Fandom Unbound: Otaku Culture in a Connected World

by Mizuko Ito (Editor), Daisuke Okabe (Editor), Izumi Tsuji (Editor)

In recent years, otaku culture has emerged as one of Japan’s major cultural exports and as a genuinely transnational phenomenon. This timely volume investigates how this once marginalized popular culture has come to play a major role in Japan’s identity at home and abroad. In the American context, the word otaku is best translated as “geek”—an ardent fan with highly specialized knowledge and interests. But it is associated especially with fans of specific Japan-based cultural genres, including anime, manga, and video games. Most important of all, as this collection shows, is the way otaku culture represents a newly participatory fan culture in which fans not only organize around niche interests but produce and distribute their own media content. In this collection of essays, Japanese and American scholars offer richly detailed descriptions of how this once stigmatized Japanese youth culture created its own alternative markets and cultural products such as fan fiction, comics, costumes, and remixes, becoming a major international force that can challenge the dominance of commercial media. By exploring the rich variety of otaku culture from multiple perspectives, this groundbreaking collection provides fascinating insights into the present and future of cultural production and distribution in the digital age.

Genres: Nonfiction, Japan, Sociology, Fandom, Reference, Manga

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Kim Pallister · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very insightful and enlightening collection of essays about Otaku culture, it's evolution and traits across various sub-segments and communities. It was a bit too academic and dense for my personal tastes, but that may be a personal preference thing. YMMV.

From the history of Train Otaku, to the evolution of Akihabara, to covering communities ranging from 'undercover' Boys Love fandom to fiercely competitive Fighting Game fandom.. the book covers a wide range.

Several of the concepts, for me anyway, offered interesting insights into behavior in other segments of fandom - from "grand database vs grand narrative" as a concept, to information-as-currency amongst Otaku - there were many good concepts and frameworks to borrow from here.

[Joel Gn · Rating 2 out of 5]

A little lacking in the diversity of perspectives, in my opinion. Most of the contributors are Japanese, and more than a couple of them have more than one essay in the volume, so certain arguments may not fully account for the current transnational or intercultural impact of ACG content. Nevertheless, it's a neat introduction that will benefit any newcomer who is curious about the roots and nuances of otaku culture.

[Clarissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely a worthwhile collection for anyone interested in otaku studies. The contributions on train otaku, Akihabara, and Comiket are particularly interesting, and sorely needed since most English-language scholarship remains focused (for obvious reasons) on American fandom and practices. For those more focused on those domestic otaku communities, Lawrence Eng's chapters on otaku ethics and the development of online resources should be useful resources.