Another Article About Foreigners In Akihabara

[Mulboyne]

AFP: Japanese manga culture draws devotees as it gains global foothold
Wading through Tokyo's crowded shops crammed with the latest cartoons and animation DVDs, 20-year-old Charles Mortreuil clicks his camera feverishly as he finally performs a pilgrimage he has dreamt of all his life. Having grown up on a diet of "anime," as Japanese animations are called, and "manga" cartoons, the young Frenchman has an expert's knowledge of Japanese subculture and carefully selects DVDs to add to his collection of hundreds. "I have been fantasizing about Japan for a long time through what I read and watch, and I was eager to see the real Japan with my own eyes," said Mortreuil, who workers for a French toy company. "Japanese people have a wonderful imagination, coming up with such a countless number of story ideas and drawing designs. It is amazing"...more...

[kamome]

You could also have titled this thread "Losers with a capital L".

[eighty5er]

That guy is 20? Looks closer to 30.

[Visitor K]

That guy is 20? Looks closer to 30.

thats what a lifetime of masturbating to comic books will give you.

[Greji]

thats what a lifetime of masturbating to comic books will give you.

You can't wank over a manga?

[Captain Japan]

Charles Mortreuil smiles with costumed waitresses at a promotion of their cafe in Tokyo during a tour of Akihabara, the Tokyo haven for manga and anime enthuiasists in May 2007. A growing number of foreigners are flocking to Tokyo as Japanese subculture gains a foothold around the world.(AFP/Yoshikazu Tsuno)

[Greji]

Charles Mortreuil smiles with costumed waitresses at a promotion of their cafe in Tokyo during a tour of Akihabara, the Tokyo haven for manga and anime enthuiasists in May 2007. A growing number of foreigners are flocking to Tokyo as Japanese subculture gains a foothold around the world.(AFP/Yoshikazu Tsuno)

If he's hanging with the maids, are we sure Mulboyne didn't take him there?

[FG Lurker]

A growing number of foreigners are flocking to Tokyo as Japanese subculture gains a foothold around the world.(AFP/Yoshikazu Tsuno)

One more reason I am very happy to live in Osaka! Fewer gaijin anime cosplay freakzoids.

[bolt_krank]

It's sad - but in his world he's happy... I guess

[Mulboyne]

These people are OK. They have strong interests and generally know what they are looking for. Surely they are the same as people who were fascinated by Liverpool when the Beatles conquered the world.

[Ptyx]

I don't really get the agressive stance most people here have towards anime geeks.
They're probably the most harmless people of the western world. I guess you could be irritated that they actually are not very concerned by the state of the world and kinda wrap their trouble in dreams.
Most people try to cope with their shitty lives one way or the other.
On top of this the guy in the article works for a "French toy company" so it's kind of make sense that he's fascinated by this stuff.

[Takechanpoo]

lolita nerd cactus dude
[YT]m3aXOZ9OgbA[/YT]
more
his favorite

[succubusqueen]

[quote="Takechanpoo"]lolita nerd cactus dude
[YT]m3aXOZ9OgbA[/YT]
more

Actually....yes you're right Takechan...he is annoying!:rolleyes:

[FG Lurker]

I don't really get the agressive stance most people here have towards anime geeks.

People (specifically adults) who are totally obsessed with fantasy are fucked up.

[American Oyaji]

People (specifically adults) who are totally obsessed with fantasy are fucked up.

But they are harmless usually. Perhaps they find reality so disturbing (and our world is growing more so daily IMO) that they retreat to the safety of fantasy and stay there as long as possible.

I mean, defined "fucked up". Among those who share similar tastes, they are quite normal, but then, what IS normal?

I say as long as they are not harming anyone, let them alone. It's not illegal or immoral.

[Mulboyne]

People (specifically adults) who are totally obsessed with fantasy are fucked up.

Not all these people are obsessed to the point that they live in a fantasy land. Even the small number that do are unlikely to get in the way of me living my life. If, god forbid, I was ever involved in a trial, I might however have some qualms about seeing Barbara Adams on the jury.

[Red Floyd]

Oh yes, god forbid some of us have *gasp* A HOBBY! Sure, some of us are excrutiatingly annoying weaboos (http://www.encyclopediadramatica.com/Weaboo), but there are those of us who just so happen to like anime. How the hell do you think most of us youngsters got introduced to Japanese culture in the first place? It was probably by watching Speed Racer, or Sailor Moon, or Robotech on Saturday mornings. We just like watching cartoons sometimes, so jerks feel the need to rag on us. Now I will concede that this guy is a wee bit creepy, but the fact that he actually works in the toy industry validates it. But since when did being an anime fan devoid you of any intelligence or the right to be a human being?

[FG Lurker]

Not all these people are obsessed to the point that they live in a fantasy land.

Sure, not all are that obsessed. There are plenty that are though.

Even the small number that do are unlikely to get in the way of me living my life.

I'm not suggesting they be exterminated! Just making an observation.

[FG Lurker]

I mean, defined "fucked up".

In this context I mean people who spend large chunks of time involved in fantasy. That could be anime, it could be religion. It's all much the same really, an escape from reality.

[FG Lurker]

How the hell do you think most of us youngsters got introduced to Japanese culture in the first place? It was probably by watching Speed Racer, or Sailor Moon, or Robotech on Saturday mornings.

Kids watching cartoons is fine, that's what cartoons are for. It only gets fucked up when so-called adults continue to live in fantasyland instead of joining the real world. It's called growing up... You should give it a try.

But since when did being an anime fan devoid you of any intelligence

Oh, since your age hit double-digits or so...Teens at the latest.

