“Are you an Otaku?” Otaku is a word for people who like something obsessively, especially if it’s directed towards animation. The word Otaku is Japanese in origin, and is similar in meaning with the word “mania.” The word Otaku, however, can also be used to ridicule or insult someone. Many of us would probably deny it if we were asked if we collected massive amounts of plastic models or figures of animation characters. Then again, we might also say “not me” if asked if we obsessively watched some particular animation, or continually bought one particular animation on limited edition Blu-ray DVD. In other words, even though you know you are over indulging in some interest and you are acting Otaku-like, you deny it. Why do you feel bad when you hear Otaku? Is it just because it’s a ridicule word? Well, the main reason for your confusion might be that Otaku can mean abnormal, dark, lacking in social skills and incompetent except in their current obsessive interest. The negative connotations of Otaku can even go so far as to imply the person is a Hikicomori (reclusive loner). For these reasons, people feel uncomfortable with being labelled Otaku, even though they truly do realize they have some obsessive habits or hobbies.

             Why does Otaku have to have such a negative image? The answer may be that the concept of Otaku in Korea society is often associated with underground subcultures that have an unhealthy infatuation with some particular game, cartoon, animation, etc. So Korean society does not tend to understand, nor accept a subculture that has a neurotic fixation with these forms of entertainment. However, in Korean culture, if one has an overly enthusiastic preoccupation with for example: classic music or movies, these are considered or viewed as high culture obsessions. Therefore, these fascinations are culturally acceptable and no one would venture to label them Otaku; even though these people are also overly captivated by their hobby or interest. And because these Otaku subcultures are non-mainstream, they can’t seem to muster much sympathy and therefore they feel extreme anguish about talking about their interests to other people. They seem to exist on the fringes of society, kind of like their own secret world. The Otaku image is seen by many as a person who is unsociable, abnormal, and somewhat shady.

             However, this negative image of the Otaku culture could be on the verge of changing. As the world changes, attitudes are changing, and this subculture is gaining acceptance in many pockets of society. Little by little their activities are gaining a more positive image. Many are now viewed as a kind of expert in their particular field. Unlike the standard definition of mania, they feel they should be seen as just collectors of their interests. They are just like the iPhone obsessed fanatics who wait in line all night in order to buy the new iPhone. They are all collectors, in other words, they are all Otaku. Also, they do creative work, they make videos, and they write fanfic (novels about entertainers and cartoon characters written by fans). They also take pictures and do a drawings related to their interests. They write lyrics and make songs about their favorite cartoon, and they even sing the songs that they write. Furthermore, they have developed industries related to their interests and provide the possibility of creating more industry with their creative artwork. These days, Otakus’ potential power for fostering industry in society is growing exponentially.

             It was entrepreneurs that first noticed the value of Otaku. They figured out the purchasing power of Otaku. Each corporation made products related to Otaku and invested a lot of money into their interests. Products and stores for Otaku are booming. Recently, they don’t think of themselves as freaks that focus on useless things. They shout like this, “We are not the freaks; we are contributing to the world.”

             Instead of the negative images, Otaku is gaining widespread cultural acceptance. They are just people who have a passion to collect everything related to their interests. In many fields, Otakus are multiplying. They are making humorous and creative cultures. It is not too much to say that, Today is the Age of Otaku. Otakus are continuously developing and recreating their new image, passion, and innovations. They are not the weird ones any more.