Otaku culture is a craze which began in Japan but has since spread all across the globe!
In English, the Japanese word otaku is often translated as ‘geek’. Specifically, it’s usually used to mean someone obsessed with anime or manga.
But in Japanese, as we’ll learn, the meaning is a little more nuanced than that!
In Japan, being an otaku is a lot more normalised. To those of us in the west, it can be seen as quite unconventional.
In order to better understand this cultural phenomenon, we must first take a closer look into what an otaku is!
So whether you considered yourself an otaku or not, dive in and learn about this unique part of Japanese culture and language.
What is an otaku?
These days, the term otaku is used to refer to someone who is a superfan. Think someone who is obsessed with their hobby.
The initial image of an otaku that comes to mind is that of an anime/manga, video game or idol fan. Though, these days you can be an otaku of pretty much anything! There are even ‘Disney otaku’ and ‘Railway/train otaku’.
The word otaku derives from a version of the second-person pronoun (i.e. “you”!) in Japanese. It is a polite term which directly translates as ‘your house’.
When used as the polite pronoun it is spelled as お宅, whereas if you use it to mean ‘fan’ it is spelled in katakana, オタク.
The word was coined in the 1980s when anime began to gain more popularity. Though, it was used initially as a sort of sarcastic way to address obsessive anime fans.
The difference between otaku and an ordinary fan is that an otaku’s life is almost all-consumed by their interest(s). Their intense devotion is a lot like how young girls are often obsessed with boy groups.
However, an otaku’s obsession continues well into adulthood and it is often a lifelong commitment.
Timeline of otaku culture in Japan
Anime and manga’s significance in Japanese culture is undeniable. When the industry began to grow in the 60s, its fandom naturally grew with it.
With the introduction of computers in the home in the 1990s, it became super easy to become immersed in a community with fellow enthusiasts all across the world.
At first, anime series such as Astro Boy and Gundam grew popular in the 1960s and 1970s. In the 1980s, the first of many anime movies from the beloved Studio Ghibli collection was released.
However, it was the 1990s which saw the anime that is said to have solidified anime’s importance in Japanese culture. It is titled Neon Genesis Evangelion. The show dealt with novel themes in animated media such as trauma, personal identity and even religious ideas, all of which strongly resonated with viewers.
At this stage, in the 2000s first generation otaku, with their deep passion and knowledge of manga and anime had even begun to create their own shows. Otaku becoming creators had helped in shifting the negativity previously tied to the term.
At the time, shows such as Dragon Ball, Naruto and Pokémon were all the rage, with their dubbed versions being just as popular internationally.
So, it is true that otaku was originally used to refer to manga, anime and video game fans, and this is the image of otaku held by the western world. Though in today’s Japan there are so many more genres of otaku, from vocaloid pop star fans to military enthusiasts!
Otaku stereotypes
Over the years, otaku have dealt with a ton of negative characterization. From being perceived as a little strange to even being feared and seen as dangerous.
Otaku were already seen as outsiders of society during their rise in the 1980s as both anime and its fandom were new to the world and fan culture was not as understood as it is today. Their negative image was further sullied by infamous Japanese serial killer Tsutomu Miyazaki.
Without going into detail, he was an unsavoury character who took the lives of four young girls between 1988-1989. Upon his arrest and search of his home it was clear that he also happened to be an otaku, with an extensive collection of anime, manga and horror media. He was labelled ‘the otaku killer’.
His unspeakable acts seemed to single handedly cement the perception that otaku are perverted, have physiological issues and can even be criminals. As a result otaku became an even more derogatory and shameful term.
Luckily, the subculture has been breaking away from its negative implications as with the globalisation of anime and manga etc, there are now more otaku than ever! It is easier for today’s otaku to be loud and proud about their passions.
Despite the many stereotypes, there are plenty of self proclaimed otaku who are perfectly normal and functioning members of society, even famous celebrities who are outspoken about their niche obsessions such as rapper Megan Thee Stallion!
Otaku in society
Although some of the stereotypes of otaku are that they are nerdy, awkward and socially reclusive, these generalisations are of course not true of all otaku.
They may be seen as being bad at socialisation to a non-otaku, however, they may be simply in the wrong social environment. A super fan of an anime may very well act more social and expressive in a setting where other super fans are present.
There are communities (both online and offline) where otaku can find like-minded people and be comfortable to open up about what they know best.
This is part of the reason why comic book/anime conventions have been growing in popularity over the years! Fans gather at these conventions to see creators, experts and to meet fellow fans.
Many of these fans even dress up as their favourite characters. This is known as cosplay, which is short for ‘costume play’. The most popular conventions are Comic con which is held globally and Comiket which is held in Tokyo, Japan.
Akihabara in Tokyo is a district known as the ‘mecca for otaku’ or ‘otaku capital’. With its specialist shops and vibrant atmosphere, Akihabara is a hub for anime, manga, video game and electronics fans alike.
With millions of super fans both in Japan, and traveling from abroad just to visit Akihabara, otaku interests certainly rake in a lot of money for the Japanese economy!
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Hannah is a half Irish/half Japanese girl living in Ireland. Her love for Japan and the Japanese language led her to studying languages and translation in university where she specialised in Japanese. She spent a year studying abroad at Rikkyo University in Tokyo. In her free time, Hannah enjoys using her sewing machine to upcycle clothes and create new pieces!