allright this is where im desperate. i work at a comic book store which sells anime manga and figurines aswell. im 16 but i need to get to akiba Its my only hope for a happy life! by boss was telling me how unlikely it is and it hurts me soo much to hear that.for most of us hardcore people it wouldent take long to pick up japanese because we already know alot of the basics.what can I or we do?
also my language teacher said I could never be accepted in japanese socioty my responce was "i never expected to"
get to akiba to live or to visit?
to live nearby(like in tokyo) sorry if i didnt specify plz help im desperate
to live nearby(like in tokyo) sorry if i didnt specify plz help im desperate
You really want to live there? Cost of living is nearly unbearable in Tokyo, and Akihabara is mostly a land of porn. You can get nerd equipment pretty much anywhere in moonland. I mean, as long as you don't live in Hokkaido, because you'd die of boredom.
I think maybe >>1 needs to sit down and try to breathe slowly for a while.
i know that but i can still get more anime stuff if i live in tokyo than living here and it wont be that crappy translated stuff. also the train takes all day to go around in tokyo so you would want to live in the city near anywhere akiba. plus there are the comventions at the tokyo big spot like summer comiket and winter comiket
>>1 are you fucking serious?!?
Have you ever been to Japan at all, even a couple hours in Narita airport? And you believe moving to hentai heaven is your only hope for a happy life? DQN...ドキュン...ドキュン
I DONT CARE IF THE CITYS ARE CROWDED! I DONT CARE IF IT SMELLS I SMELL! I NEDD TO GO THERE SOO BADLY
IVE HEARD HOW BAD IT IS THERE 1000 TIME OVER AND I DONT CARE THERE IS 1000 TIME MORE FOR ME THERE THAN THERE IS HERE I HAVE ABSLUTELY NOTHING HERE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. IN JAPANT THERE ARE INCREDIBLE BUILDINGS WITH MAIDS AND STATUES AND DOUJINSHI. I CANT GET ANY OF THAT HERE
AND GET BACK TO THE POINT THE QUESTION IS HOW DO I GET THERE? NOT WILL IT BE WORTH IT
sorry i got emotional and my typing suferred
you are the most entertaining gimmick i've seen around here before the hotaru guy's act got old
gimmick ????? what do you mean by that?
マムシ、死んでください…DQNだ。
But if you don't, maybe you can become an English teacher when you're older. You are not going to be able to just move overseas at your age. Sorry but you are エスオーエル, kid.
um no im not gonna die for you. lol putting kudasai after that just made me feel baddly
> I CANT GET ANY OF THAT HERE
>>16
You sir, are an idiot.
I hope for your sake that all of this is a joke.
you dont know me! why would it be a joke?
I know im dumb and thats why I need to go there I have nothing but anime and manga my life is a worthless shit hole and i hate it! DQN is nothing compared to what im used to being called! now please someone help me!!!
Man, if you think Japan is somehow going to be happier...
Move to Britain or something and learn to download things for free.
Also you can't get to Comiket more easily by living in Tokyo, lines start at 5 am and don't stop, so no reduction in travel time is enough. It's hotel or nothing.
i know that ive read comic party and genshiken and ive read countle articles on big spot
as for 21 i do download for free but i never knew I could download gunpla and statues? please tell
>>i never knew I could download gunpla and statues
This must be your first day on the Internet. You need a seriously top-notch printer and as much RAM as possible, but it's worth it.
LMAO COOL PLASTIC GUNDAMS COME OUT OF PRINTERS NOW
>>25 LYKE ZOMG U CAN NEVER HAVE ENOUGH RAM, OK!!!!! RAMMMMM!!!!
