Chances are, you’ve seen this by now. If not, give it a read.
It would be beneficial to then read Shingo’s comments, as he does an excellent job detailing the shortcomings of Mimei Sakamoto’s take on otaku culture. As for my thoughts, well… there’s a reason I’ve started and aborted this post several times thus far. While I agree Sakamoto’s screed is a troll at heart, I think her general criticism of “moe” and its negative impact on otaku culture in Japan is on target.
Obviously, I can’t agree with her intentionally inflammatory argument that, given the increasing popularity of “moe” characters and titles in anime, otaku are naturally perverts and pedophiles. On the other hand, to suggest that pedophilia isn’t common among otaku would be delusional. A walk through the bowels of Akihabara is all the evidence one needs. But whether “moe” breeds pedophilia, satisfies pedophilic urges, or has anything to do with pedophilia whatsoever is as open to debate as the definition of “moe” itself.
Reality and perception, however, are very different things, and as long as the perception that otaku are little more than closet child molesters continues to gain traction, it matters less and less what the reality of the situation is.
Unfortunately, otaku aren’t particularly well-versed in the art of public relations. Mustering any sort of response doesn’t fit at all with the “tune in, tune out” otaku mindset. Worse yet, the typical otaku response to outside criticism is either, 1) reflexive defensiveness, 2) intellectually dishonest acquiescence, or 3) passive indifference. Obviously, these are all pretty piss-poor, ineffective responses to pointed criticism, and do little more than cast otaku as bigger wimps than they already are. Is this what otaku desire, however? Perpetual persecution?
I think so.
Mind you, I don’t think otaku desire persecution in the sense that, say, some religious groups desire persecution - that is, in hopes of attracting followers and building morale. Rather, I feel otaku desire persecution because it so often validates their pessimistic view of the world and their place within it.
But, what holds true for Japanese otaku does not necessarily hold true for American otaku… not yet, at least. And that’s where my real concern lies. Regrettably, the underworld of American fandom seems awfully eager to import all of these issues wholesale - embrace them, even - regardless of the fact American society is far less forgiving of such social aberrance than Japanese society. I have some sympathy for young men in Japan who find refuge in anime, manga, and games in response to the incredible pressures of the society in which they live. American otaku, on the other hand? I’m not so sure.
Now, I don’t share these thoughts because I hope to get a rise out of my fellow anime fan. I find it strange (or telling?), however, that most anime blog discussion of Mimei Sakamoto’s comments thus far have focused on everything but the difficult social questions within. Do we “tune out” at our own peril?
Isn’t that the essence of the alternative label? Or rather, why it’s worse than kogals or those funkily dressed youths walking around on a nice weekend in Tokyo?
As to your question, I can answer on my own behalf that it has to do with how it impacts the western otaku. I focused on the commercial aspect because that is the one thing which directly impacts western fans. Fact remains that the Japanese internet is still fairly off-limits to most anime otaku-types because we can’t read. What’s left in the interchange are websites like ANN, blogs like this, or commercial efforts like Mainichi or Geneon or ADV. In some ways I think in the US alone, there is more fragmentation between fans arising simply from diversity in culture and geographical limitations compared to Japan. What’s left to thread us together are those commercial enterprises ranging from anime cons (while often run by fans, are often sponsored heaviliy by commercial interests) to home video sales.
“The social question” you are really after is the elephant in the room. Depends on how you ask yourself you might miss it just because it’s so big and I’m not sure where you can start tackle this issue. It’s easily worth writing a book on, and a lot more.
Is it an idea of thinking that “If we forget about it, then it will go away?” Or something like it being used to validate the existence of the anime otaku culture? Probably neither of these, but…
I know that in my personal opinion, I’m still uncomfortable about telling people that I like anime, because of the some of the more negative perceptions that I think people have with it. I don’t want most people to know that a side of me like that exists more than anything else, I guess. Or if backlash against anime otaku occurs, I’ll pretend that it doesn’t affect me, which does parallel the otaku mindset, to some extent.
I do think that Western anime otaku are much more proactive at putting themselves into the spotlight than Japanese anime fans, it seems. Our fanboys and fangirls are a nice visible example of that (to the annoyance of other anime fans, who probably dislike possibly being viewed in a less then positive light). Though in both versions, the result can be unconsciously or consciously thrusting otaku culture into the national spotlight, and the issues that arise with what’s sometimes produced in anime will inevitably be brought up as well, as shown in Sakamoto’s article. Chances also are that few specific issues will be used to define anime otaku, and how it’s dealt with will define how otaku are treated, I guess.
