Plenty of business scenes#

Since the main characters are a boss and his subordinate, most of the story takes place in an office setting. This makes the manga rich with authentic examples of formal workplace Japanese, especially honorific and polite speech.

Source: Mizutani Michiru, Ojisan Ga Naze Ka Kawai. (SHUEISHA)

Realistic workplace relationships#

The manga carefully depicts various dynamics within a Japanese company—between boss and subordinate, coworkers, seniors and juniors, or employees from other departments. Learners can pick up on subtle differences in tone and nuance across these relationships.

Source: Mizutani Michiru, Ojisan Ga Naze Ka Kawai. (SHUEISHA)

The Stereotypical Ojisan: Habits and Humor#

Beyond the negative labels, Japanese pop culture often portrays the ojisan stereotype through a familiar set of behaviors and appearances:

・Appearance: A slightly balding head, a bit of a belly, and unfashionable clothing—often a polo shirt tucked into slacks with a belt.
・Mannerisms: Speaking too loudly on trains, dozing off after drinking, or constantly offering unwanted advice to younger people.
・Technology Use: Struggling with smartphones, or sending “ojisan-style texts” full of emojis, excessive punctuation, and overly formal or outdated phrasing.
・Conversation Topics: Talking nostalgically about the “good old days,” making dad jokes (called おやじギャグ oyaji gyagu), or bragging about past achievements.

While these traits can feel embarrassing or out-of-touch, they also make ojisan an easy target for comedy. For many Japanese, laughing at or gently mocking these stereotypes is part of everyday humor—similar to how “dad jokes” function in English-speaking cultures.

From Background Character to Main Character#

Traditionally, ojisan were not seen as protagonists in manga or popular culture. They were side characters—the strict boss, the grumpy neighbor, or the father figure. But in recent years, creators have begun to flip the stereotype. By embracing the ojisan’s awkwardness or ordinariness, they’ve turned him into a main character:

・異世界おじさん (Isekai Ojisan) – a middle-aged man transported to a fantasy world.
・片田舎のおっさん (A Country Uncle) – a rural middle-aged man at the heart of the story.

These works use humor, nostalgia, and unexpected charm to transform the ojisan into a figure worth rooting for.

Why “Ojisan” Matters for Learners#

For Japanese learners, ojisan is more than just a word for “uncle.” It reflects how language and culture shape social identity. In Japan, “cute” (かわいい) is usually seen as the opposite of “middle-aged man,” yet some manga now challenge that assumption. Understanding the cultural baggage of ojisan helps learners follow not only manga and TV shows, but also everyday jokes, online slang, and conversations in modern Japan.

A Cultural Shift in Progress#

The evolving role of the ojisan mirrors larger shifts in Japanese society—how different generations view each other, how stereotypes are played with, and how humor can transform something negative into something fresh. For learners, keeping an eye on how “ojisan” is used in both serious and playful contexts provides insight into modern Japanese life and its changing values.

Do you find middle-aged men interesting?#

This is a rather unusual theme—celebrating the cuteness of ordinary middle-aged men. If that idea doesn’t click with you, you might not enjoy the manga as much.

Source: Mizutani Michiru, Ojisan Ga Naze Ka Kawai. (SHUEISHA)