Ultimate Guide to Otaku Culture
By Julia Paminiano | January 29th, 2024
So, you think that you’re an otaku? Or maybe you’re just interested in exploring the depth of otaku culture with some of the best features of Japanese popular media? Whether your interests lie in popular mainstream anime like Attack on Titan or something more underground and hidden from more casual enjoyers like Oyasumi Punpun, this is the ultimate guide to otaku culture. Some of your questions may include, “Where can I meet other otakus online?” or “I’m an otaku and love Japanese culture, should I move to Japan?” Or perhaps one of your close friends is a well-dedicated otaku and you’d like to know more about what they are and what they’re into. Either way, otaku culture is on the rise, not just in Japan but also abroad as Japan’s soft power begins to grow with the popularity of anime and manga. This guide will help explain what it’s like to be an otaku and give recommendations for those interested in diving deeper into the culture.
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What is the otaku culture like in Japan?
What is an otaku?
The word “otaku” derives from the Japanese term “お宅” (otaku) which means “your house”, but it is also used as an honorific term to refer to others. Someone called this term can mean that this person spends an excessive amount of money, time, and energy into a specific hobby. Hence, how a lot of avid anime fans can be referred to with this term. Its beginning can be traced back to the anime Super Dimensional Fortress Macross (1982), where the main character would refer to other characters using “otaku” and fans started using it amongst themselves. Although, it can also be used in a negative way– People often called “otakus” have a reputation for being very introverted and are unable to engage in what most would consider normal social relationships. And so, they end up turning to the virtual world instead.
Throughout the decades, the term “otaku” has generally moved away from less of an offensive term. While “otaku” can be used for describing anyone with an obsessive hobby, it is used mostly towards people who are into anime, video games, and manga. Otaku culture began to be seen in a more positive light after the rise of Japanese pop culture with anime such as Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995), Yu Yu Hakusho (1992), and Dragon Ball Z (1989). The culture was on the rise and expanded as more people became fans and gave room for subcultures such as manga and video games. Those who are otakus in Japan now (or consider themselves to be) are still well obsessed with this pop culture, but now also includes casual fans who aren’t as deep into it as the others.
Modern Otaku Culture
Those in otaku culture can be split into two main categories– anime/manga and video games. Within these two main categories, they include more subcategories like cosplaying and idols. After all, “otaku” can be used to describe anyone with an obsessive hobby. It can be said that the anime/manga subculture is the most popular, as it has the biggest effect out of all of them in Japan. More often than not, promotions and collaborations with anime can be found everywhere, especially in big cities like Tokyo, where most of the big anime-related events such as Anime Japan (largest anime convention in the world) are held.
While much can be said about otakus and their rising popularity, they and the term continue to hold a certain negative perception. By definition, otakus are obsessive and spend an exuberant amount of time on side hobbies. Another reason they are seen in such a negative light is due to its close similarity with “hikikomoris”, which are people who withdraw from society and choose to spend the majority, if not all, of their time alone at home. “People who are perceived to let hobbies get in the way of taking on ‘adult’ roles and responsibilities at work and home are often called otaku.” (An Otaku Cyclopedia, Galbraith).
Top 5 Must KNOW Anime & Manga in Otaku Culture
If you’re just getting into otaku culture, you’ve probably watched or heard of the most popular anime out there. Several of these mainstream anime are hard to ignore, as they have all different sorts of popular adaptations– video games, movies, live-actions, and more. If you want to call yourself an otaku, here are some anime and manga that you MUST know.
One Piece
Perhaps the biggest anime in Japan currently is One Piece by Eiichiro Oda, the story of young pirate Luffy and his dream to become the king of the pirates and find the titular One Piece, a mysterious treasure hidden in the Grand Line. One Piece is also the best selling manga of all-time, with over 500 million copies sold worldwide. There is an anime adaptation of the manga that is still on-going with over 1,000 episodes out and 15 movies, as well as a live-action adaptation released on Netflix in 2023.
Naruto
Naruto is another popular shonen anime that is a part of the top ten in best selling manga by Masashi Kishimoto with 250 million copies in sales. The anime is centered around a young ninja named Naruto who aims to become the “hokage”, the strongest ninja and leader of his village. Like many other popular anime, Naruto has been adapted in video games, a musical, movies, and has an upcoming live-action movie adaptation with Lionsgate.
