The meaning behind the otaku

I recently came across a post about a book called “Otaku: Japan’s Database Animals” by Prof. Hiroki Azuma. Although I’ve never read the book myself, Mike over at Anime Diet had some very interesting comments about how Prof. Azuma describes the mentality of Japanese otaku…

One of Mike’s interpretations of Prof. Azuma’s points about otaku is something I too have often thought about…

“…otakus are not so much looking for narrative or meaning in the stories of anime/manga, but rather disconnected, digestible bits and pieces like cat-ears, moe charm points, etc. This is less human than almost a mechanistic, database-like accumulation of knowledge, and is reflective of consumerism and the post-modern condition.”

This makes me think back to a previous post of mine about how the once superb storytelling quality of anime has been declining in recent years and is being replaced by blatantly fan-pandering, fetish satisfying mediocrity. Not just the moe blobs, tsunderes, etc., for male otaku, but maybe even bishounen and overly cutesy or “pretty” characters for female otaku could be considered. And although I believe good quality anime is still being made, does this mean that most otaku nowadays would rather have their fetishes catered to instead of having a serious and creative narrative told? As it is with many all-encompassing questions like this, there is no definite answer; I’m sure there are plenty of otaku (Japanese and non-Japanese alike) who would and plenty who would not, and it will probably always be like that. But I have noticed a number of recent series that, while they feature some stereotypical and fetish-pleasing characters, are still able to convey an excellent story, and perhaps even give these characters additional unique and memorable attributes. But because there has been so much anime produced in recent years, series that cater to otaku fetishes and utilize cliches are becoming more prominent.

But for the otaku who are more into “digestible bits” rather than good stories, is such a thing really “less human than almost a mechanistic, database-like accumulation of knowledge,” as Prof. Azuma seems to believe?

Mike interprets further:

“Yes, it is true that in recent years especially, we’ve seen more and more pandering anime whose goal is to appeal to particular fetishes. It is also true…that many beloved anime plots and franchises like Gundam have roots in commercial calculation, not pure artistic inspiration. And it’s also true that the “collector” mentality of many otaku, with its obsession with categorizing and cataloging (see the entire Saimoe tournament, the rote checklist of “types” of girls in many harem anime and eroges, etc) might suggest almost a data-like approach to fandom.”

Japan’s obsession with categorizing, cataloging, and collecting is well known among anyone with knowledge of the country’s pop culture. In addition to Gundam collections and female character archetypes, it could even go down to franchises like Pokemon, with its emphasis on collecting and categorizing fictional creatures in a database-like fashion (the poke-dex) as if they were real.

But as for my own interpretation of the topic at hand, this data-like approach to fandom is a uniquely Japanese phenomena, and I believe it definitely makes a statement about the post-modern, consumerism centered society we live in. As it is with any form of fiction, people are drawn to it because it offers something that real life cannot – not only magic/fantasy themes, but structure, continuity, and a definable beginning, middle, and end. In the chaos, confusion, and stress of real life, such certainty of form and completion is appealing. Japanese otaku go even further by taking these fictional entities and putting them in additional structures, categories, and collections outside their original source. Thus the otaku feel even more in control and tied to these fictional entities.

So, is such an obsession, database-like or not, a good thing? I’m sure some otaku are satisfied with or even proud of their hobby. But for those who indulge in and have a passion for fiction, whether in anime, books, movies, etc., I can’t help but think that maybe there’s some harsh dissatisfaction or longing that they feel in real life. Fiction helps them assuage or escape from those feelings into a world that’s more spectacular and wondrous than reality, but is still structured and controllable. I don’t believe such a thing is “less human than a database-like accumulation of knowledge.” Being an otaku is just a fairly new branch of human subculture that resulted from this chaotic, consumerist society. If our society was not so centered around consumerism and modernization, the definition of otaku we know today would probably be different.