Is the philosophy of “any publicity is good publicity” in the case of Japanese anime otaku important? I would think so, but I also would think that people’s natural tendencies are to try and place what they like in a positive light, so the majority passive Japanese anime otaku attitude is strange. Have they really become that pessimistic? Afraid of society? Elitist? As to the Western anime otaku, what would they do? Drop moe like it’s hot, and say that that doesn’t represent anime at all? Happily embrace moe, despite it’s misguided negative connotations?
And I can see why Jeff and omo decided not to try and go on. Too much guesswork, and not so easy answers. I think I’m going to say more on this later though. :P
Indeed, “alternative” sub-cultures of all sorts are alive and well in Japan. Whether they have their root in the ills of Japanese society or not, I don’t know. Not all sub-cultures are cut from the same cloth. And not all participants have the same story. As an American on the outside looking in, I’m left to scratch my head much of the time, even despite having had the benefit of living there for a short time and observing it firsthand. Observation and experience aren’t one in the same, though.
American fandom is indeed very fragmented (oddly enough, I’ve been sitting on a post on that very subject for awhile now), and the commercial culture of anime is indeed one of the few things that ties us all together. On the other hand, it’s kind of a banal topic. But what’s banal to me obviously isn’t all that banal to others. Just look at how many people post on the AoD message boards.
And, yeah, the social question is the elephant in the room. Or the bull in the china shop. It’s fascinating and frightening at the same time. And figuring out where to start IS difficult… sometimes, it just helps to start somewhere, I suppose. Even when the destination is shrouded in fog.
I think I’m out of metaphors.
We are not talking about Moe’s Southwest Grill, right? The hard thing is how to find a good middle point between conscientious activism and not ruining other’s fun by over-analyzing things. We do have to make it known that some sub-cultures and anime do have roots in the ills of Japanese society. We also have to make it known that there are other animes and sub-cultures standing up against those evil roots. Saiunkogu Monogatari is a good statement against male chauvinism rampant in Asian society ( I can’t think of one Asian country without this problem ). Peto-peto San did make some subtle statements about poverty and racism in Japan. Lament of the Lamb and many other series by the author Kei Toume address the society’s fear of what is different. And there is that series, Confidential Confession. It is important to educate people about the diversity of the world. The trouble is, hardest thing to do is to educate people on merits of views differnt from their’s. So what can we do? I don’t know, except one thing: Live a good life.
I guess one reason why Japanese otaku don’t really respond to these criticism is because of this feeling that “these criticism isn’t really about us” - maybe somewhat of a denial, but they will try to tell themselves that these people aren’t really attacking them per se but a segment of the otaku population, which is different from them and therefore they have no need to respond. Rather, if they respond to that criticism then people will think that they are the kind of otaku that are being criticized and for the most part, people don’t want that kind of attention.
This sort of behavior seems to especially common on the internet - such as 2chan and the like. If someone is being criticized in some thread and someone jumps in to defend that person, others will immediately start saying that the person trying to do the defending must either be the person in question or some friend in real life. Unfortunately, however, this behavior doesn’t seem like something that is restricted to internet either. For an example, in many “ijime” cases if someone tried to step in and stop the ijime they often became the next target instead. So in many cases they just opt for passive indifference rather than doing something about and possibly becoming the next traget.
Nope. She just wants some damn attention.
I say she should meet Jack Thompson.
Well, if someone goes LOL ANIME, I am more inclined to off the ‘tard on the spot. Thankfully, the society here, hypocritical as it is, allows some sort of ‘freedom’ as to the otaku subculture.
As for me, due to anger issues(see above), I’m forced to ‘tune out’, else I start on a civil war, or become a mass-murderer. I’m that angry.
Good point, Yagami. And I may be guilty of the same thing here, assuming that Sakamoto’s criticism only applies to “true” Japanese otaku, and not lesser fans - or hardcore American fans such as myself. When you think about, it seems awfully arrogant of me as an American to sit here essentially calling Japanese otaku wimps, especially when we have so much in common.
I guess it’s a discouraging situation all the way around. And I think my concern isn’t so much for otaku in Japan - they’ve managed pretty well on their own all these years, after all - but rather for “budding” otaku here in the States. I’m concerned that so many American fans want to emulate the same sort of self-destructive behavior that’s marginalized their Japanese counterparts without considering the long term damage it does. A lot of American fans make a big fuss about anime being viewed with a suspicious eye, only to behave in such a fashion as to attract suspicion.
It’s worth noting, however, that I’m just as likely to tune out as anyone else, so it’s not like my comments are meant to be a call to arms or anything of the sort. I just think it’s an interesting topic worthy of discussion.
