What is a yandere?

A Yandere is a Japanese term used to describe a character, usually in anime or manga, who is initially sweet and kind but becomes obsessive and violent towards their romantic interest. Yandere characters are often portrayed as mentally unstable and have an intense love, sometimes to the point of becoming possessive and jealous. They can exhibit violent and often irrational behavior towards anyone they perceive as a threat to their relationship with their love interest, including physical harm or even murder. However, they often justify their actions as being done out of love and believe that they are protecting their romantic interest from harm or betrayal. Some famous Yandere characters include Yuno Gasai from the anime series Mirai Nikki and Kotonoha Katsura from the visual novel and anime School Days.