Synopses & Reviews
Otaku: Nerd; geek or fanboy. Originates from a polite second-person pronoun meaning "your home" in Japanese. Since the 1980s it's been used to refer to people who are really into Japanese pop-culture, such as anime, manga, and videogames. A whole generation, previously marginalized with labels such as geek and nerd, are now calling themselves otaku with pride.
The Otaku Encyclopedia offers fascinating insight into the subculture of Cool Japan. With over 600 entries, including common expressions, people, places, and moments of otaku history, this is the essential A to Z of facts every Japanese pop-culture fan needs to know. Author Patrick W. Galbraith has spent several years researching deep into the otaku heartland and his intimate knowledge of the subject gives the reader an insider's guide to words such as moé, doujinshi, cosplay and maid cafés. In-depth interviews with such key players as Takashi Murakami, otaku expert Okada Toshio, and J-pop idol Shoko Nakagawa are interspersed with the entries, offering an even more penetrating look into the often misunderstood world of otaku. Dozens of lively, colorful images--from portraits of the interview subjects to manga illustrations, film stills and photos of places mentioned in the text--pop up throughout the book, making The Otaku Encyclopedia as entertaining to read as it is informative.
Review
"Galbraith's knowledge of Akihabara's history and current manifestations makes the neighborhood's alleys of obsession and warrens of obscurity feel vivid and layered, like a promising archeological dig." Roland Kelts, author of Japanamerica
Review
"Prepare for a wild, educational, and entertaining ride!" Foreword by Frederik L. Schodt, author of Manga! Manga! The World of Japanese Comics
Review
"You can't possibly be called an 'otaku' without this book. I spent hours trying to think up words they might have forgotten to include — only to find them all well documented." Danny Choo, www.dannychoo.com
Synopsis
Are you an otaku? Do you have otaku friends you can't relate to? Then let
The Otaku Encyclopedia expand your knowledge of the fascinating subculture of Cool Japan. This definitive guide introduces the world of Japan's anime nerds, game geeks, and pop-idol fanboys, with over 600 terms that any fan of Japanese pop culture simply must know.
Moe,
doujinshi,
cosplay, and most importantly otaku itself, are clearly explained in a fun yet informative way by a self-confessed otaku who has spent years researching the otaku heartland.
Scattered among the encyclopedic entries are interviews with key otaku like artist Takashi Murakami, otaku expert Okada Toshio, J-pop idol Shoko Nakagawa, and many others entrenched in the world of maid cafes, street-idols, and figure collecting. An essential A-to-Z of otaku culture not to be missed.
Synopsis
Otaku: Nerd; geek, or fanboy.
Originates from a polite second-person pronoun meaning "your home" in Japanese.
Since the 1980s it's been used to refer to people who are really into Japanese pop culture, such as anime, manga, and video games. A whole generation of people, previously marginalized with labels such as "geek" and "nerd" are now calling themselves "otaku" with pride.
About the Author
Patrick W. Galbraith is a journalist based in Tokyo. He specializes in Japanese popular culture and writes regular columns for
Metropolis magazine, and the Otaku2.com website.
He is a Ph.D. candidate researching otaku at the University of Tokyo, and is a familiar face in Akihabara, where he gives regular tours of the otaku capital dressed as Goku from Dragon Ball. His writing has also appeared in
Akiba Today and
Akibanana, and he has academic articles upcoming in
Signs,
Positions,
Mechademia and the
Journal of Japanese Studies.
Asaki Katsuhide is a photographer based in Tokyo. His work has appeared internationally in magazines such as Marie Claire and The Face.
Moe-pon, the blue-haired, kawaii mascot appearing throughout the book, was created by illustrator Akashiro Miyu, who is currently in her third year of studies at Osaka Communication Arts College.