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Otaku Hunting

Maybe you've heard of the recent crime wave where bad dudes hang around Akihabara waiting to relieve unsuspecting geeks of their cash. This blog post links to a publication of questionable veracity where they interviewed one such "Otaku Hunter." Choice quote:

First off, I'd always be inclined to doubt the veracity of this type of reporting.The lurid tell-all shocker style doesn't really ring true.

But assuming that this is a true report... I trust I am not the only one who can see the immense irony in the fact that this guy uses a metaphor from Dragon Quest to describe the way he hunts otaku....?

- abunai

I guess I should feel lucky living in England. We're all targets over here!!! Laughing

Of course the people around my place probably wouldn't be able to pronounce otaku let alone track us down. Besides don't real geeks either shop online or spend all of their money before those "normal folk" are awake? Wink

You guys do understand the difference between a Japanese Otaku and an American/overseas/gaijin otaku, or at least the different ways they are perceived right? There actually is a difference y'know.

In Japan otaku are seen as exactly what that guy was saying. They're viewed as anti-social pariahs who are actually a detriment to the social structure inherent in Japanese society. The stereotypical otaku lives in his bedroom and never changes his clothes or bathes and makes Gundam models all day. (Probably this is the idea of where the whole "cockroach" thing comes from. ) In a culture that seems to pride itself on group-oriented behavior and mindset, these are the stickout nails that need to get hammered down. Certainly I'm not condoning what this guy is saying, he is a creep regardless, but I think it's important to look at the cultural differences and see why otaku might be viewed as perfectly viable victims for a criminal to take advantage of.

I think it's hard for people who associate being an "otaku" with liking anime a lot to realize that this term actually has no real positive connotations in the culture it comes from. Calling yourself an otaku among your friends who like anime is one thing, but be careful when you try and translate across the Japan/Outsider cultural barrier.

The term itself, "Otaku Hunting" is distasteful.

Ok, the whole description of Otaku sounds like a total stereotype, but that's not saying is completely false. Like Genshiken taught us: Otakus come in many guises.

The Japanese media should be careful not to give too much validation to these thugs by featuring them too often. Some Otaku may be not the ideal members of society, but these "Otaku hunters" are no better.

no one is condoning, robbing people.

Disliking Otakus on the otherhand, well, Its not good but keep in mind, the american equivilant to the true Japanese Otaku is basically this guy:

You can't tell me that deep down you don't kinda wanna rob that guy. Wink

Well if it's one person doing the hunting, then there's a such thing as going in groups. I guess people haven't thought of that yet. Or maybe people should be working out and dying their hair.

Uh, yeah that "article" is really sketchy. Nevertheless this is really sad that geeks are no longer safe in their mecca.

Hmm...tabloid press?

I don't think Akihabara is about to become a crime haven just yet. If it's real though, that guy has, ah, problems And ought he not be arrested or something?

Beating the crap out of the weak has been the longest running group participation sport that humans have ever created.

I'm sure that if one were to transport a Neanderthal forward in time to today, showed him that "Otaku Hunter" and friends and their Prey, the Neanderthal would instantly recognize what they are doing.

I hope that this isn't a sign of change in Japan where reading comic books will make you an automatic looser like here.

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Forum - View topicOtaku Hunting

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Otaku Hunting