Dragon Ball
Dragon Ball by Akira Toriyama ranks 4th in the best-selling manga ranks and also the best-selling completed manga with 260 million copies sold. This manga takes on the story of Son Goku, a young boy who embarks on a quest to become stronger and obtain all seven Dragon balls. The plot is influenced by the classic Chinese story, Journey to the West. Its adaptations include anime, 21 movies, over 40 different video games, and one live-action released in 2009.
Demon Slayer
The highest grossing Japanese film (and not just animated film) goes to Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train. The author of the series is Koyoharu Gotouge and is the latest out of the top ten best-selling manga to receive an anime adaptation. The first episode was released in 2019 and its continuing movie came out in 2020. Fun fact: According to a survey in 2020 taken by elementary school students for most admired people, it went to Tanjiro Kamado, the main character and their mothers second.
Attack on Titan
In Attack on Titan by Hajime Isayama, the remaining members of humankind are forced to survive in cities surrounded by large walls in order to protect themselves from man-eating giants known as the giants. As a fan of Western media, Isayama based characters in Attack on Titan on several different shows such as Levi Ackerman based on Rorschach from Watchmen and Falco Grice based on Jesse from Breaking Bad. The series is completed and currently stands as the 11th best-selling manga.
3 Things Every Otaku Needs to Know Before Coming to Japan
Planning to visit Japan soon? Here are some things to keep in mind before coming if you are planning to explore more of otaku culture and might want to do some more research about it. Some of these are time-limited, so make sure to plan well beforehand!
1) Akihabara is otaku central!
Akihabara is known as the otaku culture of Japan. Located in Tokyo, Akihabara is the main shopping hub known for anime and manga goods, as well as electronics and video games. The area is known for having a large array of stores for anime and manga otakus such as Animate and Mandarake. Fun activities to do in the area include arcades, gachapon, and maid cafes. Maid cafes are cafes and restaurants you can go to where you’ll be served by girls dressed up in maid outfits and treat you like their masters.
2) Pop-up Shops and Themed Cafes
Many pop-up cafes and shops are used in promotion for popular anime and manga. Restaurant chains often do collaborations such as offering character-themed food or giving out limited goods if you spend a certain amount. Some of them include a cake that looks like the cube of the prison realm that Gojo was sealed in at the Jujutsu Kaisen Cafe in Shibuya 109 or a Pochita-shaped hamburger at the BOX cafe&space in Tokyo. Many otakus attend these events to obtain these limited goods, as almost always they are not sold on any other occasions or available to resell. The best way to find out about these events is by keeping up with official accounts of anime/manga/video games on social media and joining online communities (like r/Manga on Reddit and @AniTrends on X) and watching out for any announcements from other members.
3) Anime-themed Attractions
There are many anime-themed attractions scattered throughout Japan and not just in Tokyo. For Naruto and Boruto (sequel and spin-off to Naruto) enthusiasts, Nijigen no Mori is located in Hyogo, which is a theme park that houses several anime-related attractions that includes the “Naruto & Boruto Shinobizato” area where you get the chance to go through training to become a true ninja. At Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, the theme park has Super Nintendo World, which includes character meet-ups, shops and restaurants, and rides based on Super Mario Bros. In western Tokyo, there is the Ghibli Museum where you can enter the worlds of several different Ghibli films.
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6 Dishes You’ve Seen in Anime
(and where to find them)
Watching anime, we’ve all gotten hungry at some point when seeing the delicious-looking food that they eat, especially in an anime all about it, like Food Wars!: Shigeki no Souma. Here are a few staples of Japanese cuisine that you’ve probably heard of and where you can find them when visiting Japan.
Ramen
One of the most well-known dishes of Japanese cuisine is ramen and often shows up in all kinds of Japanese popular media. A popular chain restaurant known as Ichiran Ramen can be found throughout Japan and is known for their individual seating and no-contact service, a great choice for introverts! Their signature dish is the tonkotsu (pork bone broth) ramen and you can customize your ramen from its richness, noodle texture, and much more! One of the times you may have seen it is in Ponyo, during a scene when Ponyo and Sosuke eat shoyu ramen together.
