Otaku: Nerd; geek or fanboy. Originates from a polite second-person
pronoun meaning "your home" in Japanese. Since the 1980s it's been used
to refer to people who are really into Japanese pop-culture, such as
anime, manga, and videogames. A whole generation, previously
marginalized with labels such as "geek" and "nerd," are now calling
themselves "otaku" with pride.
The Otaku Encyclopedia offers fascinating insight into the subculture
of Cool Japan. With over 600 entries, including common expressions,
people, places, and moments of otaku history, this is the essential "A
to Z" of facts every Japanese pop-culture fan needs to know. Author
Patrick W. Galbraith has spent several years researching deep into the
otaku heartland and his intimate knowledge of the subject gives the
reader an insider's guide to words such as moé, doujinshi, cospla y and
maid cafés. In-depth interviews with such key players as Takashi
Murakami, otaku expert Okada Toshio, and J-pop idol Shoko Nakagawa are
interspersed with the entries, offering an even more penetrating look
into the often misunderstood world of otaku. Dozens of lively, colorful
images--from portraits of the interview subjects to manga illustrations,
film stills and photos of places mentioned in the text--pop up
throughout the book, making The Otaku Encyclopedia as entertaining to
read as it is informative.
