Otaku- it’s a term that I’ve been constantly hearing seeing, smelling, touching, and tasting (okay not so much smelling, touching or tasting but you get my point) It’s a term that has been thrown around like a pair of panties. Some people embrace being Otaku and others don’t want to be known as an Otaku.
Since I started my journey into anime and manga the word Otaku keeps buzzing around me like an annoying fly but the thing is I haven’t read or heard a definition that has squash this term once and for all. So I decided to take on a small investigation so I could better understand being an Otaku.
Well, I have to say I’m more confused. Apparently, like a lot of words that were created before my time – there have been some lengthy discussions in other blogs and forums on this topic. (And I am not one to reinvent the wheel so I’m not going to go into another debate or trace the origins of its meaning. I’ll just tell you what I discovered during my investigation & what I concluded).
Some feel that the word Otaku has a total different meaning then it did during its infancy. According to one forum participant being called an Otaku in Japan has a negative connotation (which instantly reminded me of the Lucky Star episode 10 when Minoru goes on about how a certain term has lost all its original meaning). And then there were others who felt people who consider themselves as Otaku think they are above everyone else (as an elite group of people – I’m not sure how someone can know what’s going on inside another person’s brain but whatever) then there were others who didn’t want anything to do with being an Otaku. They though it was too embarrassing to be known as an Otaku because they didn’t want to be associated with those “ultra-fans” who take their passion to a whole different and sometimes extreme level.
Interestingly enough, I didn’t read anyone in this forum stepping up and saying that they were an Otaku and were pride of it (maybe they were in hiding or maybe Otakus don’t visit these particular forums), So I then started searching for blogs created by individuals who consider themselves as Otaku and for them they love and totally embrace being an Otaku. In any group or category you place yourself in there will always be some that represent the group in a positive light and then there will be others who represent the group negatively.
So after going through the forums/blogs and reading the replies, like I said earlier, I was very confused and then I just said *uck it (excuse my French). Why do we have to have so many labels? It’s really just too much to keep up with. So I decided I’ll just use the KISS method (Keep It Simple Stupid). If you love being an Otaku great, if you don’t want anything to do with Otaku that’s great too but for me it’s the following:
Call me an anime fan. I just know what I love and I love watching anime, I love reading manga, I love collecting figures and I love showing off the latest button, shirt, patch or key chain I just received & I don’t care if others don’t get it (just like I don’t get the excitement of watching a boxing match or the ultimate fighting championship. It’s just not my thing but I’m not going to ridicule or condemn those who enjoy it because it has nothing to do with me so why would I waste my time or their time explaining why I don’t like it and why they shouldn’t like it.)
So for those who just do not get it and need a little help or for those who love to throw out labels (and do incorrectly) or for those who want to call themselves something – How about just saying I’m an Anime Fan (sports fans say it all the time)
I AM AN ANIME FAN -
We, Anime Fans come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and varies degrees of passion. Treat us as individuals but do realize that we are also part of something incredible and wonderful – something that those on the outside will never understand. So, accept us for who we are and move on with your life while we move on to the next anime, manga, game or whatever we please.
To my fellow anime fans, this is dedicated to you – continue being the awesome individuals that you are and always be true to yourself!
T.A.G. :heart:
