The controversy around the word otaku

Then what is this? Are they just a bunch of anime fans too?

In the recent few months, a rather controversial (within the anime blogging circle) appeared. Calling themselves The Otaku Elimination Game, they call themselves to correct the mass error in the usage of the word ‘otaku’ in the western anime blogging circle. Within the other few anime blogs that I have glanced through when I was follow the OEG, that quite a lot of the bloggers in the community had voiced supported (while, obviously some, mainly more famous bloggers, have either ignored or strongly voiced opposition to them) for the OEG. The reason is out there and true: out commercialism is just there to capitalize our anime fandom, by using a word that we are supposed to be called upon, when in history, that same word have been used negatively in the country that it originated from. That word I’m talking about it otaku.

According to Otaku Elimination Game, otaku is:

a psuedo-offensive word used to describe someone who has such an obsessive interest in a particular subject that they don’t leave their house because they are too engrossed in it

From: http://otakuelimination.wordpress.com/2009/11/11/the-word-otaku/

Upon reading this, I was immediately shocked on how closely this definition framed an otaku to a Hikikomori. This compared to the other definition of otaku shared by some anime bloggers:

“having an  interest in anime, manga and stuff related to them”

Which tends to frame the word otaku to the meaning of an anime fanboy. The former places the word in a negative light by placing it close to a social problem in Japan, while the latter places in a more neutral, or even in a positive light, making is as if otaku is just one of the many kinds of fanboys out there (like Apple fanboys etc…). While I do understand the logic behind the latter definition, I find myself supporting OEG’s definition more, if not completely.

Talent and Family Prestige (Part 1)

Talent and family prestige are two of the many things that you acquire when you are born. Even though we are all born humans, some are born into rich and/or family that have importance in the society and some are born with excellent talents that makes them excel in their studies and work when they grow up. No matter how much we complain, those things cannot be easily changed, as we were just not giving such luxuries when we are born. Yet, for those who actually was able such advantage since birth, they shoulder a even a heavier responsibility to use their advantage accordingly.

Yuri Overload [Victim: Saki]

I watched Saki because I needed some push for me to start learning Japanese Mahjong. While I did get that push by the end of the anime, I also got too much of something else: suggestive yuri.

I’m all for deepening of character relationship between the characters and of character background of the character, which they included seemed enough seeing how the anime had to balance the amount of gameplay and the amount of character background and development of them. Having those two in the anime would be good enough, and I would have finished the anime quite satisfied; yet, to attract and keep the audiences watching, they had to add ecchi and yuri overtone to almost all of the character interaction outside the game.

Insights on Umineko Ep3

So I got bored today and decided to replay Umineko Episode 3 – Banquet of the Golden Witch, instead of starting from the very beginning, I focused myself more on the later parts of the story, hence I was able to come to the very last murderer quite fast (Nanjo). Actually, Battler did quite a good job in this round, only losing at the very last murder case. So, having a bit of idea how ithe murder might happen without using magic, I proceeded to go to #umineko in irc.rizon.net to chat with someone with it

List of Red Text that appeared in each game