Forum - View topicCultural Quirk Question [orange box]
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Haiseikoh 1973
 Posts: 1590 Location: Waiting for the Japanese 1000 Gunieas. |
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What is the significance of the Orange Box used as a table in many Japanese Anime and Manga?
[edit: subject changed to reflect content. -L] |
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Mohawk52
 Posts: 8202 Location: England, UK |
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I will hazard a guess that it signifies the owner of said property not being financially willing, or able to afford a nice solid mahagany, or teak one.
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abunai
Old Regular
 Posts: 5463 Location: 露命 |
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Hmm, "orange box"? I'm not sure what you mean.
If it's just a box, I'd say that Mohawk52 is right. But without a screenshot, I can't say for sure whether you're talking about something else. Could you be referring to a こたつ(kotatsu)? This is a device sometimes seen in Japanese homes, a table with a built-in heater. Nice and comfy during winter. If you can post a screenshot, it would be easy to answer. - abunai |
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cookie
Former ANN Editor in Chief
 Posts: 2460 Location: Do not contact me for support. |
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I think he's referring to the prevailance of the mikan box, used often as a desk of some sort. I think Mohawk's correct, although I've never heard a 'real' answer with regards to this question. |
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abunai
Old Regular
Posts: 5463 Location: 露命 |
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Oho. Silly me - I wasn't thinking "box that had formerly contained oranges" but "orange-coloured box". Had me stumped, because I had completely misunderstood the question. 
- abunai |
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Haiseikoh 1973
Posts: 1590 Location: Waiting for the Japanese 1000 Gunieas. |
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One of the pages from Negima #2 showing him using a orange box.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v190/phantomskyline/Mahou-Sensei-Negima_p14.jpg [EDIT - The source used is a scanilation, but it doesn't appear that any other scanilation images are being stored at the site in question, so I'll let it stand. -C] |
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abunai
Old Regular
Posts: 5463 Location: 露命 |
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Please don't post links to scanlations, it's not kosher.
But yes, Negima is using a mikan box (mikan being not oranges as we understand them, but mandarins - bitter summer oranges, also called "Chinese citron") to underscore the facts that he: a) still isn't settled into his new lodgings - remember, he's pretty young b) probably cannot yet afford proper furniture. When you sit on the floor (well, on tatami mats on the floor, but you get the idea), a box of that size is perfect for a desk. - abunai |
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dormcat
Encyclopedia Editor
 Posts: 9902 Location: New Taipei City, Taiwan, ROC |
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Mikan (蜜柑, Satsuma mandarin) is the representative fruit in Ehime Prefecture. Scientifically named Citrus unshiu (温州蜜柑), its flower is also the Prefectural flower of Ehime. It is more closely related to tangerine than orange.
 
From http://www.alpine-plants-jp.com/himitunohanazono/unsyuumikan_himitu_1.htm In addition to mikan box from Ehime, we also have apple box from Aomori in many manga/anime.  Those are stereotypical gift/souvenir from rural areas of Japan.
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Arkard
 Posts: 677 Location: Poland |
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Now that is interesting.
When I was living alone in Japan for 2 week in a non furnished apartment, one of the neighbours gave me 3 orange boxes 
I thought he gave me real fruits so I didn't really understood when I looked inside and they were all empty.
Guess its something normal for a person when he has no furniture and cant afford them. Thats all I can say. |
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Haiseikoh 1973
Posts: 1590 Location: Waiting for the Japanese 1000 Gunieas. |
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Photobucket, For The Record, is a Photo Hosting Site, not a scan site. That, and my scanner decided to commit Seppuku a few days ago.
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