ELEMENT: Asexuality (Canon and Headcanon)
A collection of characters in dramaland that are either confirmed as being on the asexual specutrum, or could be interpreted as such through their actions and dialogue.
Click here for my 2023 Ace Week posts!
Click here for links to StarryNight's 2023 Ace Week posts and more!
Key Terms:
Canon: Being explicitly confirmed by the source material or creator.
Headcanon: Being left open to interpretation by viewers and fans. Neither confirmed nor rejected by the source material.
Asexual: A sexuality spectrum that consists of feeling little to no sexual attraction to others. Not to be confused with romantic attraction, drive, libido, or overall pleasure.
Demisexual: A label under asexuality that describes not feeling any sexual attraction until a close personal and emotional bond is formed.
Grey Asexual: A label under asexuality that describes not feeling sexual attraction on regular/consistent occasion. "I'm asexual, till I'm not."
Aroace: Aromantic Asexual: An individual who feels little to no romantic and sexual attraction to others.
Allosexual: Individuals who do experience standard sexual attraction for others.
-
1. Duas Pessoas Que Não Podem se Apaixonar
Japanese Drama - 2022, 8 episodes
Canon: Takahashi (Male Lead) as Aroace
"You can understand sex without love, but you can’t understand love without sex?”
"People say 'you like being alone, don't you?' This troubles me because it's not true."
'It's just that why, at time like this, don't things end with recognition that 'such people exist' or 'such things also happen'?"
Canon: Kodama (Female Lead) as Aroace
"I thought I was lacking something as a human. That’s why the words Aromantic Asexual, no, your words, have saved me.”
"I recently came to realize that I might be an aromantic asexual. I've never understood the appeal of love or kissing or sex."
"I didn't know what to say when they asked who I liked. So I thought that, for the moment, I would just listen and laugh along. I did that all through elementary school, junior high, high school, university, and even after it too. 'You'll understand one day.' I had really believed in those words."
"I mean this is the first time that I am able to be myself without feeling gloomy at all. When I learned that there was a person like me, I was so so happy!"
Canon: Various guest appearances at an aro/ace convention
My Review (Spoiler Free)
-
2. 17,3 Sobre o amor
Japanese Drama - 2020, 9 episodes
Canon: Hara Tsumugi (Female Lead) as Aroace
"I think I might be asexual. It means I don't have romantic feelings for others... So far, I've never felt those feelings, and I don't think I will do so in the future."
“I am sick and tired of hearing you say ‘do you have a boyfriend?’ or ‘you’ll make a good wife.’ I can’t live up to the ideal life you wish for me.”
My Review (Spoiler Free)
-
3. Between Complete and Incomplete
Korean Movie - 2021
Canon: Minho (Male Lead) as Ace
"And I do have sex drive. I just don't really want other people involved."
Canon: Minho's bestfriend and her off-screen fiancé as Ace
"This is why I don't date allosexuals."
My Review (Spoiler Free)
-
5. Balangaw
Filipino Drama - 2020, 5 episodes
Canon: Tads (Male Lead) as Biromantic Asexual
"It is always his goal to break the stereotypes and myths about asexual people. They are just as normal and healthy as everyone else. They love, they desire, and they are also for romance whenever the right moment and person come along. Sex is just usually not part of them." (Source: CinemaBravo as quoted by Pinoy Boys Love)
-
6. Na Direção do Amor
Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes
Canon: Park Mae Yi (Supporting Character) as Asexual
"I'm not opposed to romance though. I cover a wide range on the spectrum."
-
7. Friend Zone 2: Dangerous Area
Thai Drama - 2020, 16 episodes
Canon: Amm (Female Lead) as Asexual
"I don't like to have sex. I don't feel it. I don't want to do it."
"It’s not you. This is all me. Other people are normal. When they’re in love, they want intimate activities with their loved ones. But I don’t feel that way. I have to force myself to have fun with it. I convince myself to do anything to please my partner. For me, a hug or gentle touch is enough. But I know couples must give more to their partners. And if I'm not capable of pleasing my partner, that person will leave me."
