Also, as a follow-up, is it used solely to refer to MtF trans individuals?
From what I've read online in Japanese, that seems to be the case, but I just
wanted to confirm. And if so, what is the most common (but PC/inoffensive) way
to refer to transgendre individuals in Japan (MtF or FtM)?
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-08-03T12:32:46.500
100524
2023-08-04T02:08:13.333
35659
question
word-choice culture gender connotation
Is ニュー・ハーフ considered a derogatory/offensive term in Japan for a transsexual individual?
ニューハーフ is an obsolete word that was used mainly in the 80's when no one knew
the terms like trans or LGBT. If you used it today, I suppose most people
would interpret it as a joke first before thinking about whether it's
potentially offensive.

In those days, sex reassignment surgery was almost sci-fi, so the term ニューハーフ
usually referred to male individuals on TV who were dressed in female attire
and (often excessively) used feminine language such as だわ, かしら and なのよ. So
it's more of a character stereotype rather than a specific gender identity.
This largely overlaps the type of people called
[オネエ](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%AA%E3%83%8D%E3%82%A8%E8%A8%80%E8%91%89)
today.

Today, transgender people are simply called トランス(ジェンダー)男性/女性.

**EDIT:** According to Wikipedia, the term was first made popular as the
catchphrase of Rumiko Matsubara ([video in
1981](https://youtu.be/ypcPi2bxMB8?t=182)). I personally don't know her, but
people I imagine when I hear the word ニューハーフ are people who are more
"noticeable" than she is.
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-08-04T00:37:13.503
100527
2023-08-04T02:08:13.333
2023-08-04T02:08:13.333
9831
5010
100524
answer