This is a word that originated on the internet.
The term itself spread and became widely recognized around 2005 on 2channel, and was originally a neologism coined by those who spent most of their time in online communities to self-deprecatingly express that their real-life lives were not fulfilling. It was originally called “real-life fulfilling group,” but by early 2006, it began to be used in its current form as “reaju.” By 2007, it ranked 21st in the “Internet Buzzword Awards,” and by 2011, it had become so widespread that it won the Gold Award in the “Mobile Phone Buzzword Awards for Female Middle and High School Students,” solidifying its status as a term in “gal language.”
Initially, having even one friend was enough to be considered “real fulfillment,” but as the number of internet users grew, the term came to be used in a broader sense, such as “having a boyfriend or girlfriend and socializing with friends,” “participating in club activities or drinking parties,” and “enjoying hobbies other than otaku interests.”
Explanation of the work
Japanese says “ri a ju”.
The first two letters are katakana abbreviations for “real.” The last letter is the first letter of the kanji for “fulfilling life.”
