An Analysis of Aimai Behavior in Meiko’s Character in the Film Solanin (2010), Adapted from Inio Asano’s Manga

Abstract

The film Solanin, adapted from a manga by Inio Asano, portrays the lives of young adults inJapan, characterized by uncertainty, identity exploration, and complex emotional dynamics. Oneconcept that can be used to understand this complexity is aimai, which refers to the tendency to expressmeaning indirectly, ambiguously, and contextually in both communication and behavior. This studyaims to identify and describe the forms of aimai behavior and to analyze the factors underlying itsoccurrence in the character Meiko in Solanin (2010). This research employs a descriptive qualitativemethod, with data collected through documentation of the character’s dialogues and behaviors in thefilm. The analysis applies an analytical framework that categorizes aimai into four interrelateddimensions: linguistic, behavioral, emotional, and moral-social. The focus of this study is to examinehow these forms of aimai are manifested in Meiko’s interactions, as well as to explore the factorsinfluencing their emergence within the context of Japanese social and cultural life. The findings indicatethat aimai functions not only as a linguistic phenomenon but also as a psychosocial and cultural strategyemployed by Meiko to cope with life pressures, maintain social relationships, and navigate tensionsbetween personal needs and social expectations. Factors such as uncertainty in determining lifedirection, social pressure as a young adult, and Japanese cultural values—such as wa, enryo, uchi–soto,and honne–tatemae—contribute to the emergence of aimai behavior. This study contributes to thedevelopment of aimai research by offering a film-based perspective and by enriching the understandingof the relationship between ambiguous communication, identity formation, and emotional dynamics inJapanese culture.