The subtle ambience of Akihabara / 秋葉原の雰囲気

Akihabara (秋葉原, shortened to Akiba or sometimes AKB) is a large district in Tokyo which has gotten the reputation of being home to both local and foreign otaku as well as average consumers of unique Japanese media. Of course, as legitimate gaikokujin, we had to explore it for ourselves. But Akihabara is not just a hub of self-labelled geeks and fans; rather, it's a common ground where people with unique interests can satisfy their inner love for their favorite media without being judged or berated.

In modern times, a lot of different kinds of people hang out in Akihabara. While there is a clear blend of both foreigners—many of whom self-identify as otaku—and Japanese natives, there's a lot more to it. Since Akihabara serves every kind of media from books to costumes, you can expect a different crowd on every corner!

Around two dozen Yu-Gi-Oh! fans play their hardest in the basement of an Akihabara trading card store.

Of course, contrary to what one might expect, most fans and avid enthusiasts do not stand out in a crowd. Every aisle of every store is populated with a few people at least, but to an average passer-by, nothing looks out of the ordinary.

Two ordinary manga fans check out their favorite section of an 8-floor media store.

Akihabara itself is destined to welcome otaku of every kind. Even foreigners can feel right at home, regardless of their interests!

This particular part of Akihabara draws gamers and technology enthusiasts alike.

As one might expect, however, most people in Akihabara keep to themselves, and their use of unique language is minimal in this crowded place. However, one unique trait does stand out: the majority of Japanese natives use an outstanding number of English loanwords when talking about locations and merchandise in Akihabara. Usage of 店 (みせ, "store, shop") and 〜屋 (〜や, "[something] shop") are minimal and the term ショップ is instead common. Another very common example is the use of the term コミック instead of 漫画 (まんが, "comic, cartoon"). As someone learning Japanese, you can get a lot of practice reading katakana and hearing English loanwords by simply wandering through Akihabara!

Akihabara hosts a wide variety of shops, as well.

Idol cafe?

Got it!

Cosplay shops?

Got those, too!

Manga shops?

Got 'em!

Game shops?

Even got those!

Arcades?

There's those too! But taking pictures within was not okey-dokey. Instead, please accept this artistic rendition!

Furthermore, though each of these stores may initially seem small, almost all of them extend upwards into multiple levels. It's like climbing the stairway into an infinite haven of your favourite hobby. If you plan on seriously going, it's probably best to take a full day.

Doesn't look like there are any maid cafes around... [Source: History of Akihabara]

But once upon a time, Akihabara was much different. Akiba no Hara was located by the Kanda river and thus could easily connect to Tokyo Bay. As such, it was a very convenient location for trade. Originally designated as a freight exclusive station, in 1925, passengers were also allowed access. Many wholesalers took up residence and the area transformed to a fruits and vegetables market. However, after Japan lost the war in 1945, Japanese radio technicians and electronic engineers returned from their stations abroad and began to collect in the area to sell electronics. Eventually, the range of goods sold grew to include "white goods" (such as fridges and dishwashers), then personal computers when they emerged, then music, then games. As such, it grew to be the electronic and pop culture marketplace it is today.

Of course, by this point my good readers have probably realized that "Akihabara" and "Akiba no Hara" are not the same word. So how did "Akihabara" come into usage? As far as my research tells, simply by mistake. Somewhere along the line of the areas development, 「あきばのはら」"Akiba no Hara" was miswritten as the very similar-looking「あきはばら」"Akihabara." Perhaps a certain language group might find that interesting. But I digress.

Akihabara has gone from a quaint field to a bustling and lively hotspot where people can come from all around the world to experience their favorite Japanese media. It will be fascinating to see where else Akihabara goes from here!

Training to be a Train Otaku / What is a 鉄道おたく?

A 電車おたく or 鉄道おたくis someone who is extremely enthusiastic about trains, often to the point of knowing numerous statistics and models such as top speed, maximum number of passengers, and the best place to take train pictures. Frequently 鉄道おたく gather at specific locations to take pictures of trains, either to keep, or to exchange with other otaku on otaku message boards like 2ch, pronounced にーちゃんねる.

鉄道, translating to "railway" is composed of the Kanji 鉄 (てつ) meaning "iron," and 道 (どう) meaning "way."

鉄 is the same kanji used to refer to iron content within the body, so a 鉄道おたくmight joke like "I have an iron deficiency because I haven't ridden a train for two weeks."

鉄道おたくare not solely found in Japan, and are called by different names in other countries. Some such names include "railway buff," "railfan," and "trainspotter" in countries such as Australia, America, and England.

Another example of a 鉄道おたくin another country who saw some internet fame is Jay Tan, a self-professed 鉄道おたく from Singapore. In 2011 upon the opening of the Circle Line, Jay Tan was one of the few individuals taking the first ride on the train early that Saturday morning. He was interviewed, and the video gained quite a bit of popularity on the internet.

"I am too excited, could not sleep last night. I want to board the first train."

Though not Japanese, Jay Tan is a prime example of a 鉄道おたく!

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!