TERA BYTES OF RAMMMMM!!!
crazy dead cat and his ram
EBAY
here is a good example go on abny website and try to find one of those big full size cuddle pillows with cute litlle cat girls printed on them you see pictures and videos of in japan. go anywhere and there are none.
and today my boss was yelling at me telling me I was born in the wrong hemisphere(he owns an anime store) and that I should know who some band is.also he said no self respecting man purchases a card captor sakura wall scroll
>>29
http://www.paletweb.com/search.asp?PageNo=3&S_FG=&Sellect_Platform=13 bottom of page
>>30
don't worry, no self-respecting man runs an anime store either
godbless you man!!! if only I was 18 !T-T!
godbless you man!!! if only I was 18 !T-T!
the reimu one seems to be considered all-ages
do you like armpits?
>>30
yeah right, he probably has a Dr. Slump Arale-chan wall scroll or something
maid in Akiba McDonald's
ttp://www.akibablog.net/archives/img-mouse/2006-12-23-202.html
ttp://www.akibablog.net/archives/2006/12/post_962.html
Argh! Dumb gaijin Wapanese!
You is like so full of craps I roll dice in you and wins money!
God help me, I lol'd so hard at this thread! I recommend reading the articles on outpostnine.com if you want some insight into Japan. Also, Japanese society will NEVER, under any circumstance, accept a foreigner. At the same time, I'd tell the guy who runs the animu store to GTFO. Sounds like a bigger weeaboo than you, my friend.
Dudes.. do you really think all japanese are the same?
Of course. All asians look alike and they groupthink.
>>1
you are right man IT HURTS A LOT when someone says I cant make it to live in Japan or afford living in Tokyo..... but i will prove them all WRONG. Does anyone know any high-paying jobs in Tokyo??
>>42 It's probably cheaper to live and work in an exurb like Shizuoka, and visit Tokyo in your spare time, as it is only 2 hours or so travel time by Shinkansen.
Or you could try becoming a computer programmer.
Think about this: Could you make it living in San Francisco? If you aren't even able to do that, you won't do well with Tokyo.
This is some good fucking bullshit.
"Of course. All asians look alike and they groupthink."
i beg 2 differ.
To the japanese all americans look pretty much the same.
not every1 in east asia r almond shaped eyes, black hair, wutever sterotype u think there is. 4 example, My friend is northern chinese & she looks more russian.
but i do agree it would be harder 2 be accepte in japanese soceity.
Throughout history Japan has looked down upon foriegners. as an american ur probably more used 2 the diverce culture of america.
& tokyo is one of the most expensive cities in the world.
i recomend geting a studio apartment in New York, then save up money & move 2 a smaller city around Tokyo.
I am a roundworm living in >>46's body.
I am sorry >>46 had made this worthless post.
He is a born loser, but he has a big appetite, seldom wash his hands, always be filthy. That made his body our paradise.
Thanks to him, I have grown up to 2.2 meters long.
But one day >>46 had bad diarrhea because he was teased on 4-ch.
He washed away my little brother Kenta from his bowels. Poor Kenta! He was only eight centimeters long then.
Normally >>46 has enough nourishment to feed me and all my brothers and sisters.
I don't want to see my little sister Haruna lament the loss of other family member.
Ladies and gentlemen, >>46 is a good-for nothing fellow, indeed, but please be kind to him.
Hey, don't be a needless ass. >>46-47 is one of the more sensible people in this thread, he's just spelling impaired.
He's also completely incapable of understanding sarcasm.
1) how do u not no i was not being sarcastic 48-50?
2) not all the people here are of the male species, thank you very much
3) so wut if i spell like shit. i blame my worthless keyboard.
today I bought a new one. and the spell check on my computer is now no longer an enemy.
:/
You're going to have to battle with thousands of Japanese geeks for those Akihabara jobs. It's like fighting a short-winded kung-fu army. It's hopeless.
it's true. Foreigners will always stand out and never be accepted into the japanese society. It's one thing to learn to speak the language but it's also another to learn reading/writing. Customs are completely different too and what you may think is normal here, maybe completely insulting there. I'm not exaggerating either.
It's practically impossible to catch up and learn the culture and language.
lol
>>46 my post was a joke in response to "Pierre" who seems to be obsessed with finding Japanese "punx"
I don't really believe that. Don't take it seriously, okay? It's based on a really bad American stereotype.