[Takechanpoo]

Oh yes, god forbid some of us have *gasp* A HOBBY! Sure, some of us are excrutiatingly annoying weaboos (http://www.encyclopediadramatica.com/Weaboo),

In my junior and senior high school days,
otaku dudes(member of anime or manga club) had been discriminated, persecuted, bullied and abused by other students like me.
But being abused itself is origin of creative power, isnt it?
Japanese otaku dudes have created creative things because they had been severely bullied in their childhood.
If otaku dudes don't get to be bullied or abused, otaku culture will be over.

[DrP]

Otaku is fine --- up to a point. Then it just becomes self-absorbed egoistic bullshit. I don't see them as highly creative, in fact just the opposite. They are simply re-creative and spiralling into the entropy of their own microcosm. There's no loss if otaku culture is over. Perhaps it will beget a more rounded society in general.

And , oh -- abuse doesn't generate power, challenge does. Please learn the difference -- though I doubt many Japanese do ....

[Ptyx]

Ligthen up, it's just a hobby for the majority of those guys.
Don't make the assumptions that the otakus don't have a job and don't pay their taxes like everyone else.
Take Danny Choo (http://www.dannychoo.com/) as an example, the guy's probably the king of the north american otaku. At the same time, his resume is pretty impressive. He was a product manager at microsoft, a senior website manager at amazon.co.jp, and a computer engineer at JAL.
What i mean is, as much as career is concerned he's probably got his shit together.
Now his hobby is collecting anime toys. Does that mean that when he's at his desk at microsoft he's cosplaying as Princess Yoko or whatever the fuck he's into and speaks like a 7 year old japanese girl who doesn't know what to do with her gigantic breasts ?
Probably not.

[American Oyaji]

FG, I'm not sure how much anime you actually watch, but some of that stuff is NOT kid stuff. I would not let MY kids watch some of the things I watch, and I aint talking about hentai either.

Anime is fun. It's different. I've liked modern anime since I saw Akira back in High School. It is an art form in some forms. In others, it is pure entertainment.

Just because it does not fit your standard of "acceptable" entertainment, does not mean it does not have its own merits.

But kids walking around town dressed as anime characters when there is no con in town IS crossing the line.

[FG Lurker]

FG, I'm not sure how much anime you actually watch

None. Zeeeeeeeero. I have much better things to do with my time.

Just because it does not fit your standard of "acceptable" entertainment, does not mean it does not have its own merits.

But kids walking around town dressed as anime characters when there is no con in town IS crossing the line.

So your standards are okay but mine are not? This is starting to sound a lot like religion!

In the end I don't give a fuck how people wish to waste their time and money. I just don't see the point and think there are many better things that could be done instead...

[Guy Incognito]

Like, for example, disabled cabertoss:

[Kuang_Grade]

Otaku is fine --- up to a point. Then it just becomes self-absorbed egoistic bullshit. I don't see them as highly creative, in fact just the opposite. They are simply re-creative and spiraling into the entropy of their own microcosm.

While I don't fully buy into your point, I thought this image I posted in otaku related thread a two years ago would fit here



But Otaku are no worse that much more socially accepted fixation on "professional" sports...Every time I hear two guys talking about two opposing US football teams, I think of the kind of pointless discussions teenage nerds had about 'Kirk' vs. 'Picard' (I'm a Sisko man myself). And while some anime is quite dreadful and one wonders who on earth would enjoy it, it is no worse than trying to fathom why millions of people watch NASCAR racing every week (it is just cars going around and around in a oval people!). Few people seem to notice the 'cosplay' aspects of many fans of professional sports as well....At least anime cosplayer usually have to make some of their outfit, while sports fans just fork over fistfuls of cash for the official NFL jersey of what ever latest thugged up, steroid juiced, side of beef with a 6th grade reading level who is popular/out on bail at the moment.

[American Oyaji]

None. Zeeeeeeeero. I have much better things to do with my time.
So your standards are okay but mine are not?

I never said such a thing and you know it. I am saying that you're incorrect for a blanket assumption about all those that watch anime and their reasons for doing so and I am also stating that you can't dismiss anime as a valid form of entertainment because it does not suit your fancy.

But Otaku are no worse that much more socially accepted fixation on "professional" sports...Every time I hear two guys talking about two opposing US football teams, I think of the kind of pointless discussions teenage nerds had about 'Kirk' vs. 'Picard' (I'm a Sisko man myself). And while some anime is quite dreadful and one wonders who on earth would enjoy it, it is no worse than trying to fathom why millions of people watch NASCAR racing every week (it is just cars going around and around in a oval people!). Few people seem to notice the 'cosplay' aspects of many fans of professional sports as well....At least anime cosplayer usually have to make some of their outfit, while sports fans just fork over fistfuls of cash for the official NFL jersey of what ever latest thugged up, steroid juiced, side of beef with a 6th grade reading level who is popular/out on bail at the moment.

Someone just dropped a BOMB!!

[FG Lurker]

I never said such a thing and you know it.

Uhh, perhaps you should reread your post where you said my standards were unreasonable but then set your own.

I am saying that you're incorrect for a blanket assumption about all those that watch anime and their reasons for doing so

Where did I do that?

I am also stating that you can't dismiss anime as a valid form of entertainment because it does not suit your fancy.

I don't have any problems with anime as entertainment. I just think people who take anime seriously (ie beyond occasional watching as entertainment) are fucked up.

[American Oyaji]

I don't have any problems with anime as entertainment. I just think people who take anime seriously (ie beyond occasional watching as entertainment) are fucked up.

The truth is that people who find something utterly fascinating sometimes end up devoting their entire beings to said something. Be it sports, movies, anime or religion. Somethings are worth such devotion, others are not.