INSiGHT | Otaku? Whotaku? A Look into the Japanese Sub-Culture

What Does Otaku Mean?

However, that is not what is going to get covered in this article. In this latest INSiGHT, what is going to get covered is the otaku culture that plays on the Western meaning of the word, which pretty much means someone who is obsessed (or 'enjoy' as some may prefer) Japanese culture. This is due to the fact that when the word got introduced over here it was almost exclusively used by 'nipponphilies' (or 'weeaboos' to use common tongue) and, therefore, the word got a positive meaning in those communities and a generally positive meaning overall.

What defines the otaku culture, then? Japanese pop culture, of course! Especially Manga and videogames are high profile objects in the Western otaku culture, but even to some degree music and live TV shows.

Common Stereotypes and Misunderstandings of the Otaku

1.) Otaku are workless people with no live, staying in their parents' basement

This must be the most common stereotype about the otaku community, and it is most likely because the Japanese word otaku is used pretty much in this way, and a lot of the more "well-known" otaku here in the West are actually those with no life and most often living in their parents' basements and try to do nothing about it. This is because they are the only ones who are seen, though. Many readers will likely have passed by otaku on the streets without realising they are actually otaku, because most do not go around in full cosplay 24/7 and most do talk about other subjects with non-otaku. Simply go to any anime convention and ask around. Many will be surprised about how often the otaku have high level degrees and good, well paying jobs and are highly functioning individuals in society. Personally, at day I am at an IT company and do computer repairing and then on top of that I am a reviewer/article writer here at Cubed3 and politically active in my spare time and try to write short stories and poems whenever inspiration strikes. Therefore, it could be said that I do anything but nothing.

2.) Otaku have waifus and bodypillows and are perverts

This is another very common stereotype, once again implemented by the more infamous otaku on the Internet and the fact that many ironic pictures are posted online to fan the flames. While I personally have a character I consider my "waifu," the biggest part of the otaku group I know do not have that and some even frown upon it. This is, however, nothing too dissimilar to celebrity crushes that are pretty common even in mainstream media culture, and at least to me, my "waifu" is not someone I see as a sexual object, but rather a role model for how I want to be and someone I do identify with - rather like an idol, which, once again, is very common in mainstream culture. The only difference is that the character is fictional and that, therefore, there is seldom any stalking going on (as the character is fictional). The waifu serves pretty much the same role in otaku culture as idols and celebrity crushes in mainstream culture does.

3.) Otaku are over the top, always cosplaying and always wearing extremely outlandish clothes

This is a common misunderstanding as most of the time someone is seen as being an otaku when they do this. However, the lady at the office or the college teacher is seldom identified as an otaku in their daily life, even if they, indeed, are otaku and might even go to those very conventions and maybe even cosplay in their spare time. Personally, my everyday fashion is pretty much a black shirt, black jeans and maybe some cool accessories, or a suit if I have an important meeting. Pretty common clothing. At conventions, though, I do not hesitate to cosplay or dress up in over the top ways. Of course, some cosplay accessories and clothes can turn up when I hang around with friends, but in work and things like that, I follow the very same, if not stricter, clothing code as everyone else. Just like ordinary followers of other sub-cultures.

4.) Otaku are man-children

A common misunderstanding as otaku usually enjoy Manga and anime cartoons. The misunderstanding comes in since in Western culture most, if not all, cartoons are aimed at children, while over in Japan there are several popular genres aimed specifically towards adults. In Japan, cartoons are not something solely enjoyed by preteens in the same way as over here, and it is not quite as stigmatising to watch anime as a grown up as it is over here. Also, one quote worth keeping in mind when discussing the topic of childish things overall:

"Critics who treat 'adult' as a term of approval, instead of as a merely descriptive term, cannot be adult themselves. To be concerned about being grown up, to admire the grown up because it is grown up, to blush at the suspicion of being childish; these things are the marks of childhood and adolescence. And in childhood and adolescence they are, in moderation, healthy symptoms. Young things ought to want to grow. But to carry on into middle life or even into early manhood this concern about being adult is a mark of really arrested development. When I was ten, I read fairy tales in secret and would have been ashamed if I had been found doing so. Now that I am fifty I read them openly. When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up."
- C.C. Lewis.

5.) Otaku are social rejects

Once again, this stereotype comes from the Japanese meaning of the word, and some of the more infamous examples on the Internet do not help the situation. While it would be a lie to say that the otaku culture does not have very many people with social skills that are below average, it is nowhere as bad as the mainstream media wants it to look like. Most otaku can communicate with other people just fine and have the common sense to discuss things with people that have close to no interest on the subject something other than what anime girl is the hottest or how superior Japanese culture is to Western culture.

What is Hot and What is Not? The Factions and Diversity in the Otaku Subculture

Then there are those that know it all, be it all, that have read hundreds of Manga comics covering everything from mainstream Manga like Naruto, Death Note and Sailor Moon to some that here in the West are more obscure, such as Gamble Fish, When They Cry, Girl Friends, and other even more out-there ones that not even some of the more well-read otaku might know about. There are also those that play so many JRPGs that they can tell how the story will progress as they start up the game.

