Otaku-ism is Only A Phase in Life But How Long Will Yours Be?
I feel that Otaku-ism is but only a phase in life though the phrase (long or short) would differ. To me, the various Otakus can generally be classified into the 3 main categories below.
Specific Group: Those who fall into this category is only concerned with a particular title, a particular figure, or a particular Seiyuu.
- Anime and/or Manga: You’re only concerned with a particular title (e.g. Claymore) and pay little to no attention to the latest titles or older titles.
- Figure: You only collect a particular figure (e.g. Rei figures) and pay little to no attention to the latest figures or older figures.
- Seiyuu: You support a particular Seiyuu and him/her alone. You watch an anime because that Seiyuu has a role in it.
Genre Group: Those who fall into this category is concerned with a particular genre, a particular series, or a group of Seiyuu.
- Anime and/or Manga: You’re only concered with a particular genre (e.g. Shounen, Shoujo, Yaoi, Loli, etc).
- Figure: You only collect a particular series or types of figures (e.g. Ero figures, Gundam series, Only Nendroids, etc).
- Seiyuu: You support a handful of Seiyuu.
Buffet Group: Those who fall into this category dig everything and is aware of almost everything. They are the buffet kings/queens.
- Anime and/or Manga: You have watched/read almost every genre and title.
- Figure: Your house is a warehouse for storing figures.
- Seiyuu: You can name all Seiyuu and the titles that they’re involved in without breaking a sweat.
How do the above groupings affect one’s phrase as an Otaku?
1. Interest Sustainability
There’s something I call “Interest Sustainability”, whether an Otaku is able to maintain his/her interest in Otaku-hood. To maintain the interest for something, fuel is need to keep the interest burning and the ones at risk of phasing out the quickest are those from the Specific Group (assuming that they’re not fans of long running series like Naruto). When the series end, the fiery fire that’s burning within will die down because there’s no more material or news coming from that particular series.
Be it short or long (D.Gray-man, Bleach, Naruto) running series, no one title can run forever and the particular something is bound to fade away one day. Naruto has been runing for ages but it will end one day, no? That said, the Genre Group or Buffet Group would last longer, with a longer Otaku phrase, as they have many other fuel sources to keep their Otaku interest level going since they dig a wider quantity.
IMO, joining fan groups or being involved in the Aniblogosphere are ways to maintain Otaku-hood. When there’s a healthy community for ideas and discussions exchange, Otaku-hood will last longer since one is “in-sync” with the happenings and has more interactions.
2. Accessibility
This applies to tangible issues like physical location, money, jobs, etc. With greater accessibility, one’s Otaku-hood would be longer.
Picture living in a rural area where internet connection is just not possible and bookstores do not dig J-culture. With obstacles in place, being a long term Otaku is difficult. On the other hand, working in an Otaku-related industry (when you’re already an Otaku) would keep the Otaku spirit up because it will be a part of your work life, and directly, your life. If it’s a long term job, the Otaku can choose to remain an Otaku throughout his working life, thus, a longer phrase than the average Otaku who only watches anime at home.
3. Time
Ultimately what is perhaps the determining factor would be time. Given time things change; interests change and the importance of a particular interest might change. If one can pick up Otaku-ism at a point in life, one can also pick up another interest in another point, and/or drop Otaku-ism at some point. Are you able to confidently say that you would still be an Otaku 10 years down the road? I can’t. I can’t even promise anyone that I would keep my blog active next year!
Taken from nationalclocks.com
Ultimately I feel that Otaku-ism is only a phase in life but the phrase (short or long) would vary according to the individual. What matters most is that Otakus learn and grow as not only an Otaku, but as an individual. Keep the Otaku spirit going everyone as I’m seeing many Otaku burn-outs recently. (:
Edit: phrase to phase.
I think you mean “phase”.
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Thanks for pointing it out Panther. I’m so awesome that I got the spelling wrong, throughout.
Eh, well. Like most things in life, whether or not something is ultimately a phase depends on the individual more than the subject itself. Teenage angst is often just a phase, but occasionally it lasts much longer and well into adulthood. Depends on the individual. I think it’s the same for otakudom. Like you point out, there are a lot of factors to consider in determining how long someone stays with a hobby.
To that end, I guess I mostly agree with you, but I don’t like concluding that otakudom is “ultimately a phase” because that feels like it’s factual across the board and I don’t think that’s true. You differentiate between long and short phases, but if a phase is long enough, is it really a phase?
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hmm.. look like i might fall under d buffet group(1st time hearing this)
yup, i do watch/read almost all d title that i can leech in d net butttt i don have a warehouse full of figures n no i can’t name all the seiyuu…
of course, i have a real life to lead(mind u)
nywy, good post u got here(2 kill some time). xD
xxx
I am inclined to think that sustainability would last longer if the individual belongs to multiple groups. For eg., I love my anime and manga, I am an avid collector of fine figurines, Chihara Minori is <3, I like Japanese culture and cuisine, I have Japanese friends and acquaintances….etc etc
Of course, not everyone shares the same level of interest. But I do think that in this highly globalized (to use an oft abused word) world, the cultural inter-links are very strong not only on an inter-national level but also among sub-cultures. Access is so much easier, traditional prejudices are less prevalent and the modern youth are much willing to spend on such things.
Suffice to say, when we do get older…we do still have a nostalgic yearning of our younger days. I’d say this much easier to reinforce now compared to 50 yrs ago.