Curry Rice
Another dish that has a lot of popularity is curry rice, which can be found at Curry House CoCo Ichibanya not just in Japan but also in other countries like China, the U.S., and South Korea with 1,400 stores worldwide! They have a large array of different curries to choose from, from the usual pork cutlet and other types of meat to seafood. In One Piece, curry is often served to the Strawhat Pirates by Sanji, their designated team cook and is apparently so delicious that Luffy, the main protagonist, infiltrated a marine base and ate all their curry.
Takoyaki
Takoyaki is a popular snack often sold at festivals or as street food. It is a circular shaped food that usually includes bits of octopus inside and topped with bonito flakes (dried shavings of fish), mayonnaise, and a salty-sweet takoyaki sauce. They can be found at a local chain called Gindaco that specializes in all different types of takoyaki. However, just about everywhere you go, you’ll find mom-and-pop takoyaki stores with decades of history (and maybe a secret recipe or two). They are often very affordable and filling, and you’re usually able to order all different sorts of toppings. This makes an appearance in One Piece again, where an octopus named Hachi makes takoyaki– which is quite the irony.
Sushi
If you’re a big fan of seafood, you’ve definitely had sushi. But have you had it delivered to your table on a conveyor belt? Sushiro is Japan’s largest sushi restaurant chain and can also be found abroad in other Asian countries such as South Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore. This restaurant specializes in revolving sushi in which you can take any you’d like to try off the belt or you can order from a tablet and have it delivered on an express conveyor belt! You can see how this belt works in Episode 120 of Gintama, where the main cast is left to take care of a sushi restaurant and struggle to make the sushi.
Onigiri
One snack that you can find at any convenience store in Japan is onigiri. Onigiri is a rice ball wrapped with seaweed that can be enjoyed with any type of filling. Although, the most popular flavors are tuna mayo, grilled salmon flakes, and pickled plum as of 2023. They are usually eaten as a snack and great for convenience when making packed lunches or bringing them on trips. Keep in mind that the fillings in Japan may not be what you’re used to back home though and they will typically be seafood. Tanjiro, the protagonist of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, takes onigiri on the go with him when he is traveling with Zenitsu and Nezuko.
Omurice
Omurice is a loan word from English that combines the words “omelet” and “rice”. The dish usually consists of a fluffy omelet covered in ketchup on top of rice. When the dish is served, it is usually sliced open and unravels over the rice, to reveal the half-cooked eggs inside. In the film The Garden of Words, we can watch the process of how omurice is made and prepared. One of the places that is a must visit for omurice where it’s so popular that you have to make reservations two months in advance, is Kichi Kichi in Kyoto. They are not just known for their delicious presentation of omurice, but the owner’s performance and personality on social media.
Where to Meet Other Otaku Online
The best place to meet other fellow otakus is online, where there are a wide range of communities when it comes to otaku subcultures. With that said, the most popular places to find these communities are on social media on either Discord, YouTube, or Reddit.
Discord
Discord is a messaging app that allows people to join servers to chat or call with friends in small communities, though used mostly by gamers. It’s basically a chatroom service for people with niche interests, which we might say of otaku culture. These servers can be either private or public and can be created by anyone. It is easy to access and join these servers to be able to meet other otakus who are into the same interests! Here are some that may interest you: Anime Soul Discord, ChillBar, Social Haven.
YouTube
As an online video sharing platform, YouTube allows anyone to share videos about any interest and creates the space for communities to publish content about those interests. There are many channels particularly focused on Japanese pop culture where you can learn deeper about the culture. Some particular channels that could help you get a better understanding of this include Gawr Gura, TAKASHii from Japan, and Manga Otaku.
Reddit is a social media platform made up of subreddits (communities) where anyone can openly discuss a certain topic. Posts can be upvoted or downvoted and you can earn karma based on how well a post of yours does, or if a lot of people upvote your comments. You can practically find a subreddit on anything, and of course, they have specific ones that would interest most otakus. Here are some popular subreddits that are focused on Japan and otaku culture: r/anime, r/Japan, r/TrueAnime.
Top 5 Anime & Manga Only REAL Otaku Know
You’ve probably seen most of the mainstream and popular anime if you’re a casual enjoyer. The more you dive deeper into each genre, there are some hidden gems that only real otakus know of. Although the reason as to why they aren’t as popular? They may not fit the usual audience and are meant more for niche enjoyers. If you’re interested in diving deeper into the anime and manga scene, here are some recommendations from a few different genres.
