Have you heard of the expression Otaku? Do you know its true meaning? How did this term come about? In this article, we will conduct a deep analysis of the word Otaku and the people who have earned this nickname both in the West and in Japan. We will also look at the influence of the otaku community in Japan and the West.
The word Otaku [オタク] is a Japanese term used to refer to people who are addicted to something. Over time, this word began to be frequently used to refer to fans of anime, manga, novels, and games. Get ready to dive into the true meaning of Otaku; to help, we will provide a summary below:
What about those addicted to Japanese or Korean culture? Those obsessed with Japan are called Weeaboo. Those addicted to Korea and K-POP are referred to as the Hallyu phenomenon.
We recommend reading:
- What does weeaboo mean? Don’t be a weeaboo!
- Hallyu – The Korean Wave phenomenon
- 450 Anime Character Names with Meanings
Table of Contents
The Meaning of the Word Otaku
Originally, the word otaku (お宅) was a respectful treatment (sonkeigo) used in the second person to refer to your home, house, person, or family. This word has also been used to refer to a husband and organizations.
Example: I will call your house tomorrow
明日お宅に伺います Ashita otaku ni ukagaimasu
The ideogram of the original word is Taku [宅], which literally means house. Over time, this word began to be used negatively to refer to people who stay at home watching anime, playing, browsing the internet, etc.
Otaku is one of the main Japanese alternatives to the words Geek and Nerd, but it is more pejorative. In the dictionary, it is described as a person with a deep interest in certain hobbies but lacking knowledge and sociability in other fields.
Otaku can also be used as a suffix for people who enjoy a particular hobby, for example: Tetsudou-otaku [鉄道オタク], which means something like train (railway) addict, or Mekaotaku [メカオタク], which means addicted to Mecha.
Also read: Mecha – Anime of Giant Robots – Origin and Curiosities
The Origin of the Word Otaku
In the 1980s, Akio Nakamori and other prominent authors began using the honorific otaku to refer to criminals and murderers in series, addicted to anime, hentais, and things of that sort. And since the Japanese are superstitious, they stopped using this word in everyday life, thus becoming a bad word.
Over time, this word began to be used to refer to people with obsessions for something. Not just anime and manga, but anything, cars, soccer, games, computers, etc.
Suppose someone likes soccer, has team jerseys, idolizes the team, is present at all games, puts soccer first in life. They can be called an otaku.
In Japan, it is possible to find thousands of people addicted to anime and games, who are considered otaku, and they take this lifestyle seriously, cosplaying, spending money on products, living a normal and fun life, doing what they love.
Why Are Otakus Excluded from Society?
In 1989, the murder of a young woman in the Saitama region was sensationalized; since the criminal was a collector of videos, the whole case was amplified, distorted, and publicized in the media, labeling the name otaku as a dangerous person who commits crimes.
The negative campaign was done in grand style. To this day, people judge otakus because of the media’s influence in that incident. Of course, this is not the only reason some otakus are despised both in Japan and in the West.
The media blames otakus for Japan’s declining birthrate. Japanese TV often claims that otakus do not want real relationships and are quite antisocial and Hikikomori.
Also read:
- Birthrate in Japan – How many children do Japanese people usually have?
- Do you know what a Hikikomori or NEET is?
- Do you know what lolita, loli, or lolicon means?
Another criticism against otakus is the enormous consumption of erotic content in comics, games, and animations, where tentacles, loli, and others can be found. Yes, I have found several articles on Brazilian sites that talk about this subject. Japan is one of the countries that consumes the most material of this type, and more than half are animations.
People in the West also tend to blame anime and games for various problems in Japan and in the Otaku community in the West. Few realize that the problem is not in the animations and games but in the addiction.
A person can be addicted to anything like movies, series, and books. Otaku is even used to refer to any type of person addicted to something like cars, toys, trains, computers, etc.
Why Is This Thinking Wrong?
The problem is that not every Otaku is antisocial; they tend to relate, live a normal life, work, and have other dreams. The fact that a person is addicted to something should not necessarily be bad.
In Brazil, many are addicted to something; some live in the gym, others live drinking, many choose different priorities in their lives and have fun with what they like. The fact that a person likes something does not determine their behavior.
Japanese people are shy and antisocial by nature; the culture of the country pressures society to follow rules strictly. Many end up becoming not only otakus but also hikikomori NEETs, who are isolated young people living trapped inside their homes.
Otaku in the West
In the West, the word does not have the same connotation as in Japan. Here, it is usually used only to identify people who like anime. Otaku in Brazil also tend to use the expression Otome to refer to women who are anime fans, but it is worth remembering that otaku is not a masculine word, but rather unisex.