I think this will go a long way in sustaining ‘otaku-ism’ (whatever way you define it).
I think this is referring to me? LOL
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@Kiri
Hmmm let me try. To some Otaku, it might not be “a phase”, instead its “a spur of the moment”? Ah you’re right, it definitely does not apply across the board as each Otaku is different in his own way. (:
@Alan
Thanks for commenting. You need not fall into all the sub-groups as I only gave the examples for elaboration. (: I’m glad that you’ve enjoyed the read.
@The_Observer
Thanks for commenting. Good observation you have made! If I belong to multiple groups (e.g. manga and figure), I’d probably last longer than the others because I can either switch from a group to the other when I’m bored or run at full strength as I’m high on both groups.
Ah the sweetness of reminiscing. Now I’m packing my S.H.E posters and feeling glad that I’ve idolized them. Though the fever has died down, it was a great fan girl experience for me. (:
LOL @double
How many Rei figures do you have? ^____^
I think this depends alot on the age when you pick up a Hobby/Otaku-ism.
The younger you are the higer the chances that youll lose interest in it.Chances that you picked up the hobby due to momentarily popularity are pretty high.Maybe youre just searching for an identity you can roll along with and drop some time later.
The older you become the more refined become your choices and you start to think(okay i admit not everybody on this planet does).Youd prolly stick a long(er) time to the hobby than those kids.
I always hated people that dropped their hobbies because they are too “immature” and think that they have to act grown up now.As long as you have fun do it!
Id put myself into the second group.I sometimes look behind the horizon but mostly stick to the genres i favor.
My Otaku-ism is limited to Manga/Anime and figures tough.
I dont really care about seiyuus and the like.
Manga/Anime are a great entertainment i usually cant find in other (western) media and therefore i read/watch it
confession. i started out as a narutard and bleachtard then when i realised both of them are getting crappy, i decided to move on to greater things. i’m glad i made the right choice.
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I suppose Otaku-ism is a phase in life but sometimes if in the Specific Group a series like Naruto were to finish, they could also interest themselves in another anime. I wouldn’t call myself Otaku but I do go through loads of phases of being an anime fan, and yes, the aniblogosphere does help to extend that time of me being an anime fan. But I find myself enjoying American dramas more or doing stuff outside like going to camp and watching anime is just something I do when I have spare time.
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I wonder whether I can be considered an otaku. Personally I would say no because I cannot imagine alienating myself from the rest of society (which is what real otakus in Japan do). But I think I can relate to this post to a certain degree since it can be interpreted as a question of how long will my interest in Japanese visual culture last.
The answer would be probably “an indefinite period of time” since I have always been enchanted by the art of storytelling and evoking emotions. Like books, music and plays, anime is probably one of those mediums that will always have an appeal to me.
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Other than the above 3 groups, is there a mixed group? Haha, thought that I’m belonging to a mixture of all sorts.
I really believe it’s the interest which keeps me going when watching anime.
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Hmm I would have to agree with Dong, and ask if there is a mixture group? I have been involved in watching anime for a very long time now, and it is ingrained in my life. That I find it hard to try and belong wholly to one group… sure it is an expensive hobby, but I don’t think it’ll end anytime soon. I watch just about anything that looks interesting, and find it interesting to see if I can find a common ground with other anime fans around me. I am lucky that I live in NYC with the Japanese shops, and population around,… I find myself be interested by other faceted of Japanese culture, so even if I take breaks from anime, there are still series, seiyuu, or products to appeal to me.
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How about the casual group? I suppose it would be like buffet group except we only go up for 1 plate instead of 5.
I have to agree that time and interest are big factors. I think if I had more time, I’d be more of an otaku but with my current time constraints, just a casual fan.
@Blowfish
Ah picking up something and dropping it fast does not apply to kids only as there are adults who are like that too! But the age factor is a good point made.
Like you, I think adults have more determination (as compared to children) in maintaining their hobbies as hobby maintenance would involve more decision making as compared to the decision making process of a children. But if the kid is so involved in anime at a tender age, won’t it somehow affect his/her future? Something like growing up with it?
@gordon
It’s ok buddy, we all have our dark moments.
@blissmo
Nice point blissmo. The folks from the specific group might jump ship to pick up another title that’s on-going instead. (e.g. Last season Strike Witches only while this season Vampire Knights only)
@The Sojourner
The term (Otaku) is still ambiguous and it varies in different regions. It may have negative connotations in Japan but its not frowned upon as much as, say USA.
@Dong
How about a “Special group” for those who likes a mix of things (e.g. anime & figures; figures & seiyuu, etc). I’ll fall into this group too since I like anime & manga. (:
@animemiz
We’ll be awesome members in the newly created “Special group”. Oh, take care not to spend too much for this festive season since the handy shops are nearby. *wink*
@Caitlin
Hmm should I even consider the casual group to be Otakus in the first place?
I suppose it depends which definition of otaku you’re using to begin with. In various parts of the world, otaku has a different level of fandom connotations so what could be considered otaku behavior in one part would be discounted in another part.
I think I used to be pretentiously in the Buffet Group, pretending to know all animes when actually I don’t lol. I still think I fall under this category, semi buffet.
I remember one of my high school classmates asking me whether or not I’ll continue loving animes till I grow old, because she personally won’t. My answer: why not? For as long as the interest is there, I’ll keep on being an otaku, or liking animes. It keeps the kid in me alive XD
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