<p>It's more than likely that this so-called mysterious "weakness syndrome" is really just as a plot device to drive the story/characters along. This particular aim to draw sympathies to the particular character and is more often than not, a popular way to have character die before their time, if that's what the story demands.</p>

<p>So why is this mysterious weakness trope so popular, you ask? Why not always using a real illness? Typically it's because this "weakness" is a "clean" and "cute" illness, when compared to actual chronic medical conditions. Even in its lethal form the symptoms are: you are weak, you're getting weaker, you die. (coughing up blood every now and then is optional) </p>

<p>In contrast, an actual conditions like stomach cancer on the other hand is not "cute" at all. As soon as you specify a real-life disease/conditions a lot of questions pop up, something that might shift the perspective away from the tragic fate of a character. </p>

<p>Additionally, there might be some actual conditions that inspired the "weakness syndrome" since Japanese did have a lot of sick people for a long time in certain areas. Having been a country that's been devastated twice by an atomic bomb, the effects of radiation exposure was not well researched or documented back then by scientists, so a lot of the long-term from direct and indirect radiation exposure side-effects like birth defects, leukemia, anemia, cancers, thyroid disease, liver and bone marrow degeneration, and overall severely compromised immune systems, might have been attributed to other things.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-02-01T05:17:57.430Z
+1 for the WWII analysis of the physical and psychological impact on Nipponjin.
Sp0T
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-02-01T01:47:25.510Z
2014-02-01T01:47:25.510Z
кяαzєя
<p>In anime when a character is chronically sick, they are said to have a "weak body".</p>

<p>The first and most obvious example that comes to my mind is Clannad, but I've seen this in other animes as well.</p>

<p>Is this something out of japanese culture? Or maybe a quirk of translation? </p>

<p>Maybe I'm looking too far into it and it's really just a plot device, and nobody really cares about what the illness really is. </p>

<p>Thanks to those who reply!</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-31T21:11:57.303Z
I've assumed that, since the Japanese are a very polite people in general, asking about ones illness is considered rude and/or too personal. I don't think it is just a plot device in the sense that nobody cares.
Deathspike
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-31T22:55:41.313Z
I had always assumed that having chronic illness makes you weak in a sense.  I don't even think it's a cultural thing; it's just what illnesses are
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<tropes><culture>
Why do sick anime characters often are said to have a "weak body"?
# Why do sick anime characters often are said to have a "weak body"?
Posted by: username_0 on 2014-01-31
In anime when a character is chronically sick, they are said to have a "weak body".

The first and most obvious example that comes to my mind is Clannad, but I've seen this in other animes as well.

Is this something out of japanese culture? Or maybe a quirk of translation?

Maybe I'm looking too far into it and it's really just a plot device, and nobody really cares about what the illness really is.

Thanks to those who reply!
**Tags:** tropes culture
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I've assumed that, since the Japanese are a very polite people in general, asking about ones illness is considered rude and/or too personal. I don't think it is just a plot device in the sense that nobody cares.  
> **username_2**: I had always assumed that having chronic illness makes you weak in a sense.  I don't even think it's a cultural thing; it's just what illnesses are  
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## 1 answers
### Answer by username_3 on 2014-02-01. Score: 8 | Accepted answer
It's more than likely that this so-called mysterious "weakness syndrome" is really just as a plot device to drive the story/characters along. This particular aim to draw sympathies to the particular character and is more often than not, a popular way to have character die before their time, if that's what the story demands.

So why is this mysterious weakness trope so popular, you ask? Why not always using a real illness? Typically it's because this "weakness" is a "clean" and "cute" illness, when compared to actual chronic medical conditions. Even in its lethal form the symptoms are: you are weak, you're getting weaker, you die. (coughing up blood every now and then is optional)

In contrast, an actual conditions like stomach cancer on the other hand is not "cute" at all. As soon as you specify a real-life disease/conditions a lot of questions pop up, something that might shift the perspective away from the tragic fate of a character.

Additionally, there might be some actual conditions that inspired the "weakness syndrome" since Japanese did have a lot of sick people for a long time in certain areas. Having been a country that's been devastated twice by an atomic bomb, the effects of radiation exposure was not well researched or documented back then by scientists, so a lot of the long-term from direct and indirect radiation exposure side-effects like birth defects, leukemia, anemia, cancers, thyroid disease, liver and bone marrow degeneration, and overall severely compromised immune systems, might have been attributed to other things.
> **Comments:**
> **username_4** (2014-02-01): +1 for the WWII analysis of the physical and psychological impact on Nipponjin.  
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