Ask John: Are Japanese Fans Concerned with Being Considered Otaku?

Question:
I’ve read your article about the “otaku status symbol” being bad for the American anime fan community. I was just wondering are the Japanese just as concerned with the “Anime Otaku Status Symbol,” if not, why aren’t they as concerned about as the Americans are?

Answer:
Generally the opinion toward hardcore anime fandom in Japan is virtually the exact opposite of what it is in America. Obsessive American anime fans wear the label of “otaku” with pride, and frequently strive to be the most obsessive fan and collector among all the people they know. On the other hand, in Japan, otaku are normally viewed as anti-social, irresponsible geeks. The most obsessive Japanese otaku frequently care nothing about appearing like “otaku” to others because they have no friends or social life. These most obsessive Japanese otaku literally exclude themselves from relationships with other human beings and insulate themselves entirely in fictional anime and game culture. These fans are known as “hikikomori.” To be fair, not all hikikomori chose to become voluntary shut-ins because they’re obsessed with anime or video games, but fanatic devotion to anime is one leading cause for this psychological affliction. Furthermore, it’s a well known fact that one should never refer to the self as an “otaku” in Japan, especially when seeking employment. Japanese employers associate otaku with fanatics that are more interested in their hobby than being a responsible employee. In effect, mainstream Japanese culture evaluates otaku as lazy, self-absorbed outcasts that shun normal social relationships in favor of their hobby, prioritizing their own entertainment over social responsibilities like working or education. Obviously with the amount of anime that Japan produces, mainstream Japanese culture does approve of anime and manga, but in moderation.

Relatively, compared to true Japanese otaku, most American “otaku” are mere beginners or poseurs whose devotion to anime only remotely approaches the levels of fanatic obsession exhibited by Japan’s most hardcore otaku. To paraphrase the anime cliché, most American otaku are 100 years too early to compare themselves with hardcore Japanese otaku. American use of the term “otaku” is playful and taken as a mark of individuality. America has adopted none of the darker, more unsavory implications of the Japanese use of “otaku.” In Japan, where individuality is generally a negative attribute, average anime and manga fans don’t go out of their way to label themselves as “otaku,” and the most obsessive Japanese otaku are people that we would probably recommend for serious, institutional psychological counseling.