Don’t you agree with this statement?
A few days back when we first met the group of Japanese students whom we were supposed to bring around during their stay in Singapore, I wore a Nerv shirt. We, refers to the group of students from the student exchange club who were participating in this program. I knew a few of the people from quite some time back, but there were a few who were totally new faces.
In case you don’t know, I have quite a distaste for Miku
Some of the new faces came up to me and exclaimed, “Wow, Nerv shirt!”. Then, we were all asking around as to who could speak Japanese so as to roughly gauge the level of Japanese proficiency. I casually expressed that I had some experience with Japanese, and had taken the JLPT3 examination and passed.
The next thing I know, some of the guys who were so interested in my shirt began labeling me an otaku. So, let’s see… Just because I wear a shirt that spots a logo of an anime that is considered mainstream in Japan, and I took the time, money and effort to study Japanese for a certain level of certification, I’m an otaku? Certainly, I can’t be your average anime watcher who just thinks that the Nerv logo is as cool as some random logo, and be studying Japanese for the purpose of using it for my future, can I?
The best thing was how they seemed to imply that I was the only otaku around at that place, and that they were normal people. When 20 odd Japanese females your age are standing, and you and the next guy beside you might just have the chance to interact with some of the girls, the only way to suddenly appear better is to squash the image of the other guy.
That might have worked, but if my memory serves, all the 2 guys interacted with for the day were males, while I got my own version of self-torture. They seemed really envious about that, because I vaguely remember them throwing the word “lucky” at me multiple times. I wished I had more luck to at least prevent some failure though.
Anyway, those 2 guys could have been much more otaku than I am. Real otakus desire seeking out like-minded beings who have the sacred O blood type flowing within them; O for Otaku. I know, because I was once like that 2 years ago.
I think I’m not otaku anymore. I’m barely possess the motivation to run through a couple of anime episodes, lack the emotions which used to set me on my merchandise shopping spree, and I’m even considering selling some more stuff from my collection. The only reason why the otaku category is still around in this blog is due to the fact that I can’t think of any other suitable word to substitute it. Geek sounds appropriate, but what do you think?
The fact that you’re seriously interested in 3d girls automatically disqualifies you as an otaku. Shameful.
If I go my cold scientific way, I call you “Admotio infucatus picturae fanaticus.”
Your gradual decline in anime interests is understandable: Just go with what you want to do. You don’t have to orbit around otakudom, make otakudom orbits you!
You’ve finally broken out of the otaku cocoon! Fly away butterfly, just flutter away….
Who labeled you an otaku?
Like srsly. >_>
TP > What does the string of words mean?
0ne > That’s a nifty analogy.
WINDY > The curly hair guy and some year 1. I don’t remember their names though.
Yawn.
As long as your room has anything related to anime, you’re considered an otaku. Face it. Normal people just play games, at most.
welcome to the non otaku world….. this is a good world….
They have just labeled as an Otaku and I dont think You can do too much to change that. Now behave like a techie to be labeled as a geek. ^^
Otaku label otaku as otaku. Also, Evangelion is not as mainstream in Japan as you think. Sure you see them in pachinko machines and game centers, but then those places are also regular geek hangouts.
I see you’re trying to break out of that shell. Me too. I can pass JLPT3 today, but I can’t really call it a career move yet, unless I really study seriously and go for Level 2 and 1. So my motivations for learning Japanese are still on the otaku side of things.
Non-protip: if you want Japanese people to take you seriously in social outings like that, don’t wear or mention anything with an otaku inclination. No anime, no manga, no games. Find some other common ground to converse about.
I always use music as a common ground, and it works pretty well most of the time since the music I listen to mostly is Jpop/Jrock that isn’t anime related.
actually i would call it “taking things slow” and “taking a different perspective in life” instead.
talk about the weather always works hahaa