The easiest thing to do here to cover this subject is to split it up into some different factions/stereotypes to easier get an understanding of just how wide the otaku fandom truly is, even though usually there is a strong dislike to the use of stereotypification. Please, keep in mind that the paragraphs below are stereotypes used to get an understanding in different aspects of the otaku community and that is part of what makes it diverse and what decides what is popular and what is not in different otaku circles.

"The J-Gamer"

The one most likely to read this article, as it is on a gaming related site. The Gamer enjoys Japanese games and mostly JRPGs. Usually pretty obsessed with complexity in titles and enjoys deep numerical systems that JRPGs are well known for. Have played most known JRPG franchises out there and might have gone on to some pretty obscure ones, and might even import some. Might or might not read anime or Manga, and if that is the case, it is mostly the popular on-going ones like One Piece and Naruto.

"The Mainstream One"

It is hard to find any other name for this kind of otaku, the most common one to find. Usually enjoys a mix of different branches of Japanese culture, but usually only the recent and/or popular series and games. This is the typical Naruto and Kingdom Hearts fan. Might know a lot of these common anime shows and games, but seldom have much knowledge outside what is currently popular. This does not make them any less of an otaku and they might be a hardcore otaku and go to all the conventions and enjoy them to their fullest even if they are only watching what is popular.

"The Fashionista/Cosplayer"

The one into it for the clothes; might usually be a lolita, as it is the most well-known Japanese fashion branch outside of Japan, but might wear pretty ordinary clothes in their everyday life. This person usually enjoys many different aspects of the otaku culture in their hunt for inspiration for their next outfit. Might, to some otaku, not be considered a "real" otaku, and they might in rare cases not even consider themselves as otaku as they are "no geeks."

"The Fanboy"

The person who watched that one anime or played that one game and has been totally obsessed about it, often to the degree that the person consumes little to no other aspects of otaku culture. This person is usually within the mainstream part of the otaku culture, partly because of their fandom of that one series prevents them from digging deeper. However, they might very well have their fandom in one of the more obscure anime shows or games out there. This is pretty much that Naruto fanboy who learned Japanese just to re-read it in its mother language as well, and who bought "101 different ramen recipes" just because Naruto loves ramen and they want to live life just like that.

"The Hardcore Otaku"

It is hard to find another fitting name for this group, but they are by no means necessarily more hardcore than any other group mentioned and neither are they deeper into the fandom. They are the ones who have watched so many anime shows they cannot even keep track of them. They are the ones who play all the obscure JRPGs. They are also the ones most likely to go to conventions (well, maybe besides "The Mainstream One" and "The Fashionista/Cosplayer" if they are into role-play dressing). This is basically the alpha geek or, rather, the one who wants to see themselves as the alpha geek. Knows a lot about many shows and is most likely into many branches of otaku culture.

These are only some branches, and many more can be uncovered, but this should give a nice overview. What is popular now shifts heavily between these groups. To mainstream anime consumers, of course Naruto is on the top, while "The Hardcore Otaku" might strongly dislike the show as they usually have found a genre and style that is more their style, which is a show made to appeal to a wider audience. Also, the gamer might not even have watched that show, plus - of course - many people are mixes of these stereotypes/branches. Personally, I fall into a mix between most of them, so to answer the question about what is hot in the otaku sub-culture, it depends on the sub-sub-culture. No matter what is liked in Japanese media, there is likely going to be someone that thinks individually.

Conventions: The Place to Be

This is where the otaku lives out their fandom to its fullest and where many stereotypes come from. It is like a double life to some, though. The open and bubbly person you met there might very well be extremely introverted and reserved in their everyday life. It is, however, a magical place to be and something that is worth checking out for any otaku out there interested in meeting others who share their hobbies.

At the last convention I attended, I played some board games, went on a cosplay parade, sang some karaoke, entered a cosplay contest, and just went around and socialised with people, both those whom I knew and those I got to know, just to give an example of what it can be like and what there is to do there.

Normal Life, Otaku Life. The Everyday Life for Me!

After that, when I come home, what I do first is to sit down and read some of the latest news going on via Facebook and Cubed3, to keep updated. Then I watch an anime episode or two, and after that, if I have any reviews to do, I play or, alternatively, write the review if the game is finished.

On weekends I usually either hang out with some friends and/or my girlfriend, or sit at home catching up on the anime shows I follow and do some reviewing of games for Cubed3 - if I am not going to a convention or something like that.

So while I am an otaku, my life does not differ much from "normal" people's lives, except that I mainly consume Japanese media instead of Western media and am quite obsessed about it, to say the least. Other than that, I, and most other otaku, lead normal everyday lives, just like everyone else. Of course, with some differences, just like for everyone else.