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You might think that this show is for children, but anime is excellent entertainment that Japan is proud of.
"Otaku" (JP) is a term for a character who is highly interested in a particular hobby or subculture, often to the point of being obsessed. The term initially referred to fans of anime and manga, but it can now refer to fans of other topics as well.
Etymology
Meaning of the Term
Otaku (オタク) is the Japanese word for "maniac (someone who is extremely enthusiastic and passionate about the things they like)". It refers to someone who is a "highly enthusiastic hobbyist" about a particular subject.[1]
Alternate Name
The term is often abbreviated to simply ota (オタ).
Origin
The term "otaku" is derived from the second-person pronoun otaku (お宅), which translates roughly to "you" or "your home" and was used in honorific speech during formal situations. The exact moment the pronoun started to become associated with anime and manga subculture is unknown, but the term was widely used in the popular anime Macross in 1982, where characters in the show would address each other as "otaku" until they got to know each other better.[2]
The use of otaku as a slang word comes from the journalist Akio Nakamori who printed an article in the manga magazine Manga Burikko in 1983 titled Research on "Otaku" (JP) in which he criticized what he referred to as "manga maniacs" who were drawn to cute girl characters and displayed "unpleasant" behavior in public. He explained that the label "otaku" came from the term of address people used to refer to each other at manga and anime conventions.[3]
Starting in the 1990s, the term "otaku" began being used to refer to all people who enthusiastically pursued things. Nowadays even many celebrities refer to themselves as otaku and the negative stigma from its origin has started to dissipate.[4][5] Its modern usage is something akin to the Western terms "geek" or "nerd".
Characteristics
Otaku are people who are highly interested in a particular hobby or subculture, often to the point of being obsessed. They are wholly devoted to what they are interested in and much more enthusiastic about it than the average person.
Common types of otaku include:
- Anime/Manga: People who spend a lot of time watching anime or reading manga. They may also collect figures or other merchandise related to their favorite series, or attend anime conventions.
- Cosplay: People who create and wear costumes based on characters from anime, manga, video games, or other media.
- Idols: People who follow and support a specific idol group, attending their concerts and purchasing their merchandise.
- Video Games: People who play video games extensively. They may also collect game-related memorabilia.
However, there are no set categories on what constitutes being an "otaku". Someone could even be a fingernail art otaku if they are passionate enough about it.
Personality
General Behavior
Otaku are very passionate about their particular hobby and participating in their hobby is their favorite thing to do during their free time. They are very knowledgeable about their hobbies as well and could talk for hours about them if someone expresses interest, though they often overwhelm the other person due to how niche their hobbies sometimes get.
Stereotype
There is often this stereotype that people who are otaku are "weird" or "abnormal", with the idea being that otaku are so antisocial and devoted to their hobby that they lose their sense of reality. While this may sometimes be true, the majority of the time otaku are simply regular people who are just really passionate about a certain topic. This is often to the surprise of other people when someone like a popular pretty girl reveals that they are an otaku.[5]
Sub-Types
2-Dimensional Complex
- Main article: Nijikon
"Nijikon" (JP), also known as "2D Complex" (JP), is a term for an otaku character who is only attracted to fictional characters and shows no romantic interest in real people. It originated in the otaku community to describe people with an attraction to girls from anime, video games, light novels, and other forms of creative works.
List of Characters
Gallery
 Marin Kitagawa from Sono Bisque Doll wa Koi wo Suru .gif "Konata Izumi from Lucky Star (1).gif (297 KB)") Konata Izumi from Lucky☆Star  Umaru Doma from Himouto! Umaru-chan  Mihoshi Akeno from Sora no Manimani  Masamune Okumura from 2.5-jigen no Ririsa  Fumie Nishimura from Love Live! School Idol Festival |
References
- ↑ What is Otaku. Pixiv Encyclopedia.
- ↑ Otaku. Wikipedia.
- ↑ What is Otaku. Nico Nico Pedia (2008/05/16).
- ↑ 62% of Teenagers and 23% of those in their 70s Identify Themselves as "Otaku". MyNavi (2013/04/27).
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Marie Kondo on Sparking Joy in a Pandemic and the Life-Changing Magic of Becoming a KonMari Consultant. Forbes (2020/08/30).