If you’ve made it to this article, you’re probably wondering what an “otaku” is or you already know and want to know some more about the origin of “otaku. ” In either case, you’ve definitely mangakakalot made it to a good starting place to get your information.
The word “otaku” was (and still is) used as a way to say “another’s house” in Japanese, but has recently taken on a different twist that changes its meaning to “geek” or “nerd” when used to describe a person. Although it can apply to nearly anyone that has an intense interest in a particular hobby (let’s say a person that really loves to collect rocks and practically has a dedicated shrine to their collection in their house), the word “otaku” is generally applied to those that are deeply entrenched in anime and manga culture. This is especially true outside of Japan’s borders where “otaku” is usually only known as a person that loves anime and manga.
The difference between how the Japanese use the term “otaku” and how others use the word only captures a portion of the picture though. When comparing the two usages, the japanese usage of “otaku” has more negative connotations than, say, an American’s usage of the word. This is because of the specific histories that are associated with otaku in Japan where negative events and/or tragedies were blamed on the person’s interest in anime or manga. This has resulted in the japanese society frowning about anything associated with anime or manga at various points within the last few decades.
On the other hand, being an otaku outside of Japan is looked upon somewhat differently. If you’re an otaku in a different country, then the term “otaku” does not have as much of a stigma attached to it because the people around you wouldn’t know the specific histories attached to the word “otaku” like it does in its native country of Japan. Because of that, it’s generally a term that’s used within the fandom to refer to themselves or those similar to them (where “otaku” is still usually used when the person in question watches anime as each season comes out, reads manga as each chapter is released, collects figurines, buys Dvds of their favorite anime series, and has posters of various anime or manga characters). And even then, there’s a divide as to whether or not a fan in a different country will label themselves as “otaku. ” This is because anime and manga fans that are aware of the negative connotations of “otaku” in Japan are wary of labeling themselves as such. Even with oceans separating them from Japan, there are many fans that don’t want others to think that they are associated with the people who committed crimes and just happened to have an interest in anime and manga.
Regardless of the slight negative connotations of the word, there are still numerous anime and manga fans that will proudly call themselves “otaku” (at least outside of Japan). They’re not afraid to talk in public about the latest episode of Bleach or Naruto that came out, or ask if someone has downloaded any anime from the current season so that they can watch it. They’ll sketch doodles of anime and manga style and post them on sites such as deviantART. Some will even attempt to make their own anime or manga through the use of programs such as Anime Studio or Manga Studio. It’s a fandom that’s close-knit and allows anyone to make friends simply by asking if they enjoy a certain show.
Chiaki Shiraishi is a lover of travel and exploring new cultures. After visiting Japan, she couldn’t resist the pop culture that was so prominent in the capital of Tokyo. She found the differences in how otaku are viewed in Japan versus her home country (America) striking and asked her traveling companions from other countries what it was like in their home countries. This inspired her to delve more into the subject to find out more, resulting in this article about anime and manga fans. Eric Blair investigated life in Paris, London, and other locations from 1927 to 1931, sleeping in a number of unpleasant locations. Based on his experiences and not wanting to use his own name, Blair published “Down and Out in Paris and London” under the name of George Orwell in 1933. Orwell’s story is one of poverty in Paris, London, and elsewhere. Orwell might see little difference in the options Tokyo provides for the financially challenged: capsule hotels, closet houses, manga coffee shops, and Internet cafe couches.
Capsule hotels started with the Capsule Inn Osaka, which was designed by renowned architect Kisho Kurokawa. Capsule hotels originally started as economical hotels for businessmen or for people too drunk to make their way home. Each capsule is approximately 2 m by 1 m by 1. 25 m, giving just enough room to sleep. These capsules are stacked next to each other, and one on top of each other in two levels, with steps for people on the second level. Guests can store their luggage in a locker. Capsule hotels are economical, costing as little as a few thousand yen per night, but they are certainly not the bottom of the options Tokyo provides for the financially challenged. They are, however, the beginning.
Closet houses are just that, houses where people live in half of a Japanese closet. Japanese closets have a strong shelf going across them that separates them into top and bottom halves. This is approximately a 2. 5-square meter room without a window. A shared sliding door opens and closes the way to the room for the people staying in both halves of the closet. Closet rooms are available for as low as 1, 500 a night or a discounted rate of 18, 000 yen a month. Tokyo has almost nothing for less.
Manga coffee shops are coffee shops where people read manga, which are Japanese comics. The coffee shops have large manga libraries and charge a rate of approximately 400 yen an hour. The rate goes down if you purchase a package for a number of hours. Some people take advantage of these coffee shops to stay for the night, which will probably cost somewhere over 1, 000 yen. Some private rooms offer sofas and reclining seats.