Ask John: What’s the Significance of the Pinky Finger in Anime?

Question:
In Japanese culture, what is the meaning of holding up one’s pinky to another person? For instance, in Fist of the North Star Part 2, Ain holds up his pinky to show others he has a woman. I have been told it is not a nice gesture, but was never given an actual description of what it meant.

Answer:
Since this question is about the pinky finger, I’ll address two of its meanings in relation to anime, although the example provided only refers to one of the two meanings. In relation to anime, and Asian culture, the pinky finger is important to the “pinky swear” and the “red thread of destiny.”

In American culture, a promise might be symbolically sealed by a handshake, or by spitting into one’s palm before a handshake. The custom is slightly different in Asia. In Japanese culture, two people interlock their pinky fingers to signify an agreement. The promise is often accompanied by an oath (“yubikiri”), often a short chant such as, “Yubikiri genman, uso tsuitara hari senbon nomasu, yubi kitta,” which roughly means, “Finger cut promise: If you’re lying, may you drink a thousand needles and cut off your finger.” The pinky swear isn’t just limited to Japanese tradition. The Korean animated film Yobi the Five Tailed Fox illustrates the custom as interlocking the little finger, then pressing the thumbs together. The pinky swear also occasionally appears in American pop culture, although very infrequently. Anyone that’s watched a lot of anime has doubtlessly seen a “pinky swear” in anime shows such as Sailor Moon, Kanon, “Kodocha,” and Marmalade Boy.

More relevant to the example of a pinky used to signify a romantic relationship is the concept of the “red thread of destiny” (“unmei no akai ito”). According to traditional Asian superstition, every person is connected to someone else by an invisible red thread tied to the little finger. The couple tied together are destined lovers, and the trick in life is finding the person on the other end of your string. Anime including Tenchi Muyo, Ai Yori Aoshi, and XXXHOLiC have dealt with this concept. Since the red thread of fate that signifies one’s soul mate is tied to the little finger, the little finger becomes a representation of a loving couple. The shorthand of the pinky signifying a couple is sometimes considered impolite in contemporary Japanese culture because it’s an old-fashioned gesture, or because such a casual and thoughtless gesture doesn’t carry the respect appropriate for referring to a coupling ordained by the hands of fate.