I wonder...if someone foreign could sort of pass as Japanese looking and changed their name to something relatively normal there maybe they wouldn't stand out so much. I knew this woman named Zhen and hearing that name you realize right away that she's Chinese. I'm sure it's the same in Japan if someone has a name like Amber, or Tom. The more a person appears "normal", the more they'll be treated "normal". I just think about gays in my own country, and how as soon as someone finds out they're gay, they often have a whole different perspective on that person.
I doubt it's possible to be treated like you're born there if you aren't, but it certainly is possible to give people a better image of you, and I think that's the same just about anywhere.
>>56
It won't work, as japanese are the master race, gaijin-sense is among their many superpowers.
How about you be less stupid when reading, instead?
Densha! LMAO
You guys putting him down dont know anything. If you really find the inspiration to do your dream dont give up. I started learning Japanese about half a year ago and doing the hirigana, katakana, and kanji are part of learning the language. If he really wants to he can catch up.. As for gaining employment in Akihabara I know many Otakus from my town who are in demand in Japan for supplying western style comics and merchandise. FYI Japanese people arent just interested manga, and anime, but happen to look abroad for other sorts of entertainnment. I have atleast 7 Japanese penpals who love Spawn. If you can find a store in Akihabara that is in demand for that stuff you could supply that sort of merchandise to them for a lower price that certain online carriers like Amazon. Whoever you are dont give up your dream because people will put you down to make themselves feel better about themselves.
Bullshit
This thread is awesome, Mamushi where did you go??
It isn't that hard. I am going back to Japan soon and probably never coming back home to Aus again.
And FYI Japanese people don't really look down on hakujin. Sure you won't ever be Japanese and they will know, but there are gaijin ghettos and I can easily make friends with Japanese people whilst in Japan.
As >>61 pointed out, Japanese people like Star Wars and lots of American films. Just don't act like an arsehole when you are there. If you like the Japanese and you like Japan then you will fit in well enough.
Oh, and I am going to take a guess and say that >>1's Japanese teacher is white. Because no Japanese person has ever told me I wouldn't fit into Japan. Cause they are fucking Japanese and they know. My language teacher is Japanese (she speaks pretty simple English and we mostly communicate in Japanese) and being a Japanese living in Australia she would find that statement about white people living Japan pretty stupid. The Japanese are friendly. The ones that don't want foreigners are the Japanese equivalent of those guys in western countries that are like "fucking asians".
i`m japanese.do you have any question?
no.
>>66
I have a question- is it possible for white man to be serviced by prostitute in Japan? I heard for example only Japanese allowed into soap massage parlor is it true?
Yeah just because your Japanese dosent mean you speak for all Japanese people. Dont play the special role dumbass..
There's also the option I'm considering.. A good friend of mine is taking a permanent position in Japan as an English teacher, and has offered to put me up in his apartment once he's settled.. Assuming I could land a significant job there (assuming I finally snap at my current day job), that would be an easy way to move. Even if I decline on any official moving, I can still stay with him while visiting, saving on some travel expenses and having a local friend to travel with.
In Japanese society, foreigners are commonly made fun of, rejected, and overall treated in a highly different manner than another Japanese. Japanese people also do not watch a lot of anime at all, nor do they typically read much manga, and "otakus" are commonly rejected and criticized as well.
While I can not speak for everyone, I must say that, as someone who is pursuing Japanese and Asian studies as a major, "otakus" frequently get in the way and are an overall nuisance. Even so, I do not mind them, and have befriended many of them. But when it comes time to get down to business, I'd rather not have that constant fly buzzing around my ear, or bumps in the table as I'm trying to write (speaking figuratively, of course).
I have been studying Japanese for over seven years now. I first started studying by myself, before I moved and took it in school, skipping past the first level. I am now in Japanese III Honors, and taking AP Japanese next year (skipping Japanese IV).
Working at a comic store, there is an infinitesimal door available for you to be able to go to Akiba. Not only would you have to learn the language to get anywhere economically there, but you'd also have to adjust and adapt, which isn't as easy as it sounds. At all.
