The reality of otaku in Japan / 日本でオタクの本当

The Japanese have a very different viewpoint of the term otaku than we may be used to. In the West, due to the popularity of Japanese culture and all their awesome stuff, people usually self-define as otaku if they enjoy Japanese media, specifically manga or anime, even if such media are consumed in English through translations. However, in Japan, the term is much more derogatory and is almost akin to the term hikikomori (引きこもり, lit. shut-in).

The Japanese population portrays otaku with a negative image as a burden to society, and they are generally disliked and shunned. This term is used to classify a subgroup of people who have poor social skills, and stays indoor everyday playing games or watching anime, which gives them their analogous hikikomori name. Their only forms of communication are generally online through text boards and image boards (like 2ch) where they usually post anonymously. Some of them also do not work or study formally, giving them the classification of ニート (NEET: Not in Education, Employment, or Training). Japan has a major problem with NEETs right now, particularly in the 18-35 age group who still live off their parents, so it's no wonder why this sub-population known as otaku are looked down upon by society.

Boards such as 2ch are often filled with anonymous otaku posts and otaku-slang-filled content.

With Japan having a very respectful and traditional culture, going against the norm in Japan is considered strange by the majority, so certain otaku behavior may also give them a negative and weird image. Even foreign perspectives on modern Japan focuses on some of the more ecstatic behaviours that doesn't reflect the hard-working and serious population as a whole. A newer definition of the term otaku that some younger people use refers to those who are passionate about their hobbies, and are not afraid to show it off. It doesn't have to be disruptive or flashy, but their dedication to their hobby is clear. This is the definition that is most neutral, and can cover the most extreme examples as well as more subtle cases.

Many students in Japan enjoy media such as light novels without being considered otaku.

In the West, people have redefined what an otaku is. Instead of being shut-ins, otaku in the West are often simply lovers of anime and manga. Though, while one otaku may read or watch a handful of manga or anime, another may watch over 9000 episodes of anime per day (okay, maybe not quite that many). This behavior borders on that of a weeaboo (a slang term for a Japanophile). However, even in such cases, these otaku are rarely as secluded as Japanese otaku; while they may lack a significant social life, they usually attend school, have other commitments, or even somehow maintain a relationship.

Because of the positive light in which Western otaku portray themselves and other otaku, it is often seen as an exclusive “club” in which non-otaku are not welcomed, and are thusly treated as outsiders. People in this “club” will sometimes even go out of their way to buy anime-related merchandise (like figurines, posters, etc.), even if they aren’t really collectors, simply to keep their standing among other otaku.

The varying definitions of the term otaku result in a very different interpretation of our blog topic. Due to our roots, the topic we had in mind is skewed towards the Western definition, but it will be interesting to keep the Japanese definition in mind when researching more information about it while we are here in Japan.

The meaning of “otaku” / 「オタク」の意味

ようこそ！

This is our Senshu Otaku blog. While staying in Japan during the spring of 2014, we will be looking at various aspects of otaku culture and focusing on important words. Otaku is a term that goes all the way back to the 1980’s in Japan. It describes someone with a passionate or obsessive interest in something. Otaku of a similar mind often group together to discuss their interests. In this way, we have anime otaku, manga otaku, idol otaku, computer otaku, and even otaku interested in things such as trains, cars, cameras, and history. These grouping form the basis of otaku culture, and each group has its own slang and use of language.

Otaku are often portrayed in media such as anime and manga as well.

The term 「おたく」is derived from the word 「お宅」（おたく）, a formal term meaning “you” or “your home.” There are a few ideas about how the original word came into usage as a name for this group of people, which, in fact, is an interesting reflection of the various perspectives on おたく culture itself.

For example, some believe that the term refers to individuals identified as おたく typically remaining within their own home, and stems from a negative perspective of おたく that sees them as shut-ins. This type of perspective of おたく is unfortunately quite typical in mainstream Japanese culture.

However, the historical origin of the word appears to be different. The term 「お宅」was originally used among fans and members of clubs. There are a few explanations for this usage. One is that it was used at conventions out of respect for other individuals’ clubs. Another is that it was started by Macross creators Shoji Kawamore and Haruhiko Mikimoto; these two individuals attended the upper-class Keio University in the same years, and addressed one another with the more refined term 「お宅」 instead of 「あなた」. Fans caught on and began to use 「お宅」out of respect for these studio creators, and eventually towards one another. Yet another explanation is that fans used it in direct imitation of Hikaru Ichijoe, the main character of Macross, who used the term to address other characters.

Journalist Akio Nakamori was the first to use 「おたく」 as a label for this group of people in 1983 in his article 「街には『おたく』がいっぱい」 ("This City is Full of Otaku") and subsequent writings. The article portrayed a very negative stereotype of anime and manga fans at conventions, and the term 「おたく」 was chosen to reference their overly-formal usage of the word 「お宅」.

Sept. 2008 Location: Akihabara, Tokyo, Japan © Kalandrakas | www.jessleecuizon.com | CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

The plan for this blog will be to look into various aspects of おたく culture, and the type of language they use. Posts may focus on a certain term, the meaning of it, its origins, and how it reflects that particular おたく subculture. Some of the subcultures that we plan to focus on are the Idol Otakus, Anime Otakus, Cosplay Otakus, and what we call Western Otakus. However, because there are many more types, there may be additional coverage based on what we see once we are over there.

By exploring popular おたく areas such as 秋葉原 (Akihabara), maid cafes, idol concerts and the like and interviewing people, as well as using our previous knowledge, we will use this blog to explain those important parts of おたく culture!