Otaku
Otaku is a Japanese word for people who are very into one or more hobbies, especially anime, manga, video games, or technology. It describes fans who spend a lot of time and energy on their interests.
The term started in the 1980s. A writer named Akio Nakamori used otaku in a 1983 essay as a blunt label for “unpleasant” fans. It comes from お宅 (otaku), a word that originally meant “your house” or “your family.” Over time in Japan, otaku came to mean someone who is a devoted geek or nerd, and in English it’s often used for anime and manga fans.
Otaku culture grew with the anime boom and the rise of Comic Market. The internet helped it spread even more. At first, otaku were seen as social outcasts, and a 1989 murder case linked to heavy media focus on otaku made the stereotype stronger. In the 1990s and 2000s, though, many otaku works gained mainstream attention and respect, and the culture began to feel more accepted.
Today, many people in Japan and abroad identify as otaku. A 2013 study found a large portion of Japanese teens said they were otaku in some form, suggesting the term’s stigma had lessened. Still, otaku can be used negatively in some contexts.
There are many kinds of otaku, such as anime/manga otaku, video game otaku, electronics otaku, camera otaku, or idol otaku. Some specialized terms include fujoshi (female fans of yaoi) and ōkina otomodachi (adult fans who enjoy media aimed at younger audiences). Tokyo’s Akihabara and Ikebukuro’s Otome Road are famous hubs for otaku culture.
Otaku culture also has a strong economic impact and has inspired many books, movies, and TV shows. It’s common for fans to poke fun at themselves through self-deprecating works. Globally, the word otaku has spread through films, games, and online communities, and it continues to grow as a broad label for devoted fans of various hobbies. Some Western fans worry the term carries negative stereotypes or cultural differences, while others proudly embrace it.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 21:37 (CET).