otakus
Obsessive hobby enthusiasts
Otakus is the plural of otaku, a Japanese word for someone obsessively devoted to a particular interest—in English, almost always anime, manga, or Japanese video games.
The term can be self-applied with pride or used dismissively to suggest someone socially awkward and fixated: The convention was packed with otakus in elaborate cosplay.
Japanese cartoon art form
- mangaJapanese comic medium
- cosplayDressing as media characters
- conventionsAccepted social practices
- merchandiseCommercial products offered
figurines · collectibles · weeaboos · fandoms · obsession · enthusiasts · subculture · devotees
Japanese cartoon art form
- mangaJapanese comic medium
- gamingInteractive electronic entertainment
- streamingReal-time digital delivery
- cosplayDressing as media characters
fanfiction · fan art · forums · Discord · social media · YouTube · Crunchyroll · conventions
Tokyo electronics and anime district
- TokyoJapan's capital city
- kawaiiJapanese term for adorable
- idolObject of worship
- light novelsIllustrated Japanese young-adult fiction
visual novels · gacha · isekai · shonen · seinen · Japan · culture · loanword
Subterranean building level
- introvertOne who turns inward
- obsessiveConsumed by fixation
- socially awkwardLacking interpersonal ease
- reclusiveSeeking isolation from others
niche · hardcore · dedicated · passionate · misunderstood · stigma · label · identity
anime
Japanese cartoon art form
- mangaJapanese comic medium
- cosplayDressing as media characters
- conventionsAccepted social practices
merchandise · figurines · collectibles · weeaboos · fandoms · obsession · enthusiasts · subculture · devotees · hobbyists
anime
Japanese cartoon art form
- mangaJapanese comic medium
- gamingInteractive electronic entertainment
- streamingReal-time digital delivery
cosplay · fanfiction · fan art · forums · Discord · social media · YouTube · Crunchyroll · conventions · podcasts
Akihabara
Tokyo electronics and anime district
light novels · visual novels · gacha · isekai · shonen · seinen · Japan · culture · loanword · honorifics
basement
Subterranean building level
- introvertOne who turns inward
- obsessiveConsumed by fixation
- socially awkwardLacking interpersonal ease
reclusive · niche · hardcore · dedicated · passionate · misunderstood · stigma · label · identity · subculture
otakuscasual viewers
Infrequent, uncommitted audience members
normies · casuals · dilettantes · dabblers · mainstream audience
otakusnormies
Conventional, unremarkable people
socialites · jocks · extroverts · social butterflies · popular kids