Kemonā

right|thumb|A kemono character, exhibiting animal features such as a muzzle and fur right|thumb|368x368px|A kemonomimi character, exhibiting animal features only in the ears and tail Kemonā () is a Japanese subcultural term used to describe people who are fond of anthropomorphic animal characters, which are referred to as kemono (). These terms emerged during the late 1990s within the manga doujin culture, and they are sometimes claimed to have gained popularity when the term was used in the PlayStation 2 game .hack//G.U., released in 2000s. Interaction among kemonā initially revolved around doujin conventions, but with the proliferation of the Internet, the fandom has expanded to encompass various online art communities and social networking services. As per a 2013 article, the fandom has at least several thousand members.

== Definition  == In Japanese subcultures, human characters with animal features such as ears and tails are often created, but they are not considered to be kemono. Criteria for identifying kemono often include the presence of a muzzle on the face and an animal-like appearance of the body surface. According to researcher Inokuchi Tomohiro (), this is due to the recognition of "disconnection from humans" as a crucial factor that distinguishes between kemono and non-kemono. Inokuchi notes that while they are concerned with whether or not a character has a personality, they are rarely concerned with the amount of rationality or wildness within the personality. He then defines kemono as "an animal that is depicted as a non-human being, but with the potential for mutual understanding with humans."