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Genuine question - i dont understand why

An otaku has to be Japanese? I get that the term is derrived from the Japanese language, but why does it have to refer only to Japanese people? I know of more non-Japanese people that live the otaku life, myself included, than actual Japanese otaku o.o

February 9, 2015

12 Comments • Newest first

LeeKwangSoo

Real otakus are weirder than weeaboos.

-taku means home
-staying at home (being a neet)
-playing with action figures
-waifu pillows
-dancing to vocaloid

yea

Reply February 10, 2015
fakestories

the western adaptation of "otaku" has almost completely twisted (dare i say "ruined&quot its true meaning and connotation
in japan, it's not [i]cute[/i] or [i]kawaii[/i] to be called an otaku. it's a pretty harsh derogatory slang word labeling people who live their life around fiction, never leave their house, etc. calling yourself an "otaku" is like a japanese person calling themselves "a friendless loser who doesn't see daylight xD"

it's pretty cringeworthy

Reply February 9, 2015
LiliKoby

Otaku = weaboo = basically a no life.
I enjoy anime on a frequent basis, and enjoy many aspects of japenese culture, but I hate it when people are like "omg im an otaku xD1!"
It's just annoying.
Also, i've never heard the connotation that otaku have to be japenese. In fact, most people who consider themselves "otakus" are likely not japenese.

Reply February 9, 2015
MizuiChan

It's not so much that "you can't be an otaku unless you're Japanese", but more about the West assimilating a word and consequentially changing its denotation.

Like the poster above says, in Japan, being called an 'otaku' is somewhat derogatory. It's frequently used as an insult there for those who generally isolate themselves from the outside world and focus on very specific hobbies and interests. Over here, it's much more neutral term and used as a general term for those who take a fancy to Eastern pop culture and entertainment. By that definition alone, anyone who likes that sort of thing could be considered an otaku since there isn't much of a rigid definition of the word in the West. However, there's generally a line between being interested in Eastern pop culture and being full-on obsessed with it, and that would be the line between being an otaku and a weeaboo.

Reply February 9, 2015 - edited
Reticent

I didn't know otaku was meant only for Japanese people. I've heard people use it in America all the time. I think both American and Japanese people use it, but possibly with a slightly different meaning/connotation. I think it's more of a derogatory term in Japan than it is in America.

Reply February 9, 2015 - edited
crazypoorer

[quote=0kevqn]I did, and it said about people staying home all the time, and the guy quoted me saying something else[/quote]

An otaku might look like the person who's above you

Reply February 9, 2015 - edited
kevqn

[quote=Duzz]google is something[/quote]

I did, and it said about people staying home all the time, and the guy quoted me saying something else

Reply February 9, 2015 - edited
Duzz

[quote=0kevqn]I think I know what that word is, but can someone tell me what it means before I violate[/quote]

google is something

Reply February 9, 2015 - edited
GHSNinja

[quote=0kevqn]I think I know what that word is, but can someone tell me what it means before I violate[/quote]

It means Racial treason

Reply February 9, 2015 - edited
kevqn

I think I know what that word is, but can someone tell me what it means before I violate

Reply February 9, 2015 - edited
Omegathorion

I mean, I seriously doubt that you know more non-Japanese otaku than actual Japanese otaku, unless you know millions of people on a personal basis.

Anyway, the equivalent term is "weaboo."

Reply February 9, 2015 - edited