Dororo
Dororo (2019) is a dark historical fantasy anime filled with action and revenge. The story follows a young child named Dororo and Hyakkimaru, a teenage boy with prosthetic limbs. Together, they fight off demons and for each major one they kill, Hyakkimaru gains his limbs back. This anime is recommended to those who like Demon Slayer and Samurai Champloo.
Hajime no Ippo
Though it can be said this anime is not underrated, Hajime no Ippo (2000) is among the top manga when it comes to having over 100 million copies sold. Hajime no Ippo is a boxing anime about Ippo’s journey from being a young, bullied child to becoming a professional boxer. If you like other sports anime like Slam Dunk and Kuroko’s Basketball, you’ll enjoy this anime.
Hyouka
Hyouka is a slice of life and mystery anime set in a high school setting. A young introvert named Hotaro decides to join his school’s Classic Literature Club and meets a girl named Eru and solves mysteries with her and the club. There is both an anime and a live-adaptation that was released in 2017. This is a great choice for fans of Gosick and The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (another cult classic).
Sakomoto Days
The newest of the list is Sakamoto Days and its first chapter was first released in late November 2020. The manga is also the only one out of the list that does not have an anime adaptation (yet, hopefully). The protagonist, Taro Sakamoto, is a former hitman that was well-known within the underground world, and we follow his story of his current life as a mundane family man. This manga is highly recommended to those who like Spy x Family and The Way of the Househusband.
Drifters
Drifters is a dark fantasy isekai anime– “isekai” anime are a subgenre of portal fantasy where the protagonist is taken from their original world and brought to a new one. Heroes, also known as Drifters, are taken from Earth to fight the Ends, fallen heroes with supernatural powers who intend to eliminate humanity. You may like Drifters if you like anime like Hellsing Ultimate and the Fate/Zero series.
Otaku Culture and their 'Waifus'
What is a "waifu"?
First things first – What even is a “waifu”? The term “waifu” is the Japanese romaji spelling of the English word “wife”. When otakus use this term, it is often referring to one of their favorite female characters (more often than not in anime or video games). It is often a character that someone is romantically attracted to or considers their significant other. It was first used in the anime Azumanga Daioh in 2002, a comedy and slice of life anime about high school girls.
When and how did it get popular outside of Japan?
The term “waifu” began to rise in popularity as many otakus began to refer to their favorite female characters as “my waifu”. A character considered a “waifu” also meant they could be a person’s ideal type in a wife or “wifey material”. The term spread around on social media that fostered online communities for otakus like 4chan and Reddit and became more regularly used in the 2010’s. It was also during this time that popular anime were on the rise outside of Japan, like Attack on Titan and Hunter x Hunter.
Another similar term to “waifu” that had gained popularity with similar meaning is the term “husbando”. They quite literally mean the same thing, except it refers to male characters instead of females. It was also popularized through popular anime and manga. Both “waifus” and “husbandos” can be categorized into subcategories like the “dere types”. These types, like “yandere” and “tsundere” can describe the personality of the character. These two are presumably the most popular types– “yandere” refers to a character who is extremely obsessed with their love interest that they will do anything (and everything) for them and “tsundere” refers to a character that acts rude or nonchalant towards their love interest.
Stigma around the term
While “waifu” may be more normalized in the otaku communities today, it still carries a heavy stigma around it. The community that uses the term “waifus” and “husbandos” are often stereotyped as introverted males who mostly spend their time at home online and diving into their hobbies. This term can indicate a certain loneliness in its users and how they have to turn to fictional characters for comfort. This can show how some otakus struggle in normal societal relationships due to their habits and have the inability to make intimate connections with others.
The negative connotation around the term can also be linked to its misogynistic use and reinforcement of gender stereotypes. This is due to the usual popular female anime characters and what is called “fan service”– specific parts in a manga/anime/video game where they are specifically added in order to please the audience and more often than not, in a sexual sense. The reason why these media continue to add fan service is due to its popularity and will most likely not stop unless the fans are no longer pleased. This can lead to an even bigger problem within the community, such as the use of a lot of “child-like” characters in not just looks but also personality, and are often used for fan service but are backed by the writers as characters who may look young but are actually thousands of years old.