The number of otakus outside Japan is increasing significantly. The population in the West is neither prepared nor accustomed to these types of people who call themselves otaku; they do not understand the reason for dressing up and liking this type of animation. Something understandable, since even today comic book fans are labeled as nerds and criticized for dressing up.
Otaku are criticized in the West due to the prejudice of thinking that animations are for children or are childish. They do not know the depth of a story written by Japanese people and do not realize that animation is just a style of art, just like manga.
Others think that animes are crazy, full of powers, witchcraft, porn, clichés, etc. They forget that there are genres and that animes are created based on Japanese culture, made for Japanese people who think and lead a lifestyle different from Westerners. Otaku in the West also tend to admire and like Japanese culture.
What Does It Involve to Be an Otaku?
For a person to become an Otaku, it is enough to become addicted to something and prioritize it in their life. Of course, both in the West and in Japan, the term Otaku began to be used for people who have similar tastes. 99% of Otaku will probably like at least 5 things from the list below:
- Animes – Japanese animations;
- Mangas – Japanese comics;
- Light Novels – Romance books;
- Visual Novels – Relationship, romance, and conversation games;
- RPGs – Role-playing games;
- Cosplay – Character costumes;
- Japanese music – Mainly from anime;
- OST – Background music from anime;
- Action Figures – Action figures of characters;
- Games – All kinds of games in general;
- Japan – Foreign otaku appreciate Japanese culture;
- Series – Otaku also watch series;
- Computers – Most live on computers;
- Maid Café – Maid cafes;
- Cosplay Café – Themed cafes;
- Cats – It is rare for someone not to like cats; some even dress up;
- Moe – Cute things, cuteness from anime and characters;
- Cute things – Stuffed animals, hats, character toys;
- Weapons and accessories – shuriken, Katana, etc.;
- Eroge – erotic games and visual novels;
- Hentai/Yaoi/Yuri (erotic animations);
- Doramas – Japanese dramas/series/soap operas;
- Dakimakura – Body pillows with prints;
- Itasha – Cars with prints;
- Cards – Collect anime cards;
- Nico Nico – The YouTube for otaku;
- Akihabara – The center of otaku in Japan;
- Waifu – Most otakus have a waifu;
This list even shows some things considered questionable. The point we want to make is that watching anime does not make you an otaku. There are crazy otakus, and they have problems, but it is a subject that should be understood and respected.
Getting to Know Otaku Life
I recommend some animations and mangas that portray the life of an otaku or something related; I will leave a list here:
- Ore no Imōto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai
- Shirobako
- Renai Shimasen ka? (Manga)
- Genshiken
- Seitokai no Ichizon
- Steins;Gate
- Danna ga Nani wo Itteiru ka Wakaranai Ken
- Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu
By watching the animes or mangas mentioned above, you can understand a little more about the life of an otaku and how interesting it can be. Of course, there are crazy people obsessed with hobbies like in the video below. Be careful not to become one of them.
What Do I Think About Otakus?
We come to the conclusion that otaku cannot be called lazy, antisocial, or a virgin for spending time buying products, cosplaying, and watching anime. Many people do this and have their jobs, responsibilities, and social lives.
There are extremely crazy otakus, but we cannot base our criticisms solely on them. Otaku is a word that refers to people who really like something. Everyone has a passion; this is normal, as long as they have control, something that Japanese people do not usually have.
Personal Opinion: Well, I’m Kevin, and in a way, I don’t consider myself an otaku. I like anime, have figures, manga, and go to events. I have stayed in Akihabara and have been to a Maid Café.
Also read:
I appreciate some Japanese otakus, but I also question most of them; I think they go overboard. However, if I had money, my room would be full of figures, posters, video games, etc. That doesn’t mean I will stop having a social life.
Otome – The Feminine of Otaku?
Many Otaku mistakenly associate the term Otome as a feminine version of otaku. In Japan, the word Otome [乙女] actually means “maiden,” in the context of a pure and virgin girl, nothing related to the word otaku.
Some Western Otakus claim that this term originated from a street called “Otome Road” in Tokyo, where there were several stores selling products aimed at Otaku, but it was predominantly for girls.
Although Otome refers to girl anime fans in the West, it is worth remembering that in Japan the word Otaku is unisex. To understand more, read our article below:
We recommend reading: Otome is not the feminine of Otaku! How did the term originate?
Videos About Otaku
To conclude the article, I will leave some videos talking more about this meaning. I hope you enjoyed the article. If you liked it, share it with friends and leave your comments. In your opinion, what does it mean to be an Otaku?
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