Menhera Info (TLDR VERSION)

Please read the full version if you are interested in learning more. This is a TLDR version for people who are not particularly invested in menhera, but may have a few questions.

What is menhera?

Menhera is primarily an internet slang term to connect people who seek mental wellbeing. It is also a subculture centered around a certain style of vent art as well as fashion featuring it.

How did it start?

It originated from the mental health board on 2channel around 2001, meaning "mental healther".

What is menhera fashion?

Menhera fashion is comfortable fashion that has a theme of mental health, featuring some kind of vent print. While the guidelines are loose, note that wearing anything triggering in public or overly costumey is frowned upon in menhera fashion.

What is menhera art?

Menhera art generally refers to cute vent art. Though, this can be subjective.

Doesn't menhera romanticize serious topics?

The point of menhera art and fashion is to express negative feelings outwardly in order to prevent them from becoming worse. Making them cute can be comforting. It is basically a way to cope, lessen harm, and sometimes spread awareness.

Menhera, yamikawaii, yumekawaii, what's the difference?

Yamikawaii and yumekawaii are primarily aesthetics (that are also occasionally considered fashions). Menhera fashion and visuals easily fit these two aesthetics, so they are often used to describe it. Think of it like this:
Pastel colored menhera: yumekawaii (dreamy cute)
Dark colored menhera: yamikawaii (sick cute)

Do you have to wear menhera fashion to be considered menhera?

No, anyone can call themselves menhera! Many other fashions are popular within the subculture.

Do you have to be mentally ill to be menhera?

Nope! For some people, menhera is about raising awareness of mental health. That is because menhera is not about mental illness, it is about mental health.

What's the difference between jirai-kei and menhera?

To put it simply, as subcultures, menhera is pro recovery (towards oneself and others), while jirai-kei is neutral to anti recovery (primarily towards oneself).
Jirai-kei began as an insult ("landmine type") and was later adopted in a self deprecating manner, while menhera began as something positive that later became an insult.
Menhera has it's own fashion that was born from it, while jirai-kei adopts pre-existing fashions as they trend. Many of those fashions are also popular among menhera, but some people dislike being called jirai-kei, so please be mindful.

So, menhera is an insult?

Not originally, but it became an insult later on primarily for women who are crazy and troublesome (especially the term "menhera-kei", which should be avoided). The subculture, along with the art and fashion, is considered separate from that.

Hasn't menhera been reclaimed though?

To be reclaimed, menhera would have needed to start out as an insult. It started as a positive, self-identifying label, and for many it still is, so there is no need to "reclaim" it.

Who is Menhera-chan?

There are actually 3 main ones:

What is controversial about Ezaki Bisuko?

There is a lot... Here is the entire callout (original). However, he is most hated for filing a copyright for the term "yamikawaii" in order to turn it into his own thing and monetize it.

What kind of social media content can be considered menhera?

Here are the guidelines.
Posting triggering content such as pictures of self-harm, body checks, unmarked vents, or anything that encourages harm should be avoided.

The end! Please note that this is the TLDR version, so a lot was cut out and simplified. Please read the full version for more, including sources!