GEEK OUT

Otaku culture encompasses some of Japan’s most unique youth-centric media including anime, manga, and cosplay

It has frequently been said that one day the geeks will inherit the earth.

Sometimes in Tokyo you could be forgiven for thinking that this has already occurred.

The Japanese capital is steeped in otaku (geek) culture with totems such as anime, manga, cosplay, and video gaming a colourful and often dominant presence in many of the city’s more youth-centric enclaves.

Otaku culture is a subculture that originated in Japan and has spread to other countries. It is characterized by a strong interest in anime, manga, video games, and other forms of pop culture media. Otaku culture is often associated with a lifestyle that revolves around these forms of media, and it is often associated with a strong sense of community.

Otaku culture includes a wide range of different interests, such as cosplay, collecting figures and other merchandise, attending conventions and events, and participating in online communities. Many otaku are also involved in creating their own fanworks, such as fan art, music, and videos.

Otaku culture is often seen as a subculture that is separate from mainstream culture, and it is often associated with a sense of being an “outsider” or “geek.” However, over the last few decades, otaku culture has become more mainstream in Japan and other countries, and it is now considered to be a significant part of pop culture.

Otaku and its many symbols can be discovered around the city and a tour of its many hotspots is a must for anyone fascinated by the often-sublime inspiration that feeds into the subculture.

Hard by Tokyo Station is “Character Street”, a thoroughfare lined with stores fixated on different anime characters and series.

Other centres of otaku culture, meanwhile, include Harajuku, Tokyo’s youth fashion mecca, and Akihabara where dozens of shops are devoted to anime, manga, figurines, card games and other collectibles.

There are several places in Japan outside of Tokyo where visitors can experience otaku culture. Prime geek-spotting territory includes Nipponbashi in Osaka, which is well-endowed with anime and manga shops, and Mandarake Complex in Nagoya.