

In Season 1 Episode 5 of Oshi no Ko, around 2 minutes in Aqua and Ruby have a
conversation about asking Kana to join an idol group

> **Aqua** : If it seems she'll be popular, it's all good. Why not at least
> try asking her?
>
> **Ruby** : Well, I get your point... But, you know, Loli-senpai and I have a
> rather unusual relationship, right?

Kana looks about the same age as her fellow students, so why did Ruby call her
"Loli-senpai"? Is it meant to be an insult?

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/WQJW1.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/WQJW1.jpg)


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question
terminology oshi-no-ko
Why did Ruby call Kana "Loli-senpai"?


I don't know the series well, but from
[here](https://dic.pixiv.net/a/%E3%83%AD%E3%83%AA%E5%85%88%E8%BC%A9) (mostly
literally translating)

> _Loli-senpai_ is a nickname for Kana Arima. It suits her because of her
> image as a genius child actress and her height being small (150cm=4.9ft).

* * *

From the Japanese language perspective, I'd guess it is made from the (kind
of) opposite ばばあ先輩 (babaa senpai), which is an internet slang meaning
generally older women co-workers who is senior to you. _Babaa_ is a
disrespectful way of calling (grand)mother, but used to call women in general
(you'll be slapped in the face if you use it in reality).

'Loli' comes obviously from _lolita_ , but here it does not necessarily
contain disrespect, it should simply refer to the character's physical
features/appearances being like a little girl (at least to the character who
gave the name to her). Also, her attire in the link above is similar to
typical primary school uniform (not exactly the same though).


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