Ask John: Can You Explain the Ojousama Laugh?

Question:
In general I have nothing but respect and admiration for Japanese voice acting, but there’s one instance I find rather annoying. That is the falsetto laugh exhibited by many female antagonists. The most recent example that comes to mind is Rukya of Hanaukyo Maid Team. The way she scornfully laughs to herself whenever the occasion arises sounds completely off key, in contrast to the otherwise excellent portrayal of emotions. Is this a reflection of actual Japanese behavior or is it a stylized representation exclusive to anime?

Answer:
The particular laugh you’re referring to, characterized by a artificial sounding “Ohohohohoho” is commonly known as the “Ojousama laugh” or, as Japanese natives refer to it, “ojousama warai” or “ojo-sama warai.” The Japanese word “ojousama” means “queen” or “princess,” so the ojousama laugh is often associated with the command, “Call me queen.”

The ojousama laugh sounds unnatural because it’s supposed to sound artificial. The laugh is a condescending, self-conscious technique certain women use to express their superiority. The women who use the ojousama laugh are haughty, spoiled, self-absorbed, and often rich. Just a few anime characters that use the ojousama laugh include Sumire Kanzaki of Sakura Wars, Miu from DearS, and Ayeka from Tenchi Muyo. In some cases, for example, Tiramisu of Bakuretsu Hunter, uses the “ojousama laugh” and the command, “Call me queen” in the role of a sexual dominatrix, ordering around submissive men. And although not a traditional “ojousama laugh,” Naga the Serpent from Slayers certainly has her own unique laugh that serves the same purpose. It conveys her sense of superiority and aloofness from mundane matters.

The ojousama laugh is sometimes used to distract attention from a faux pas, literally to laugh it off as though the mistake was a trivial concern. And the ojousama laugh is such an established convention that characters like Yoshino from Maria-sama ga Miteru even consciously use the ojousama laugh in parody, as a form of sarcasm.

Oddly, though, not even native Japanese anime fans seem to know where or when this very common anime cliché came from. Even discussions about “ojousama warai” among fans on the Japanese 2chan message board only speculate that this cliché may originate in old shoujo manga. I have little trouble imagining that the ojousama laugh is a fictional embellishment of actual behavior common among very rich, upper class ladies with little sense of humility. But I’m sure that the true, boisterous ojousama laugh is not a behavior you’ll see in real life Japan (or anywhere else, for that matter).

Addendum, August 29, 2005
A considerate Japanese reader contributed the following:

A manga artist called Sugaya Mitsuru suggested that Ojosama-laughing was found in a classic romance “Konjiki-Yasha” (1897-1902). [Editor’s note: a Meiji era serial novel originally published in the Yomiuri Newspaper.]

In a passage a beautiful usury woman Mitsue laughs “Hohohohohohoho.” Sugaya guesses it can be a prototype of arrogant ladies in Japanese entertainment. It is allegedly that the author Ozaki Koyo was welcomed among the high class society, so he could write the novel.

“Oh, you don’t know, either. Ha ha ha ha.”

“Mr. Hazama must not know, because I don’t know. Hohohohoho.” She made laugh in no less artificial manner than he did.