Furthermore, Japan is an expensive place to live. Expensive. There is also a high demand for housing, as well as the different houses. Since Japan has a government like Britain, it is divided into classes. This is why the rich people normally have big houses, and the average businessman (even if he may be considered highly successful) has an apartment or condominium.
To give you a short walkthrough, you would have to learn the language and culture, starting from before or at the time you start high school. Then you would have to take part in several or many activities which show your eagerness to learn and take part in Japanese and its studies. You would need to keep your GPA up, find a nice college, get accepted, shine more than the other students there, take the college courses (obviously), major in something related to Japanese such as Asian Studies, as well as Japanese in Graduate school. You should also study abroad sometime during college. Then, after all of that, you would have to find a way of getting the money for a ticket to Japan, living expenses, transportation, etc. as well as getting to know the area immediately, seeing as how you'll need a place to live.
While you may think that just because you have a strong will towards going to Japan, there are many obstacles that stand in your way, and most of them depend on time, and then academics and money. Furthermore, a great amount of logic and common sense is needed, as well as flexibility.
Even though you want to go to Japan, there are far too many things that you won't expect. You obviously haven't even begun to scratch the surface of even the slightest knowledge of what Japan actually is yet, and, even if you do manage to make it there, the chances of you leading a better life both depend on your past actions (college, etc.) and availability. Japan is very busy, very busy. Most businessmen work so much, they basically commute home.
Therefore, if you truly want to live in Akiba, you better hope you have family ties there. Especially considering your attitude towards learning the language. When you take on this objective, there is no room nor time for being pompous.
>>65 And how common are those Westerners? Very. I've been to Japan, and, while I was fortunate enough to be able to meet such nice people and go to such beautiful places, here and there I would receive looks or hear mocking insults. Even though your teacher is Japanese, that doesn't mean that she represents Japan.
>>70
While English teachers are frequently hired in Japan, a lot of them are on the JET program, which only lets them stay for three years before they have to pack their bags and return home.
>>71
Well, sounds like you've got this all planned out to the tee don't ya? I've been self-studying Japanese for about three years now and I've been writing to several Japanese penpals. They are all very kind to me and hope that I come visit Japan some day. Permanently staying there might be a different situation, but visiting Akiba shouldn't be difficult if you learn some basic kanji to get around and know some useful phrases and things to say to get around. Going to Japan doesn't have to involve a lifetime of effort. Just do it! ...of course, easier said than done since the only thing that's holding me back right now is finances :/
>>73
Ironically enough, my friend is considering two positions, one that could be permanent independently, and a separate, Jet-program teaching position;
Personally, I'm not sure which I'd hope for... I suppose the permanent position would be nice, if the money was available, but it would mean his living in Japan permanently, which I don't know if I'd want to do, myself... On the other hand, having a stint of a few years in Japan would also perhaps be nicer, as you wind up more "assisted" in living arrangement by the Jet program itself, and don't have to permanently uproot yourself...
perhaps the japanese might treat foreigners rudely... but that is not reason not to go. I'm black and live in america, and i get treated like ass all the time. I have a Masters english literature and in accounting. I administer two medium sized companies from top to bottom. it still doesn't make a difference and I was born here...as were all my peoples for 400 years.
So I say go to akiba... have fnu, enjoy yourself. Yet, don't act like a jerk. that way when people say "look at the ghost." You can ignore them and know that you walked away from a flame war which would never end.
there are good peoples in the world and bad. and just because you don't speak japanese doesn't mean not to go! Hell, half the people who live in america don't speak proper english! so bah! if you wanted to travel the world you wouldn't have to learn every single language would you?
so save up and fly there.... listen to those who are jealous, and you'll never go....
and be rpoud to be an Otaku, after all, otaku's are actually giving a service to mangaka and animators. without the otaku here or else where, they'd at best have a mediocre job writing comics for some newspaper prolly owned by a Gaijin.
