Don't anime fans know that "otaku" is a very deragotory term in Japan?

Question

Why would they take such a term as a badge of honor? Keep in mind, I dont got anything against them as a whole. I'm generally ambivalent. I just dont like the ultra hardcore ones that dont bathe. Theyre hard to avoid at comic conventions especially when you're downwind of them.

otaku, from what i learned when i worked there, meant "social outcast" or "obsessive"

Answer 1

Because they're obsessive and don't actually care about the Japanese, just anime.

Answer 2

It is about as bad as calling someone a geek. As you have noticed a lot of computer savvy people have now called themselves geeks and it has turned it into a "cool" thing to be named, instead of the derogatory term used back in the day. You used to go cry in a corner if someone called you a geek, now you say thank you and take the name with some pride in a way. Hell they even make shirts that say I love geeks on it now.
It is the same idea. Even in Japan anymore it is consider more on the lighter side of funny to be called an Otaku. Anime fans took the name originally knowing what it meant, it was funny, because it is true. Most anime fans, at least back when the term was coined in the states, fit the description perfectly. These days anime fans are not as obsessive about the hobby because of the widespread epidemic known as Anime Americanization, but there are still some true Otaku out there.

Answer 3

a lot of people in Japan dislike otaku, they say that they are useless people who only live because of manga, games, anime, and all collectibles related to the three. But for the otaku, they have accepted who they are, and are proud of their great knowlege for that kind of subjects, they make web pages, and even go to "Maid Cafe" ESPECIALLY made for them. They have a different world, a little separated from the others, but they are still people, they have decent jobs, how else will they pay for all that merchendise and Maid Cafe pampering??~ So being otaku is not at all bad, they are just so into what they do that they "seem" different.(^-^)v

Answer 4

"Taku" is a word for "house" in Japanese. Otaku is the equivilent of a maniac/fanatic who revolves the lives arround their object of obsession.Mostly Kidults. Otaku doesn't just refer to people who are fanatics of anime in general because we could have sport fanatics, p0rn fanatics, and so on. A stereotypical Otaku has little grasp of reality, narrow-minded, over-aggresive and are often insociable. These people are looked down on. Here's another stereotype of Otaku: They live in basements/shuts themselves up in their cheap apartments 80% of the time. "Taku" is a Japanese word for house.

A Hikikomori is a person, normally a youth, who is socially wirthdrawn and often a NEET (Not in Employment, Education or Training). Most hikikomoris are otakus so therefore some people see them as equivilents.

It is not as if people would actually look up the meaning of the term either since they are often so enthusiastic and believing.

Answer 5

Hm. I've never used the term "otaku" before. But I did hear tat it's not very good in Japan. However, i am pretty obsessive of the whole anime scene. Anyone who know's me is pretty of aware of that. But as far as being hardcore enough to never bathe...Whew! I don't think I'm that obsessive!

Answer 6

Yeah I've heard of American made cartoons being dubbed into Japanese. BQs: 1)What non-anime shows would you watch Japanese dubs of with English subs? >>Japanese Game shows, they're just addicting lol 2)Why are anime referred to as Japanese-Anime, the same with Manga? Cant they drop the Japanese part since Anime&Manga are only from Japan? >> I guess so, I mean they're basically Japanese words already... 3)Why do you think channels not in Japan air so few Animes? >> Probably because channels want to air what they "think" people want to see. It's not fair T.T Bye!

Answer 7

Yes they do. In Japan it's the equivalent of the comic book guy on the Simpsons.

In the states its started to turn into something a little bit different and probalby a tad mroe socially acceptable. I think the geeks are trying to 'take it back' and make it more positive.

I can't stand the smelly fanboys/girls that don't bathe or brush their teeth either.

Answer 8

i thought otaku was the name of a place in japan, like tokyo

Answer 9

I heard once that the term Otaku meant "House" in some language. Dont think its japanese. But thats how i heard it. Which is why i dont like to deem myself as an Otaku. Rather than i deem myself as a NERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRD!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 10

Yeah. Do as my dad used to say, "Don't use a word if you don't know what it means, dam*n it!" And so, what does otaku mean???