-
8. Raise de wa Chanto Shimasu
Japanese Drama - 2020, 12 episodes
Canon: Takasugi Ume (Female Lead) as Aroace
"The idea of being attractive to a three-dimensional man... just thinking about it makes my skin crawl."
"In other words, regardless of gender, love itself is impossible for me. Yes, it isn't for me."
"So, I've pretty much made up my mind to keep living alone, but I wanted to test the possibility that I might like women at least once, you know."
-
9. Cherry Magic!
Japanese Drama - 2020, 12 episodes
Canon: Fujisaki Nozomi (Supporting Character) as Aroace
*Although, the scriptwriter also provides fans with an "out" to interpret her otherwise."I like the way he casually said life isn't all about love. He probably wouldn't think much of it if I said I'm not that interested in romance either."
"I've gotten used to pretending to be normal."
Scriptwriter Erika Yoshida statements:
- 2022: "That's right. That work was based on the original work, so I can't say for certain, and the term "aromantic asexual" was never used. Maybe the person is not aware of it, maybe they are just not interested in romance, or maybe they just haven't met the person they want to have a romantic relationship with..." [Source]
- 2020: "But in this production, when I said I wanted to make Fujisaki-san asexual or aromantic, no one denied me. From that point onwards, I thought it was going to be a great production, and thanks to the quick okay given by the original manga artist, I was able to make this a reality." [Source]
- 2020: "In Japan, the words "asexual” and “aromantic” themselves are still not that widespread as compared to overseas, and I think there are people who are unable to definitively state that they are that way. For now, even if you think you have no interest in romance, it might be just because you haven’t met someone you can think that way about. That’s why I also understand the violence in doing this kind of labelling."[Source]
-
10. Oportunidade Colorida
Thai Drama - 2024, 12 episodes
Canon: Plakao (Supporting) as Asexual
-
11. Saneha Stories 4: Saneha Kap Cheewit
Thai Drama - 2022, 2 episodes
Canon?: Nine (Supporting Character) as Asexual
*I haven't watched this title yet
-
12. Freckles
Japanese Movie - 2022
Canon? - Female Lead as AroAce
*I haven't watched this title yet
-
13. Amor Por Acaso
Thai Drama - 2018, 14 episodes
Headcanon: Ae (Male Lead) as Demisexual
"Ai' Pond, do you think it's possible? That suddenly I got aroused?"
Headcanon: Cha'aim as Ace
"Pond, will you get sick of me for being too reserved?... My friends said I'm too reserved."
-
14. Erro Semântico
Korean Drama - 2022, 8 episodes
Headcanon: Chu Sangwoo (Male Lead) as Demi Aroace
"It was just a brief moment. If you stop getting close to me, [my heart will] get back to normal."
-
15. Minha confusão de amor!
Japanese Drama - 2021, 10 episodes
Headcanon: Ida Kousuke (Male Lead) as Grey Aroace
"I don't really understand what it means to 'like' and 'dislike' someone."
-
16. Porque Você É Meu Garoto
Thai Drama - 2018, 12 episodes
Headcanon: Mungkorn/Tee (Male Lead) as Asexual
"Do you think sex is necessary for people to be in love?"
-
17. Society Obsessed with Love
Korean Drama - 2018, 5 episodes
Headcanon: Han Sa Rang (Female Lead) as Aroace.
“In the past, I could not say ‘I don’t want to date someone’ very confidently. Because I felt something was lacking or was short of what everyone had. Now I feel different.”
My Review (Spoiler-Free)
-
18. Muse Does Not Drown
Japanese Movie - 2022
Headcanon: Kizaki Sakuko (Female Lead) as Asexual
"I've never had a crush on anyone. Not even once. That's weird, right? But you both know what it means to like someone like that, right?"