>>74
I don't know everything about it, but I'm in a place where I know a fuck of a lot more than many people, because, instead of asking about things, I've learned how to comprehend them myself. Such as going there and whatnot, but also any finances involved and all that complicated stuff, and it bothers me to walk through the halls every day and always hear those couple of kids who are so obsessed with Japan, it's both annoying and scary.
It's not easy. It's not impossible, but certainly not easy. It's not even moderately hard, it's difficult. Unless you have connections, it is extremely difficult, and I'll be damned if I sit here and watch you and many others try to cheer this person up by making it sound any different. For, in this situation, it is best to hear the truth than to possibly wind up going there and finding out you're completely fucked.
I have been involved with tutoring, teaching, TA, and, of course, the language class itself, as well as the club, for two years now, prior to which I was doing the same, just out of school. As I have mentioned, I have also gone to Japan, and I speak Japanese everyday. In fact, I speak so much Japanese, that it's equaled, if not surpassed, my English usage, making it hard to tell people what my primary language is.
But I don't say this to brag, for I am the last person to do that. I am simply telling you this to reinforce that I have a great deal of experience with Japan and its language and culture, and that my advice is not much of an opinion, but rather an unstable fact. I'm not trying to say I'm right, you're wrong, I'm saying that a lot of what I said is proven, and still going on, the letters and numbers right under your nose.
>>68
There are places which cater to gaijin.
i mean, there are japanese people living in japan that are obsessed with american culture, or some aspect of it. im quite sure that there are groups of japanese obsessed with rock 'n roll such as elvis, who dress like elvis, geek out about elvis and all that grease american grafitti type stuff. and they want to come here and eat cheeseburgers and malt shakes and wear leather jackets and smoke cigarettes and put their thumb in the air just like the fonz. and what do you think of them? yeah. and they might become bewildered as to why you arent obsessed with that classic american style, why you arent in love with elvis and the beach boys, and you might be tempted to answer, "that shit is totally uncool" and "no one likes that shit anymore". but you know what, a large part of america still loves elvis, the middle of america, the cheap trashy part of america, the cheesy part of america. and thats what you are to them, the cheesy part of japan. in germany david hasselhoff is god, because from a distance, he still has not become homogenized. john tesh and all that jazz. from a distance, things are always fun fun fun. the distance adds depth and when combined with something shallow, is a smooth blend.
and my other thought is that the american otaku was born from entertainment restrictions due to living in outlying areas, restricted to a book store like barnes and nobles, restricted to easy to swallow sugary fun with pictures entertainment that mom will buy without noticing the SEX young child.
i amuse myself.
Signed, but not all "otaku culture" is junk. Hell, I take it back, ALL of it is junk, but according to SUPERFLAT, that applies to just about all other Japanese art.
I guess there's good junk and bad junk. I like good junk, like bad junk.
>>80 how incredibly interesting it is that you mention SUPERFLAT. i think i like you.
morons.
>>82
welcome to the internets, enjoy your stay
For me as a PHD in physics there's a good way in to japan: finding work there as a post-doc in physics.
It'll get costs and housing covered, but most likely i will have to work quite hard anyway to be bothered going to Akihabara if i would work in Tokyo, anywahere else and Akihabara looks more like a vacation to me.
@ opening poster: With 16 years, no diploma and near to no knowledge of japan, its language and its society, i fear you won't land any job there and get shipped back to whatever country you came from.
If you find some way to stay, it's most likely because yakuza recruit you to ship illegal stuff or because you end up as some homeless hobo.
Just have more patience, learn japanese, learn japan's culture and get a diploma that has some worth in japan AND the country you live in.
I recommend taking up physics, chemistry or any other science subject, because that's global stuff and opens up access to many countries, of which japan.
Anyway, good luck.
>>82 THATS RIGHT FAGG0T, USE THE DARK SIDE OF THE FORCE
excite us.
>>85
Well if it isn't yet another decrement to society.
How kind of you to take part in this discussion.
However, if you had bothered to read 84's comments, you would have seen that they were very similar to mine.
