Otaku
"Otaku" is a Japanese term that refers to individuals with a passionate enthusiasm for specific aspects of popular culture, particularly Japanese animation (anime), manga, and video games. The connotation of the term varies significantly between Japan and other countries, such as the United States. In Japan, "otaku" has historically carried negative implications, often associated with obsessive behavior that leads to social isolation and neglect of other life aspects. This perspective was notably influenced by a critical essay in the 1980s that linked the term to social outcasts.
In contrast, in the U.S. and elsewhere, "otaku" has evolved to be a more benign label, akin to "geek" or "nerd," celebrating the dedication and passion of fans rather than viewing them as deviants. The popularity of Japanese pop culture surged globally in the 1990s, further shifting the perception of otaku as a dedicated fan community. While some negative stereotypes persist in Japan, particularly regarding personal hygiene and social engagement, the term is increasingly embraced by fans around the world. Today, "otaku" is becoming associated with a broader appreciation for contemporary Japanese visual arts, as conventions, merchandise, and cultural exchanges flourish. As the landscape of Japanese pop culture continues to evolve, the stigma attached to being an otaku is gradually diminishing, paving the way for a more positive recognition of passionate fandom.
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Otaku
Otaku is a Japanese word used to refer to someone who is a passionate fan of something. The word has different implications in Japan and in the United States. In Japan, it refers to someone who has an obsessive passion about Japanese animation, video games, or something else in popular culture, to the exclusion of other social activities. It is often seen in a negative light. In the United States and elsewhere, it refers to someone who is an enthusiast of one or more aspects of Japanese popular culture and is not seen as a negative label.
Background
In Japanese, the word otaku comes from an extremely polite form of the pronoun "you." Members of Japanese fan clubs of popular culture trends such as manga and anime—distinctive forms of Japanese animation—and video gaming used the term as a respectful way to refer to each other as these trends grew in popularity in the 1980s. In 1983, columnist Nakamori Akio wrote an essay, titled "This City Is Full of Otaku," for the magazine Manga Burikko.
He wrote the critical essay about these practices after attending a convention in Tokyo that featured many Japanese enthusiasts of these trends. Instead of its usual respectful connotations, Akio applied the word otaku in a negative and sarcastic way to the way fans of Japanese animation who were so focused on it that they ignored other social aspects of life. He likened them to social outcasts who are never really up-to-date with real trends. Akio also included a number of other fan groups in the otaku label, including fans of science fiction and those who have obsessive interests in pop stars or any other aspect of popular culture.
Overview
The word adapted by Akio gained widespread use as a negative term for anyone who had an obsessive interest in any aspect of popular culture. It usually included the implication that those deemed to be otaku were so fanatical in their pursuit of anime, manga, or video gaming that it occupied all their time, energy, and money. In time, the word was also applied to those with an interest in other aspects of Japanese culture, such as costumed role playing, or cosplay, and fascination with certain brands of Japanese merchandise, such as Hello Kitty.
The negative connotations of otaku grew deeper in 1989 after a series of four murders of young girls. The man arrested for the crimes, Tsutomu Miyazaki, had deformed hands that made him a subject of ridicule and resulted in him being a loner for most of his life. He was a fan of a pornographic form of anime and of horror movies, and many of these art forms were found in his home, along with graphic photos of his young victims. The Japanese media dubbed him "the Otaku murderer." The crimes and Miyazaki's trial prompted outcry against anime, horror films, and other interests held by Miyazaki that were blamed in part for the crimes. The term otaku became deeply associated with the isolated, perverted lifestyle he led.
The 1990s brought widespread interest in Japanese popular culture as video games exploded in popularity. People around the world became fascinated with game systems and characters that originated in Japan, such as Sailor Moon, Nintendo characters like Super Mario, and Pokémon. Along with this came an interest in other forms of Japanese animation, such as anime and manga, along with cosplay, fan fiction, and other forms of Japanese pop culture. The word otaku came along with the interests. However, it lost its negative connotations as it traveled. Instead, the word came to mean something closer to "geek" or "nerd" and was applied in an almost affectionate way. Instead of implying that those with a passionate interest in and knowledge of anime, manga, and other Japanese popular art forms are different to the point of being strange or deviant, otaku in America is another way of saying someone is an extremely dedicated fan.
Some of the negative stigma remains in Japan, where Japanese otaku are often still seen as outcasts who ignore other aspects of life, including possibly their appearance and hygiene. However, otaku from other countries are actively sought by Japanese markets and tourism agencies. They promote merchandise, museums, and other means of capturing the money international enthusiasts of Japanese culture are willing to spend on their interests.
Japanese businesses also continue to market anime, manga, and other similar items to the Japanese public. Conventions where fans can meet and greet one another, the creators of their favorite characters, and costumed versions of those characters continue to be popular. Magazines and online publications share information, and stores exist that are dedicated to merchandise related to these trends, including stores that specialize in wigs, costumes, and other needs for those who want to dress up and role-play as their favorite anime, manga, or video game character.
As a result, otaku has lost some of its former stigma in Japan as well. The word is becoming more associated with the unique style of contemporary Japanese visual arts that are part of these popular trends as opposed to a counterculture with more negative aspects than good. Some of the stereotypes about otaku are fading as the characters and art forms enjoyed by them gain more widespread appeal. Some experts believe that within a few years, people in Japan will be able to call themselves otaku and mean fan, just as those who enjoy Japanese-style comics, movies, and games do in other countries.
Bibliography
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