I was watching trigun today and realized that in so many animes a character is missing an arm. Does any one know why this is so common in anime? I don't know much about Japanese culture or if that even has anything to do with it. All i know is almost every one i watch there is a character who for some reason has had an arm lobbed off.

Interesting...and i don't know the answer but that's an interesting observation.

LOL you know.. I've never paid attention to that. *adds this to EP's previous question of Japanese anime and cat ears, feathers, and eggs*

its been driving me crazy. I should google it but i just can't seem to navigate from dokuga. Im not sure why every time i try i end up reading or posting.

That is interesting! I never knew that. I don't really watch a lot of anime besides Inuyasha.

Nobo, if you find out, let me know. I love filling my brain with useless information.

(I'm not saying that to be sarcastic. I really do like useless information!)

SIgh so i got to google to figure it out. Found nothing even close.

jwz - Today in Japanese Amputee Sex Doll news

was the response i got....didnt help me at all by the way!

My guess is this...

Most warriors use a sword and a 'shield' of some type. In manga it is often the scabbard for the sword. One to protect, one to defend.

To cut off one arm of a adversary who is not your equal in skill is to cut off their ability to protect while leaving them the ability to defend themselves.

It would not be killing them in cold blood or leaving them helpless, both dishonorable things to do to a weaker opponent, but rather giving them a second chance to go and reflect on their foolishness that caused them to lose one arm in the first place.

It is a very visible symbol to all that you unwisely chose to battle against someone who was your better and they spanked you for your impudence.

Perhaps I have read too much into it, but as I said this is only my guess...

well for Sesshoumaru's missing arm since it's the left I believe it has to do with the significance of left/right handedness in samurai. If one uses their left hand for sword fighting they are seen as devious possibly even evil and out of balance. Right handed signifies being at peace. When in negotations they would always lay their swords down on the right sides as a sign that they wouldn't attack (since drawing from that side is difficult) but a left handed warrior could still draw from that side making them unpredictable.

In inuyasha I think it sort of signifies the beginning of Sesshoumaru's transformation and that's why he gets his arm back later. For the rest of the animes.. Ive noticed it too and I think it probably has similar reasoning, and some of what possessed said too.

Hope that helped.

ooooh good idea, such deep answers i love it

I dunno... in DBZ, I'm pretty sure lots of limbs come off. Maybe it's shock value? Or a "let's not kill them but do something really really bad besides maiming their no-no parts".