What Does Otaku Mean? Is It An Insult In Japan?

Animes are getting more and more popular nowadays. Watching anime was once considered ‘uncool’ or ‘sad’ In western society but it is no longer perceived in this manner. Japan is one of the biggest markets for anime and as the producer of all the animes that exist, it should be.

However, it is considered uncool and sad or nerdy to be an avid anime watcher or ‘Otaku’ in Japan. Many parents worry about their kids watching anime as they are worried that they might become otaku. Not only that, Otakus are considered social rejects and people prefer not to talk to them in Japan. Let us find out what exactly Otakus are and why they are considered bad in Japan.

What Is An Otaku?

Otakus are people who are very passionate about certain things such as anime manga or games. The word means your house or your home in Japanese. They are considered people who stay at home, are anti-social and people considered social rejects in Japan.
Being an otaku in the west is now considered a badge of honor, but the stigma against them remains in Japan.

Otakus are generally very passionate about a particular thing and would be very defensive over that thing. But some otakus simply enjoy something and consider themselves fans of the thing without being overly defensive about it.
Otakus are of many types, but majorly otakus consist of people who are incredibly passionate about anime, manga, or games.

Is It An Insult In Japan?

Being an otaku in japan is considered an insult. An otaku in japan is considered obsessive, reclusive, and put in blunt terms; a creep. A person who is considered an otaku need not even be obsessed with animes or mangas, some otakus are obsessed with trains, games, and even onigiri.

The people in japan are very private when it comes to their hobbies, work and private lives are kept very separate. The people who are otakus have to maintain an outward image that doesn’t betray their liking of a said thing be it anime, mangas, or games. Otaku culture is also favored by young people which the older people just don’t understand.

Local media has also exaggerated the stigma against otaku, with news ranging from otakus attacking people randomly to them committing other crimes. It should also be taken into account that the anime and manga market in japan leans towards sexual stuff or ‘Hentai’. If one walks into a random manga store in Akihabara, one will have tons of Hentai stuff just lying around in the shop. This also has people discriminating against otakus.

After all, the extreme case of hikikomori – social dropouts – is the ultimate otaku, and for those not into subcultures, delving into late-night anime and manga seems like a logical next step. The idea that someone innocently likes these things is not a problem. The idea that it leads you down a path of social decline is problematic.