A special case where we can see what happens if fan service is no longer provided is with Minami Minegishi, former member of the J-pop idol group AKB48. She was involved in a scandal in 2013, where she was found to have a boyfriend, which was against her company’s rules. The main reason for the company having these rules is to keep the girls’ image of being “innocent and pure”, a big reason as to why their male fans are so dedicated and such big fans. These fans have such a huge attachment to these idols that they felt betrayed when the news came out of Minami having a boyfriend. In order to gain their forgiveness and maintain her idol reputation, she went to the extremes by shaving her head and recording a video of herself apologizing, begging for forgiveness.
The use of fan service also causes a lot of female characters to be written and designed in a specific way to cater to the male audience. Characters who are often chosen as “waifus” have a lot of body features accentuated, such as being extremely curvy. From the way they are written, they are given a personality that makes them helpless and always in need of another male character. This leads to the objectification of many female characters and can spill into the audience’s perspective of women in real life.
Should otakus move to Japan?
This is the question that often pops up from an otaku who lives outside of Japan and is extremely into the culture. As of 2022, foreign residents take up 2.2% of Japan’s population, from those on student to marriage visas. Before looking into moving to Japan, otakus should make sure to do all the research and visit the country at least once to get a better idea of it. Oftentimes, places and ideas are often romanticized in the media in comparison to what they are like in real life. People experience extreme culture shock, so much that there are multiple syndromes named after it, like Paris Syndrome. This occurs when Japanese people visit Paris and have such culture shock that they experience physical symptoms like dizziness and delusional states. This is due to how romanticized Paris is in Japanese media that they get high expectations when they visit. Although, that doesn’t go without saying Japan isn’t a great place to live. Each person experiences a new city differently. With that said, here are some things otakus should consider before moving to (or planning to) Japan.
3 Pros and 2 Cons of Moving to Japan
If you are considering moving to Japan, you must do further research about the country and what it’s like for expats (short for “expatriate”) to live there. While there are pros, there are always some cons and with cons, there are always some pros. Here are some things you need to keep in mind when considering your move!
Pros
1) Culture
As an otaku, delving yourself into the culture would be the best part of moving to Japan. Not only do you get the experience of living in a whole new country, but experiencing Japanese culture as a whole and being immersed in it. When living in Japan, you get to immerse yourself by learning the language, trying out new foods, spending time with locals, and learning more about Japan’s history. Culture is all around and very imminent in each part of Japan, so you can get the most out of your stay.
2) Language Learning
Japanese is claimed to be one of the more difficult languages to learn, one of the reasons being the language has three different alphabets: katakana, hiragana, and kanji. By moving to Japan, you’re initially forcing yourself to speak the language and be fully immersed in it. Because not too many places or people speak English, you’ll reach a point where you need to learn the language. It might take a lot of work, but learning more Japanese means you’ll be able to get better jobs as well since many jobs require a certain Japanese level. Learn enough and you’ll be able to read manga and watch anime without any subtitles!
3) Location
When coming to Japan, you’ll have all the access to pop-up cafes of your favorite anime, concerts of your favorite J-pop idol group, and much more! If you’re really into idols and k-pop, South Korea is only a three-hour flight away. But living in metropolitan Tokyo is really where it’s best for otakus. Most promotion is done where most people are, which is in big cities like Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto. You’ll also be given the opportunity to visit all sorts of historical cities all over Japan and get to dig deeper into the culture even more.
Cons
1) Language Barrier
One of the cons about living in Japan as a foreigner is the language barrier (that is, if you have not studied the language). Majority of the population does not speak English and it definitely is difficult to come by when living there. Complications you may run into are dealing with utility bills, having to go to city hall, or just even speaking with locals. Many jobs in Japan require at least some Japanese and to take the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) to get certification of your Japanese level.
2) Social Code
Japan is a country where most people go with the flow with the majority and do their best to avoid confrontation. It is important to be polite and always be nice even if you don’t like the person, which may turn off those who believe in acting more honestly. It is seen to be rude if you walk while eating and take a phone call on the train. There are many unspoken social cues like these that may shock foreigners when they first arrive in Japan and find it difficult to understand.
