The Mystery of Yotsuba Nakano's "Garbage Bag": Why Does the Winner of "The Quintessential Quintuplets" Have This Nickname? Understanding the Fan Wars Through Memes

In the world of anime enthusiasts, few works have sparked such intense and lasting "faction wars" among fans as "The Quintessential Quintuplets." This story, revolving around the Nakano quintuplet sisters and the male protagonist Fuutarou Uesugi, had its biggest mystery—"Who is the bride?"—which, after being revealed, not only failed to quell the conflict but instead gave rise to many interesting internet cultural phenomena. Among them, the most intriguing and widely known is the fact that the ultimate winner, "Nakano Yotsuba," was given the peculiar nickname "garbage bag."

Where did this nickname come from? Why do the fans of the winner seem not to mind at all, even laughing it off? This article will delve into the origin of the internet meme "Nakano Yotsuba Garbage Bag" and the fan culture it represents.

I. The Origin of "Garbage Bag": A Piece of Clothing That Sparked a Visual Association

The most direct origin of this meme is actually very simple—it comes from one of Yotsuba's casual outfits in the original work. In certain scenes of the manga and anime, the energetic Yotsuba wears a loose green hooded jacket. Due to its oversized cut and specific color, some netizens joked that it looked like a tied-up green garbage bag.

Initially, this might have been just a harmless joke, similar to the nicknames given to many anime characters due to their unique designs. However, as the story progressed, this nickname took on a meaning far more complex than a mere description of appearance.

II. From Joke to Weapon: The Evolution of the Meme in the Faction War

The core appeal of "The Quintessential Quintuplets" lies in its "faction war" element, where fans support their favorite sister and hope she will become the final bride. When the ending was revealed, and Yotsuba—who had always played the role of the "little angel," quietly giving her all—emerged victorious, it caused huge waves in the fan community.

For fans who supported the other four sisters (Ichika, Nino, Miku, Itsuki), this ending brought a great sense of loss. Amid these complex emotions, the term "garbage bag" evolved from a joke about clothing into a tool for some fans to express their dissatisfaction. They felt that Yotsuba's victory was inadequately foreshadowed, or even that the author's arrangement was biased, so they used this derogatory nickname to attack the character, implying that her victory was "picked up" or "hollow." On forums like PTT, this nickname became a popular phrase for the losing faction to vent their emotions.

III. The Composure of the Victor: Why Do Yotsuba Fans Laugh It Off?

Interestingly, in response to the nickname "garbage bag," Yotsuba's fans (the Yotsuba faction) mostly remained quite calm, even happily making self-deprecating jokes. This reaction is primarily due to several reasons:

1. Confidence in Final Victory: Many Yotsuba fans believe that the character they support is already the ultimate winner, and these attacking nicknames are merely expressions of "sore losing" or the impotent rage of the defeated.
2. Embracing Meme Culture: In modern internet culture, turning a negative label into a humorous form of self-identification is a common phenomenon. Instead of being provoked, the Yotsuba faction turned "garbage bag" into an inside joke within their own circle, even feeling that "only the pros are called garbage bags," showcasing the maturity and humor of the fan community.
3. Shift in Focus: For them, arguing over the merits of a nickname is far less important than enjoying the fruits of victory. This "composure of the victor" allows them to face taunts from other fans with ease.

In summary, the meme "Nakano Yotsuba Garbage Bag" is an excellent example of how a visual joke evolved into a symbol of fan warfare. It not only reflects the immense emotional investment that "The Quintessential Quintuplets" stirred in its fans but also demonstrates how fan communities in the internet age create and deconstruct memes to express their positions, vent emotions, and ultimately form unique subcultural landscapes.

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