They say that fans of Bocchi the Rock! Stink

The long-awaited "Bocchi the Rock!" compilation film premiered this week in Japan, generating great anticipation among fans of the popular franchise. However, social media in Japan has been flooded with complaints about foul odor among performance attendees. Comments like

• "I went to the premiere of the Bocchi the Rock! as soon as possible, but it was midnight and there were many people. Some smelled awful, and the worst thing is that they even came up to try to talk to me."

• "I lined up to buy Bocchi the Rock! merchandise, but when I got to the escalators, the person in front of me sucked like shit," have gone viral, reflecting viewers' annoyance.

Another user commented, "The Bocchi the Rock! in the cinema it sucks like hell". These complaints have generated a debate about whether there really was a problem with the hygiene of the attendees or if Internet users are trying to replicate a similar situation that occurred recently with another anime film, that of "Uma Musume: Pretty Derby".

It is important to note that the otaku community in Japan has been stigmatized with the stereotype of "smelling bad" due to alleged precarious hygiene habits. This perception has led some establishments, such as collectible card shops, to restrict entry to customers who have a bad smell or even apply air freshening at the entrance. This stereotype, while widespread, doesn't represent all members of the community, but incidents like those reported at the premiere of "Bocchi the Rock!" stoke these kinds of debates.

Since its anime adaptation by CloverWorks in 2022, "Bocchi the Rock!" has become one of the most popular franchises of the moment. The story follows Hitori "Bocchi" Gotou, a lonely and socially anxious young woman who dreams of making friends and playing in a band. Dedicated to playing the guitar, one day she meets the outgoing drummer Nijika Ijichi, who invites her to join the Kessoku Band when their guitarist, Ikuyo Kita, runs away before her first show. Finding happiness in playing together, Bocchi and her bandmates put their hearts into improving as musicians while making the most of their fleeting high school days.

In conclusion, while the controversy over the bad smell at the premiere of "Bocchi the Rock!" continues to generate discussions online, there is no doubt that the franchise continues to capture the hearts of many, cementing itself as a significant cultural phenomenon in the anime and manga scene.

• "They must be lies to get some laughs on the Internet. In fact, there are a lot of good people within the otaku community."
• "The worst hour for otakus is usually in the middle of the night, and you can imagine why."
• "I think any hard-working person smells bad in the middle of the night, not everyone has time to bathe."
• "The people who posted those things sure smell worse."
• "Hmmm, I don't know whether to believe this. It really affects that something similar happened recently with Uma Musume."
• "Why is it so hard for otakus to take a bath?"
• "What the fuck happens to otakus who go to movie theaters while they carry their nauseating smell indoors?"
• "Yu Gi Oh! They are even worse because no air can circulate, as the cards could fly away. This is different in cinemas, since COVID-19 happened, they greatly improved air circulation inside the theaters."

Source: Yaraon!