That's right, run along now, little tyke.
Everyone knows the opening poster is a dumbass, but that doesn't mean we can mock him without being wapelitists.
Remember, the only thing separating マムシ_72さい and Kenji is that one of them has better grammar.
>>87
So you just said we should be elitists, and then complimented me.
Why should we be elitists? Wtf.
You may have better grammar, but I think you need to work on your reading comprehension.
Hey there!
I'm 25. 7 years ago I moved to Japan after learning some of the language (I didn't learn any Kanji, just Hiragana, Katakana and speaking). I went there on my own, got a job as an English teacher, and was pretty easily accepted into society. Don't listen to what people say about being stared at or isolated - I'm still an English teacher with a husband and a daughter, and from being here for a while, my language has picked up and I feel like I belong here.
I've always had a mega-obsession with Japan and anime and the music and cosplay and everything, and trust me it doesn't even get boring after you've been here a while! (Hey, 7 years and I'm not bored)
I suggest you take out a loan or something to rent a cheap flat (luxury isn't neccessary, right? )
Go for it!
Good Luck!
^_^
oh by the way: Only problem is, they often don't get sarcasm! some do, but when my husband laughs and says ''You can't use chopsticks very well'' I say ''Oh, and you're so good with a kinfe and fork'' I find myself hilarious, but he just looks puzzled X(
My brother and I are part chinese(dad is half azn) my bro lived there for a while and they loved him, so don't Iisten to these fucks. im sorry but I dont approve of going to japan for anime, nihon is not cartoons.
>>89
"...but that doesn't mean we can mock him without being wapelitists."
omg you made a joudan out of his inferior gaijin grammer ! you are so sugoi !!
This thread just gets more and more hilarious. Thanks for keeping me entertained.
wow. i cant beleive my thread grew this much.
ok ok i have bad grammar. thats because I bare;y knew english untill 4th grade. my dads an spanish teacher at a spanish immersion school. i was pulled out because of my english deficiencies. its a bad excuse tho I guess i just suck.
I returned to this place because I was depressed and was fucking up at school again.im usually on 4chan.org. I need a reason to work otherwise I get nowhere. It freaks me out that I got all of these responces.
I guess i feel a little bit more confident now. but I still feel like its imposible (mou muri po po po -- lol) to the positive peope thanks for your help. to the negative people thanks for your input.
wtf... yeah I am fodder for you dumbasses by self proclaiming myself as an ameri-can OTAkU. so fucking what.
check it kenji. since you are so smart, you should realize that most people here don't give a damn about all your blah blah blah about:
whine voice I have liiiiiiiiived in Japan and IIIIIII have learned over such and such amount of nihongo and I reeeeeeeeefused to sit here and let you tell him and.... just SHUT UP ALREADY.
you said you didn't mean to brag while you did it at the end of all your fucking whining and bragging snort
someone said that in Japan they are obsessed with western culture. and damn it kenji you know it too you dumbass. i been there and you know what. THEY ARE!!! YOU KNOW IT. the salary man... disappearing if you read hiragana times. why... trends, subcultures, and the nail gettin hammered down is going to the bye-bye
No i dun speak nihongo and you know what... I don't feel weird about it either. so save me from your stupid ass but but IIIIIIIIIIIII preach it to someone who cares.
ALL OTAKUS SHOULD GO TO JAPAN. JUST LIKE PILGRIMS MAKE PILGRIMAGES TO CHURCH, SHIRES, COUNTRIES OR WHATEVER. JUST BECAUSE ANIME AND MANGA IS NOT A SANCTIONED RELIGION BY A GOVERNMENT, WE HAVE TO TREAT IT LIKE SOME WEIRD THING?
that thinking is just as bad as right wing elitist which, some of you sound like.
keep the faith and for those who dun wanna hear the truth then cut your ears off.
on a side note. besides my harsh feedback. I agree that people shouldn't go over there with no job and or anything. that's just as bad as going over thinking like fucking kenji. who prolbably thinks he is japanese himself
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
you wanna japanese wife kenji? go to Roppongi... it ain't all peaches in Japan you know
I dont want to be a jerk but Im in japanese III at a local college. and Im only in highschool. also I tend to refuse to relate with people who use random japanese such as "kawaii and sugoi"even the word otaku being used to self describe angers me and I prefer the word anime nerd. I really cant stand It when someone claims to be "otaku" as they are doing somethinf dating someone or smoking pot. (><) pisses me off.
