Many Taiwanese people have negative stereotype of the “otaku” people, who are thought as geeks or nerds that stay with their computers all day in their houses. The stereotype indirectly claims that men accounts for most of the “otaku” population and these people are considered to have extraordinarily good with computers but have no social lives.
The word “otaku” is a Japanese term used to define those people who are obsessed with comics, animation, video games, and/or online games. In plain English, those people would be referred to as comic book worms, computer nerds or freaky gamers. Indeed, no matter in which countries, the term “otaku” has been treated with negative meanings or impacts.
The term “otaku” is a modern Japanese slang that comes with negative meanings. Originally, it refers to those people who overly falls into the virtual world such as comics, anime, and games, and even lost their connection to the real world. A common stereotype is that these people can communicate with others in real world properly. This term is now used as a way to make fun of others and the real meaning is actually twisted. Today, some people who do not go out very often are also referred to geeks, nerds or the “otaku”.
In Japan, those who are highly obsessed with some particular games or anime can be referred as “otaku”. Besides the gamers or anime lovers, another type of real “otaku” are the people whose communication overly relies on the Internet and who stays home most of the time practically. In other words, this kind of “otaku” can communicate with others normally over the Internet derived mediums such as MSN Messengers, Yahoo Messengers, chat rooms, BBS, and many others, but, fail to do so in real life communications. In other words, they define themselves as citizens of the virtual world but unable to realize that the virtual world comes from the real world.
In Taiwan, online games have been popular for the youth. For instance, some gamers would stay in front of their computers all day just to level up their characters. For these gamers, the public would no doubt call them nerds, geeks or the “otaku”. On the other hand, there are some people who frequently post their messages and comments on specific online communities or chat rooms, and they are often deemed as “otaku” as well.
Originally just more obsessed anime or games, the general public in Taiwan is kind of overly using the term “otaku”. In today’s information economy, it is usual that people exchange opinions and share information online with someone whom they have never met in person through online mediums. However, because of the overly wide use of the word “otaku”, the real meaning has been twisted.
Traditional parents, such as the baby boomers, have relatively stronger negative stereotype towards the “otaku”. The baby boomers think that relying on virtual communication tools too much could be harmful to real lives, such as schools, works, and social lives. Besides, many of the Taiwanese parents are prescribed that the young “otaku” feel highly “not secured” and lack of sense of accomplishment in the real lives, so that kids stay in virtual worlds longer and longer to find the sense of belonging.
In recent years, the term “otaku” has been incredibly popular, largely contributed by media effects. In fact, some TV dramas and movies have their protagonists portrayed as the “otaku” geeks or nerds. Therefore, the “otaku” has been one of the most prominent sub-cultures in Taiwan. It is even believed that the invention of Wii is based on the marketing of the “otaku”. Wii gives them the convenient facility at home to do exercise without the hassle to go out, which perfectly satisfies their needs. It is a new “blue ocean”, a new market to be explored.
The “otaku” in Taiwan has been undergoing a slightly different evolution. They have demonstrated numerous works that represent the essence of Taiwan’s subculture. Their works can be found online in forms such as comic strips, blog articles and stream films. These are of precious creativeness but somehow they stay as purely temporary entertainment, such as the “KUSO” culture. Though many of the works have been spread out, very few of them have gained the publicity they deserved.
In Taiwan, the “otaku”, or the anime, comic, game fans, have never received the strong negativity that the Japanese ones had in earlier years. In Japan years ago, the otaku was associated with homicide, sex crimes and massacre. In fact, the Taiwanese “otaku” emerged in the 1990’s when computers and the Internet started to be common. That is why the stereotype and definition between the Japanese and the Taiwanese versions. For the general public in Taiwan, the otaku is basically a specific, niche consumer group who shows fanatic crazes for anime, manga and games.
Perhaps, due to the flourishing of online activities, like blogs, BBS, communities, the images of “otaku” have transformed to a somewhat positive side in recent years in Taiwan. There is a new definition for them. Besides the obsession for something, they have to meet other two premises. First, they must possess the disposal income to be invested in things that they are obsessed with. Second, they devote most of their time what they obsess with. One can not force oneself to do so. The premises can only be fulfilled by one’s interests.
Doujinshi is a Japanese term referring to the free creations from comic, anime, and games fans who share the same interests. In other words, because of their common interests, they create something new based on what they have already been fans for. Indeed, for both Japanese and Taiwanese otaku, doujinshi presents the fans creations.
There are common characteristics of otaku: first, they are less price-sensitive compare to regular consumers. Even when they are short in disposal income, they would save up to buy what they want. Price is not really in their consideration. Second, they derive their own thoughts and ideas for what they consume, which can be frequently seen or read on some online discussion spaces. Third, they form communities through online mediums. Communities are the platforms for them to exchange opinions and share information. In other words, information spreads out quickly among the otaku communities.
In Taiwan, negativity from earlier generations, like the baby boomers, have started to get used to the virtual world much later, compare to the Generation X or the E-Generation. Besides, they show negative attitude towards video games, animation and comics. Therefore, it is more like a generation gap.
However, the resistance towards the otaku culture due to generation gap has been fading, because more and more products that were originally produced for the otaku have been generally accepted in the public. Wii is the best example. Another good example could be the “YOUTUBE”, where people can post videos online.
Experts have pointed out that most Taiwan otaku are still in the consumption stage, which means that they mostly consume rather than produce or create. In fact, they show strong preference towards Japanese cultural commodities. In contrast, the Japanese otaku have formed groups of making doujinshi that has spread out. In other words, Taiwanese otaku consume mostly things from Japan, such as Neon Genesis Evangelion, Spreading Excitement All Over the World with the Haruhi Suzumiya Brigade, Densha Otoko, Akihabara @ Deep and KERORO.
Because of the success and popularity of Neon Genesis Evangelion, Spreading Excitement All Over the World with the Haruhi Suzumiya Brigade, Densha Otoko, Akihabara @ Deep and KERORO, the otaku has been considered as a huge market by merchants who import related products, as the true otaku are usually insensitive about prices. In other words, the otaku are treated like a new group of mass consumers.
However, the general public should pay attention to the potential creativeness from the otaku. Since they know both the producers and consumers of the virtual world, they have the “know-how” of deriving creative works and spreading the works out. People should really learn from this attitude in today’s information society.
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