Is Osaka from "Azumanga Daioh" an Aspie?

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i disagree. if anyone has Attention Deficit Disorder, it's gotta be Tomo.

i definitely think Osaka is an Aspie, or at least has some form of High-Functioning Autism. her ability to put together complex things like riddles and obscure kanji so quickly and insightfully while being unable to function doing simple things is too much of a telltale sign. also, watch her try to stack boxes during the stuffed animal cafe episode and tell me she's not an Aspie. not to mention how she acts is pretty much how i acted in high school (anybody else?).

the argument for Sakaki being an Aspie is new though, and i can definitely see why people would think that. seems most of the Azumanga girls run a gamut of interesting mental states don't they? Osaka and Sakaki are Aspies, Tomo has ADD, Chiyo is a prodigy, and Yukari...well, ADD crossing over into malignant narcissism?

I take it being physically adept means that you think we aren't? Well I admit that I wasn't for the longest time, but at some point I became obsessed with the movement of the body while jogging and how it differs from walking, I would jog and work out repeatedly just to watch the motions. Of course the physical adeptness I have now was probably caused by that obsession which lasted for about 2 years but well anyways, muscles can be trained through repetitive physical actions, also being able to type fast would also be a type of physical adeptness, does the word dexterity come to mind? You have to have some kind of physical dextery, i.e. physical adeptness just to type with the home row keys.

The obsession was based on inertia, kinetic energy etc.

Speaking of that stuffed animal cafe episode, it contained yet ANOTHER Osaka moment that is 100% Aspie...when there was a big panic in the setting up of the cafe, Chiyo, who was in charge said "Oooh! Can't we please turn back the clock?"

And Osaka....wow....she took a chair, walked to the blackboard, stood on the chair...and tried to reach the clock to turn it back! Literal minded thinking...a classic Aspie trait!

I found it! The clip from "Azumanga" that proves to me that Osaka indeed has Asperger's Syndrome...

"Osaka and the Flour"

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGifmXoVH24&feature=channel_page[/youtube]

She's weird, but I love her.

Usagi1992

That could be the case as wanting to have fatial stimulation stimulation, wich I know I might do some odd things to get simular stimulation. Osaka is cool, I have actualy been watching the show, and Osaka is one of my favirouts, didn't realy think about it till now that any of the characters might be, but I guess for one certain things like just looking at the enviroment, in places like class rooms is something familiar.

Also Osaka can get a bit obsessed about certain things, kind of like the bread eating race, and she is also seen getting totaly confused by choice and can not make up her mind, it is said that she is realy clumsy. Also something about comeing into a conversation and bringing in something related to the topic on her mind bu not totaly relevtn sounds familiar. Also she does something on impulse and make certain small mistakes, which I think is something conected (point proven with this pic).

And now, here's a Sakaki moment which is also equally Aspie to me.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lk1b9XDo0Dw&feature=channel_page[/youtube]

That is just SO me...feeling like I'm being backed into a corner and giving apologies that are unnecessary, even though the other person is just kidding around with me.

That reminded me of this pic:

To quote Queequeg from "Moby Dick" (1956), "True true!"

Usagi1992

I found the forum because of this topic. I was searching for a profile of Osaka.
Very interesting discussion!
And I have to agree with both theories. Sakaki and Osaka could be Aspies, they're just having different kind of symptomes.
Sakaki as the quite introverted person who probably wants to get more friends... but can't, somehow.
But easily gets in touch with animals.

And Osaka because... well, most of you explained it very well.

Just watched the first episode and the girl who tries to compete with everyone is just dont a good character but I love how now osakas nickname is osaka just because she was born there and because of all the stereotypes.

It is an ausome series, characters change a small bit, Osaka becomes even more airy fairy. and Tomo becomes less competitive but continues to play jokes on her friends, copy work and generaly becomes very funny, who does certain things on impulse, and Yukari becomes one of the funniest worst teacher in anime.

*huggles* Welcome to the forum, Wolfen. I'm pleased that my humble little thread was what lead you to here. ^_^

And you're certainly right about the animals assumption. Yes, Sakaki is certainly more comfortable around animals then fellow human beings. But it's really too bad that the animals she loves most seem to hate her.

I posted this on YouTube a few months ago, but didn't add it here because I thought interest in this thread died several months ago. Consider this my thank you for bringing this discussion back to life. ^_^

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mweBk7sft0Y[/youtube]

Like I said in the video, poor Sakaki...

Usagi1992

Talking about Sakaki what about the parts where she has moved things that have cats on it closer to each other or being next to each other. This could be conected as makeing things have a particular order.

Interesting topic! I agree that both Osaka and Sakaki are aspie-like, but I've always felt a strong connection with Sakaki. I'm also very introverted, daydream a lot, feel more connection to animals than people, am often side-tracked by cute animals I see that no one else notices, and sometimes come across as intimidating because of my demeanor.

I remember one episode where Kaorin wanted to invite Sakaki to the astronomy club, but when she started to mention it she was intimidated by Sakaki's deadpan expression and took it to mean disinterest, so she said 'never mind' and hurried off. Sakaki then looked away sadly and thought I wish she invited me. That is just like me, people always misread me DX Clearly she is interested in having friends and social connections, but has a hard time with it.

Damn...you took the words right out of my mouth, and phrased it better then I could. Yes, that scene kinda made me sad a little...All Sakaki wants is to be socially accepted, but people tend to stay away from her, either because she's the 'queen of cool' or that she comes off as intimidating, which frankly, she sees herself as *neither*.

But even so, she DOES have one noticeable moment when she opens up and trusts somebody: a few hours after being caught red-handed while playing with Yamamayaa (her Iriomote wildcat) and finally showing her happiness in a VERY extroverted way (lol), she confides to Chiyo-chan that not only does she love animals..."I love cute things." (!) That, and when Chiyo says she very clearly saw Sakaki rolling around with Mayaa and grinning like an idiot, but saw that as very cute, notice that Sakaki didn't say "You...saw that?" She said "You...think so?" Just the simple fact that Sakaki worded it like that is proof that she trusts Chiyo-chan very much, and sees her as a kindred spirit.

So ironic, huh? Chiyo-chan covets Sakaki's size and sense of coolness, and Sakaki covets Chiyo-chan's cuteness and smaller size. Kindred spirits indeed. ^_^

Usagi1992