of
genji](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tale_of_Genji)

The original novel was published on 1008. [The manga
version](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tale_of_Genji_\(manga\)) was
published on 1980. [The anime
version](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genji_Monogatari_Sennenki) was aired on
2009 in noitaminA.


CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-08T09:42:47.350
40778
2017-06-08T09:42:47.350
3557
40728
answer