No, Anime's Bloody Nose Innuendo Isn't Scientifically Accurate

Anime lovers, it's time you had the talk. No, not the one about the birds and the bees; That conversation is one you should have with your guardians. The talk today has to do with everyone's favorite nosebleed trope. Unassuming characters in your favorite anime or manga have surely had dozens of risque nosebleeds over the years, but don't worry if you've never had such a thing happen.

Actually, you should be worried if you are getting nosebleeds like anime leads do. Science has proven the trope is a bust; There's no correlation between nosebleeds and arousal.

In the past, NicoNico News went to great lengths to query professionals about the longstanding anime trope. To find out if there was a biological connection between nosebleeds and feeling turned on, the site approached Kaneyama Clinic to speak with ENT specialist Dr. Koichiro Kanaya. When asked if arousal could case gushing nosebleeds, the doctor had this to say:

"It's true that blood pressure rises when we're sexually aroused, and it's been well documented, but there is no connection between arousal of this kind and nose-bleeds."

There's a long history behind nosebleeds when it comes to manga and anime. Back in the 1970s, it is believed that artist Yasuji Tanioka was the one to use the innuendo. Nosebleeds mimic the sudden shift in blood pressure that happens during arousal, but it also looks lewd. In order to avoid censors, franchises used nosebleeds to mimic the look of someone ejaculating, and the code has carried on for decades now.

Continuing with their lesson, Dr. Kanayama said the only blood rising upwards during arousal should be to the cheeks. "Since the inside of the nose is one of the more fragile parts of the body, I can understand where the theory that increased blood-pressure caused by sexual arousal causes nosebleeds might come from;" Dr Kanayama explained.

"The human body is made from some pretty soft, flexible stuff, so I couldn't really say that the argument is entirely sound."

Rather than coming off crass, both anime and manga have turned a once-cheeky trope into a comedic code. Nosebleeds are still meant to mark sexual hijinks, but the blood flow is less about climaxing and more about embarrassment. Any character whether they be perverted or not is susceptible to a poorly time nosebleed.

So, don't feel bad if you are not having spontaneous nosebleeds around you otaku partner. The trope is a sly one, but its origins lie strictly in fiction - and that's something we can all be grateful about. Bloodstains are nearly impossible to get out of clothes…

[HT] RocketNews