Times change, everything evolves and even words, certain terms acquire a different value and meaning. If in the 80s you were called “otaku” it wasn’t a compliment, it was a negative and denigrating term but today it has been completely reversed. The same word is used almost as if it were an honorific, an individual with well-defined knowledge relating to a topic linked to pop culture and art themes.
“Otaku Life – manga, anime, video games and cosplay” by Giovanni Valenti, published by Nuinui Edizioni, is a journey that starts from subculture to become a mass phenomenon: how the term otaku was born, towards the end of the 70 when the manga artists Haruhiko Mikimoto and Shji Kawamori start calling themselves that and how this evolves, to then explain who those who call themselves otaku are, as they differ based on their passion. We have those who are passionate about video games (Gemu Otaku), anime collectors (Anime Otaku), those who follow idols (Wota Otaku), those who customize cars, motorbikes, bicycles (Itacha Otaku)…
The author then shows us which places of worship are, i.e. shops, meeting places, coffee shops, where enthusiasts meet to purchase the material of their passion or find other otaku to relate to, from the legendary Mandrake to the Volks, to Live in Tsukumo…
A work that gives a broad overview of this reality, which left the borders of Japan to conquer other areas of the world, from South East Asia, to Europe to reach North America, explaining its evolution and its characteristics . A reading that tries to present who otaku are and how they differ in their types of interests.
A world in continuous transformation, which is now seen as a cultural panorama with a thousand facets which has attracted the attention not only of simple enthusiasts but also the production houses of action figures, manga, personal computers… they carefully follow tastes and the opinions of otaku who can decree the success of a product placed on the market.
With this work, which is pleasant to read, the author gives some initial input so that the reader can continue his personal search for this universe and perhaps find out which type of otaku he belongs to.
To read but above all to consult.