My Japanese apartment.
If you want to get a good idea of what it is like to be an otaku here in Japan, please check out the film Otaku no Video that's distributed by AnimEigo.
Often I call myself an otaku here in Japan just to read the reactions from people. Personally, I don't think I technically fit into this category because I enjoy a great many things. I like to think that I am a well-rounded person who enjoys a diverse range of interests. However, the things I enjoy are perhaps things I enjoy "too much." Photography, tropical fish, music, science fiction, anime, video games, etc. But since I enjoy such things as anime and comic books, then I fit into the "mania" category and people chuckle. But, I really don't give a care; I'm having fun. Fortunately, thanks to the individualism and social freedom of American culture, such "subculture" interests are more tolerated in America and are considered more "normal."
However, I do agree that some people go a bit overboard in their zeal for their hobbies. This does not necessarily mean those who dress as Klingons at conventions. I'm talking about those people who exchange harsh words on the Net over debates like "Do you like Joel or Mike better on MST3K?" or "What if Macross Valkyries had led the assault on both Death Stars?" For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, I guess you should feel relieved. It's difficult to fathom the mental stability of some people when you read heated posts that go like, "The Battlestar Galactica couldn't even penetrate the Enterprise's shields because they use laser technology, not phasers you stupid son of a jerk!" (Obscenities censored.) It's scary. Yes, I can recite all the lines to the Star Wars movies, and even some of the lines in alien languages, but I choose not to because it's annoying. Does that make me normal? Ah, I don't care.
One more point I want to make is on the issue of "immaturity." Some may criticize me as being immature. Afterall, looking at my apartment you'll see anime and science fiction posters, stacks of video games, Snoopy and Hello Kitty throw pillows on the couch, stuffed animals, toys and figurines. I like to watch cartoons, play video games, collect action figures and stuff, and with my wife I like to go outside and blow bubbles, and chase each other with water guns.
So, does that make me immature? Well, I may be immature in some ways, but not in the ways I have just mentioned. I really don't think that stuff like collecting comic books makes a person immature. Maturity is how a person reacts to the various situations that life presents. Maturity is controlling one's mouth: avoiding gossip and slander, avoiding the use of obscene language, and knowing when to speak and when to keep one's mouth shut. Maturity is controlling one's anger. Maturity is being independent. Maturity is being able to get along with others and not making them mad. Maturity is knowing what to do without having to depend on others for instruction all the time. And most importantly, maturity is learning from one's mistakes. Moreover, it takes even more maturity to learn from others' mistakes in order to avoid making the same mistakes.
So if someone thinks I'm immature if I get excited when Bugs Bunny kills the Easter Bunny, they are committing a logical fallacy. I can draw them a Venn diagram and explain to them the error of their thinking, but usually I don't feel like arguing to try to change someone's mind. The part of me who doesn't care what others think of me wins the majority of the time.
As the year 2001 comes to a close, I look forward to the year 2002 as a good year for an otaku like myself. (By the way, I refuse to pronounce this year as "two thousand and one." It reminds me of the movie 2001: A Space Oddyssey. I prefer to call it "twenty-oh-one." Afterall, 1999 was never pronounced "one thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine." But, I digress.) 2002 will see the release of the first Lord of the Rings movie. Known as Yubiwa Monogatari here in Japan, it is sadly unknown except for the few truly literate Japanese people (reading comics and newspapers doesn't count as being "literate" in my book). Also, I am looking forward to Star Wars: Episode Two and Spider Man. It will be a good year indeed.
On this page, I want to talk about my three favorite aspects of otakudom: anime/manga, science fiction, and video games.
You can skip all this and go on to the next chapter, though I don't recommend that.
Go back to the "Greg's Life" Table of Contents
"I like him. He's crazy." --Daffy Duck