2007/4/8 akihabara.tokyo.japan
>>98
... good for you. and you know that's like an American whining saying... oh i hate when foreigners come over here and say they are b-boys. they should just say that they like to breakdance or listen to hip-hop. with the thinking that everyone is saying here, we might as well all call ourselves lame, because no doubt, someone is always going to think that we are trying to be something we aren't. even using the word nerd has it's own connotations.
so yeah, Otaku is a word that has been through the ringer. but it's here to stay, whether the actual meaning is now what we use it for.
ass = donkey
ass = someone's behind... they don't match do they?
shit happens
That's more like a common mis-spelling of "arse".
But eiither way it's language perverting.
exactly ?__?
most people who use the word otaku are half assed anime fans who obviously dont fit the steryo type. there are few people who acctually went through the teasing ridicule and social problems real nerd go through. the word otaku is acctually just a stronger version of nerd in japan
i guess so.... but i just refuse to call myself a nerd. i am very social 'n shit... i dun like nerds too much either. but I have been into anime since i was about 5 (speed racer, tranzor Z, voltron and shit) i'm in my 30's now so it's been a hella long time.
but see the thing is this. since we have adopted the name Otaku, i actually appreciate t he fact that cooler peoples can be Otaku's too. cuz i dun consider myself a big nerd, i go out and shit with cute ass people. tho i know i put that long as definition there, i think what people think Otaku was, should change.
i'm indecisive about the whole damned thing. it does piss me off when people who have only watched 1 anime call themselves an Otaku, but on the other hand I dun like ugly ass people calling themselves an otaku just to belong to something and wear it as a badge of honor either.
actually I guess for once ya'll could help me out on this.
listens
and if you a dumb ass don't try to get all whiney on me... i'll just flame forever and ever
>Japanese people also do not watch a lot of anime at all, nor do they typically read much manga.
THATS NOT WHAT THE INTERNET TOLD ME! >:(
I am very late in on this topic, but yes, a lot of what has been said by the intelligent people in this topic is true.
HERE IS THE REALITY:
If you are totally obsessed with anime, etc, it is better to stay in america. You will not be accepted in Japanese society. Otakus are considered even bigger fags in Japan by the general public than they are in america. It is no wonder why most otaku in japan can't get women and are social outcasts.
If you do go to Japan and think "well I don't care if the general population accepts me, I just want the otakus, maids, etc to accept me". Well, that won't happen. Fact of the matter is, the anime otaku in japan hate gaijin even more than the general population does. They don't want you coming into their zone, their world, and fagging it all up. Most foreigners act as assholes in Japan, and as such, all of us foreigners are stereotyped as such, regardless if you are being nice or not.
The only group that will really accept you are the japanese that are obsessed with american things such as elvis, american music, american lifestyle, american cars, etc, etc. Basically the exact opposite of what you are.
I would never discourage someone from traveling. You write broad, stereotypical generalizations, although I know where you're coming from and a lot of what you say is valid.
Even so, I would recommend >>1 to go to Japan and find out for himself how the Japanese view him. I don't know >>1 in the slightest, how incredibly preposterous it would be for me to evaluate his ability to "be accepted in Japanese society"? The best I can do is suggest to him where and how to get the cheapest tickets, and hope he type up a report on his findings.
Then I can make fun of him, if what he types is amusing.
Good luck >>1!
Actually I think you'll find that many people in Japan are interested in Anime/Japanese pop culture AND foreign stuff. You could find plenty of people to have conversations with, if you're the type of person who likes to have conversations.