Funny as it seems, I think DrmChsr0’s got it right: you just have to do what you got to do. We are not much better than Sakamoto if all we do is armchairing. Anime’s positive message, no matter how wontaek pads it, is pointless if we don’t follow it. I don’t think she’s a Jack Thompson (nor do I think Jack Thompson is as bad as everyone who made him out to be); even if she is, her message is one that a society needs to consider in order to learn its flaws.
LOL anime indeed.
It all varies on definition, and culture. For example in South Africa, I consider myself pretty otaku, for simply knowing what the word means, as well as being a semi-regular watcher of anime but unlike some of my friends, I don’t exhibit many “otaku” qualities. For eg, a friend of mine, spends most of his monthly salary on anime/manga and figurines. Some of the guys I know in close by cities do things like cosplay etc. In turns of actually being “otaku”, I am more of a softcore fan, not the hardcore type who devotes all his time to his hobby. That being said I still collect craploads of the stuff, and barely watch any of it. Also “otaku” here are way more social, we have jobs, go to movies, go to the beach, are often gamers, we have lives outside of anime culture…kinda like the genshiken guys (which probably explains why I like genshiken so much ^_^). But I think Genshiken is a poor representation of Otaku culture in japan, which seems to have a much darker side than it lets on to.
But back on topic, it all depends on your culture. Japanese Otaku I think are more anti-social/hardcore/devout to their hobby. In regards to the whole pedophilia thing, I wouldn’t know about japanese otaku. All I know is what I have seen from anime, watched in movies, or read online. But what I can say is that there does tend to be quite a load of young female characters (sub 16 years) who are often portrayed as sexual objects. What does this say? I don’t know. At the end of the day they are just drawings after all, and whether ppl choose to get off to the fact that she has 32dd boobs or the fact that she is 14 is entirely in their own heads.
To put someone who has some loli hentai on their PC into the same bracket as someone who has ACTUAL child porn on their pc would be a mistake imo. The problem with child pornography is the fact that it fucks up the children who are involved in it, hand drawn loli didn’t have any feelings last time I checked. It’s a lesser evil I guess. The threat comes in when someone progresses from having loli hentai to actually seeking out little girls, which is a very real threat.
Even I have a bit of a straight shota fetish (thats younger boys with older women, the hentai manga/doujinshi often get into incest themes, but hey thats another story), have had major hots for my best friends mom for a long time, same for 35 year old french lecturer with real 32d breasts (who sadly left campus a while ago :( ). One of my favourite hentai manga of all time is Secret Plot (Secret Plot Deep gets a bit too much in some places for me) which often places pubescant boys (notice I could take the sting off it by saying young men) at the sexual whims of their two sex mad teachers, but does that make me a pedo? Don’t know :/
You guys should really check out the sheer volume of elementary japanese school girl porn sites online.
Add to that the increasingly youthful character designs of eroge nowadays.
And the rise of prepubescent idols like Sweet Kiss.
Let’s see… Until about 200 years ago, human life expectancy was less than 50, which means you get married ( or mate ) at ages around 14-16 and see your grandchilderen by your 40s. This probably was true for couple of million years as well. I guess we have not sufficiently evolved. The whole female related ‘moe’ thing is reflection of Asian societys’ views towards women and children, with surprising majority of grown men considering them more as a possessions instead of someone of their equal. This is something that needs to be addressed by political and educational institutions, but writers like Sakamoto and other politicians dodge it by shifting the blame on the weakest segments of the populations.Porn. eroge, and idols all need MAJOR capitals to be launched and stay afloat. These BIG moneys are not coming from Otakus, but main stream Mass-media, among which are newspapers. If they are so concerned, they should call out the generous indifference and callousness of the common people in their society, yet they won’t do so for fear of negative publicity. Believe it or not, the people who are capable of speaking out against these pervasive atrocities are people who are not afraid of ignoring the social norm; someone like Otakus. I know many Otaku like people in Korea who are the most enlightened people I have ever met; yet the main stream mass media takes time and effort to keep them silent. Of course that there are so many varieties of Otaku, that some have given into dark desires, but when opportunity presents itself, we should take whatever action we can spare from daily grinds of our lives, that these faults of society is the responsibility of EVERYONE, and these articles are aimed to lessen the guilt of people who aren’t doing much to prevent these ills.
uh, edit
change ‘ the generous indifference’ to ‘ the general indifference ‘
I don’t know about ‘real otaku’, but THIS duckish otaku wants the picture at the top of this post with a dark background… so I can use it as a wallpaper.
Wonderduck, here’s a larger version to play around with.
Thanks, Jeff!!!