The meaning behind "otaku"

[Scythemantis]

I see a lot of anime fans proudly refer to themselves as Otaku and often wonder if they actually know the real relevance of the term...

In japan, calling someone otaku is a SERIOUS insult. It's used only to denote a person if they are hopelessly obsessed with something to the point of being mentally ill. The word came into more common usage only after the "otaku murders", an infamous incident in which a deranged man (Tsutomo Miyazaki) acted out hentai movies on several young girls. His basement was a wall-to-wall library of over 6,000 violent hentai and gore films.

[Amano Ginji]

FYI, "otaku" literally means house.....

[Scythemantis]

I said it was used "only to denote PEOPLE" of that variety. I know what it means, but when it's used to talk about a PERSON, it only means that type of fan. Because they "never leave the house". If they call you a house, they're calling you a total basketcase of a fanboy. I'll edit it to be slightly clearer.

[Chris Wood]

In japan, Otaku is a SERIOUS insult. It's used only to denote people who are hopelessly obsessed with something to the point of being mentally ill. The word came into more common usage only after the "otaku murders", an infamous incident in which a deranged man (Tsutomo Miyazaki) acted out hentai movies on several young girls. His basement was a wall-to-wall library of over 6,000 violent hentai and gore films.

Not actually true. Otaku simply means someone with an above average preoccupation with some sort of hobby, with the connotation of being a bit (or a lot) nerdy or geeky. Certainly the word has a negative connotation overall, but the degree of such varies by its application. It can be used to refer to extremely obsessed and perhaps deranged individuals like the one you mention above. However it can also be used as a lightweight term for people who are simply very knowledgeable about movies, comics, books, history, computers, art, cooking, ...whatever.

For example if you were to start listing the MVPs of the first 5 Super Bowls a friend might well joke that you are a "sports otaku." It is definitely not a serious insult.

[Scythemantis]

The murders made it that bad... I know people who will punch your lights out if you call them one!

[Chris Wood]

The murders made it that bad... I know people who will punch your lights out if you call them one!

Those people have problems with anger management. I often hear Japanese friends jokingly refer to others as otaku. It's just a little friendly jibe.

It depends on the tone of the conversation as well. If a girl refers to some stranger as an otaku with a clear air of disgust she probably means that she thinks he is a creepy geek.

[Jaguar]

I guess it just basically depends on the tone you say it in or something.

[GWOtaku]

It's used only to denote a person if they are hopelessly obsessed with something to the point of being mentally ill.

Sounds like it fits the American anime fan perfectly. Been to a cosplay recently? :p

[Bakasama]

It depends on the tone of the conversation as well. If a girl refers to some stranger as an otaku with a clear air of disgust she probably means that she thinks he is a creepy geek.

You got a point. I had a Japanese language teacher that knew "otaku" as "house". There was Japanese fanartist that defined "otaku" as something like "disturbed psychopath".

[Thing]

How many of you actually know Japanese...

...and how many of you wish you did?

Later...

[Evil Dr. Reef]

The way I learned "otaku" when I took Japanese, was that it literally meant "house". The reason why obsessive fans are known as "otakus" is because typically someone who's an "otaku" will spend all their time at home with their hobby. I don't think it's as bad as SC said above, but there are Japanese people who get mighty pissed if you call them otakus.


Sounds like it fits the American anime fan perfectly. Been to a cosplay recently? :p
Heh... excellent.

[Cyber E.]

The only logical explaination would be what Dr. Reef said. But the only real way to know is to mvoe to Japan and call people 'Otaku' in the streets. :D


The word came into more common usage only after the "otaku murders", an infamous incident in which a deranged man (Tsutomo Miyazaki) acted out hentai movies on several young girls. His basement was a wall-to-wall library of over 6,000 violent hentai and gore films.

What a world we live in...

-aJb

[Matsuo]

How many of you actually know Japanese...

...and how many of you wish you did?

Later...

Watashitachi-dake-ni shite-yo.

Read that, slick.

Anyway in a language that has 15 differnt ways of saying "gay, effeminate, lesbian" and 8 different ways of saying **** off, words can have many definitions.

BTW, I do speak Japanese.

[Thing]

When did I say I spoke Japanese?

Later...

[Bakasama]

Watashitachi-dake-ni shite-yo.

Read that, slick.

Anyway in a language that has 15 differnt ways of saying "gay, effeminate, lesbian" and 8 different ways of saying **** off, words can have many definitions.

BTW, I do speak Japanese.

anata wa nihonjin desu ka

[Matsuo]

anata wa nihonjin desu ka

Sorry, no I'm not.

Watashi wa Haku-jin desu.

Wow this is fun!

I've never acually spoken Japanese with another person before (except sensei). Wow, this is great practice!

LOL.

EDIT: Oops, hope no one saw that.

[Thing]

Don't you people know any of the writing systems, yet? You should download it.

Later...

[Chris Wood]

日本語で話したければいつでもどうぞ。ご遠慮なく。

[Thing]

I don't know kanji yet, sorry.

Later...

[Sailor Chibi Otaku]

Sailor V manga, volume 1, chapter 5, page 140:

Umino is talking to Minako about how much he loves Twin Dark, and she calls him an otaku.

She calls him an otaku more than once.