And since when does visiting/living in Japan imply "becoming Japanese"? Do you study German, and move to Germany with the intention of becoming a German? That's just stupid. You wouldn't do that with any country. Maybe with a similar, very cosmopolitan country, with a common language, but even then it can be difficult...
I wonder why people are so fixated with this detail? I think it must simply amount to a racial issue. Because Japanese look different than many foreigners, and on top of that a long, very insular history, they're "orientalised" and made remote and somewhat mystical, a little de-humanised. Yes, they are Japan, they are very insular compared to America. Foreigners can't just walk in and >>1 knows that, and rightfully doesn't care, they're also human beings, however, and they're also world leaders in a globalised and interconnected world, and no, they are not samurai. I think the situation would be similar if a white guy wanted to move to Abuja, to "get in on" Nigerian culture. I think actually this guy would have a much harder time in Nigeria than >>1 in Japan, but I'm just guessing.
Perhaps it's because Americans, British, and French are so used to the foreign presence of members of their former colonies, that they can't imagine the reverse situation.
Increasingly, Japan has more and more foreigners living and working there who have carved out some place for themselves as a "resident foreigner". A kind of condition that millions across the globe live in. Many of these people are satisfied, since they remain there, and some of them marry and start families there as well. Many of them make friends and have neighbors who they speak with. Their Gaijin, definitely, they'll almost certainly never "be Japanese" no matter how good their mastery of the language/culture, but Who would expect them to be? How can you expect to be Japanese if you don't have a Japanese past? It's stupid to be telling >>1 or anyone else these things everybody knows.
If it were really true that Japanese people didn't read much manga, the bookstores over there wouldn't have such large manga sections.
As the leading commander of the Buff Clan I would like to say that The Japanese have no comparison to my or my subordiantes SAMURAI Spirit! Those damn Logo Dao aliens can't compare to the true Spirit a SAMURAI should have... tears form If any should try and trample my passion come forth and you will be be headed by my SAMURAI honor!
come to here tokyo, its no so difficult that the thing to do you get to here is go into airplane heading to tokyo.
like just 8 hours trip?
yes better have much money with you if you like to buy goods at akiba?
apology for my sad english..
i been to NY and Hawaii years ago. my memory..
Everyone from little girls to grown men read manga, I thought we all knew this. It's only anime that carries the stigma.
THAT is fucking proof that not all Otaku hate Gajin. All of the trolls may eat their shit and go back to 4cahn.
You will never know what you will encounter in life.
What >>120 said is true.
Check out the English board on 2ch if you
want an example of otaku that like foreign
culture.
Yeah,
And how about every single "foreigner" moe character in all kinds of manga/anime from Evangelion to Ichigo Mashimaro and Lucky Star.
The difference is those gaijin speak fluent Japanese.
?
I don’t hate foreigner. Only fun thing counts, not nationality.
Ah, and language skill…
>>123
Well, you shouldn't go to Japan if you don't speak Japanese.
>>125
I agree, but the JET program pulls in heaps of people who can't.
Japan is for Japanophiles...
And Japanese.
Eh, everyone has their stupid obsessions. Anime, Video Games, Sports, Cars, Liquor, Idol/Actor Worship, Sex, etc. And to some degree, we all needlessly belittle each other because we don't conform to the "norm" of society perpetuated by the media which in itelf is pretty shallow and stupid. Just do what you want to do and damned if the people around you don't like it. As long as you'e enjoying it, noone else matters. It's not like you actually care about the nameless masses anyway.
And remember the no matter how different Japanese culture is from American culture, the Japanese are still people. They have the same day to day struggles we do. It's true for everyone in the world. Don't assume things about people withut getting to know them. Just wait a while, learn your Japanese, save up sme money, then go visit Japan.
Hop on a plane and go. Airfares aren't that expensive. You'll have fun. Just go for a holiday.
from japan!!
Holy crap, this thread again.
Thanks >>130, now I'm all nostalgic for 4-ch's early days.
This entire thread. I have no words.