Top 5 Prefectures to Live with Otaku Culture
1) Tokyo
Out of all the prefectures in Japan, Tokyo may be the best place to live for expats and otakus. The city is filled with otaku culture of all subcultures and it is easy to always find something new to do. Tokyo is also Japan’s most populated city, at over 40 million residents as of 2023. Some of Tokyo’s best features for otakus include Akihabara, the Pokemon Center, and the Ghibli Museum.
2) Osaka
Osaka is another great place to live, one of the southernmost prefectures of Honshu and Japan’s third most populous city. Similar to Akihabara in Tokyo, Osaka has their own anime district– Den Den Town. It is also known for selling many electronic and tech goods, as well as having many anime stores and arcades. One particular food the city is known for is okonomiyaki, a savory pancake made up of wheat flour batter and other ingredients like meat, seafood, and cabbage, but is up to you for customizing toppings!
3) Kyoto
A second city in the Kansai region is Kyoto, which is 15 minutes away by bullet train from Osaka. It is a city well-known for their culture and historical buildings, such as the Imperial Palace and many shrines and temples. Many anime and manga are often set in Kyoto, so it is possible that you’ll be able to recognize many areas. For otakus that are deeply interested in Japan’s history and culture, Kyoto is a great choice.
4) Hokkaido
Similarly to Kyoto, many anime and manga are set in the Hokkaido region. Hokkaido is the northernmost of the main islands of Japan and is a popular setting during the winter time. It is also known for its nature and the Sapporo Snow Festival, which is a winter festival where Japanese and international artists come together to create sculptures and statues from ice.
5) Kanagawa
Lastly, the prefecture of Kanagawa! It is located southwest of Tokyo and houses Japan’s second most populous city, Yokohama, which also is known for being the setting of many popular anime. Kanagawa is also a good choice for those who are car otakus– Daikoku is also located in Yokohama and is one of the world’s most popular car meets. Another feature of Kanagawa is Hakone, well-known for its hot springs, historical sights, and the Hakone Open-Air Museum.
Living as an Otaku in Japan
The following below includes two accounts of male university students who currently live in Japan– Narua, who was originally born in Japan and lived in the U.S. before returning for high school and Hayden, born in the U.S. and moved to Japan for university.
Otaku Culture and Identity
As said previously, being considered or calling yourself an otaku can be seen as a negative aspect. Both Narua and Hayden are avid anime and video game fanatics, but one considers himself as one and one does not. “I think I am an “otaku” since I watch anime and read manga consistently. [A] variety of them as well, so I am not only a fan of one anime or manga,” said Narua. He believes himself to be an otaku since anime/manga and video games are his main hobbies. This was opposite of Hayden, as he stated that he would not consider himself one due to its negative connotation with it. He acknowledges that there is a separation between die-hard otakus and casual fans, the latter being what he considers himself. Both of them agreed that there are many stereotypes to being considered an otaku, such as being “grimy” as described by Hayden or a “sweaty and smelly nerd”, by Narua. Despite these stereotypes, both of them continue to delve into their hobbies without letting the stereotypes bother them.
Recommendations for Newbie Otakus
Coming from two fans of anime and video games, here is a list of recommendations for new otakus who want to dive deeper into the culture, or some of their personal favorites:
- Oyasumi Punpun or Goodnight Punpun – Manga
- Fate (series) – Video game, anime
- Gurren Lagann – Anime, manga
- Persona 5 – Video game
- Violet Evergarden – Anime, light novel
Advice to Other Otakus
A common question otakus ask themselves is whether they should move to Japan, based on the media they’ve read or seen of it. While it is great to visit a new country and explore a new culture, moving to a whole new country requires a lot more research. Should you move to Japan just because you like anime? Or because you like J-pop idols? Hayden answered, “People who consider themselves “otakus” should not exactly move just for the anime and manga etc., but rather visit for happiness.” Narua also answered similarly, stating that otakus have no obligation to move to Japan just because they like certain aspects of their popular culture. While it is a plus to be fully immersed in your hobbies and interests, starting a new lifestyle is completely different.
With this guide to otaku culture, hopefully you were able to get a good understanding of not just what it is, but also the true meaning of what it’s like to be one! From learning about the origin of otaku culture to anime and manga recommendations, there’s still so much more to explore. This is just the beginning of what you can learn about otaku culture!
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