Otaku (おたく/オタク) is a Japanese term used to refer to people with obsessive interests, particularly anime, manga, and video games. A female otaku is occasionally referred to as a fujoshi

Wikipedia Otaku Definition

First and foremost, let me clarify one thing. I am not an otaku. I never was an otaku, and I never referred to myself as one. I have never been a hardcore fans of animes/mangas; I just like to watch them, but never to the point of obsessive interest. Even though this blog is mostly about Japanese anime news and such, I just did it for fun. And thus why I think I have the right on commenting about this issue. What issue do you ask? Well it’s about the so called Malaysian “Otakus”

This issue first arose when I was talking with Emina’s Fazri about the lack of sales for the recent May’n concert tickets. We were lamenting that while there are a lot of Anime fans in Malaysia, not many know of her and her relationship with Macross Frontier. And we were also laughing about the fact that most of these fans are calling themselves otakus, even tho just about the things that they know about animes were, in no particular order, Bleach and/or Naruto.

As quoted above, an otaku is someone who is really obsessed with something. Ask them about their particular line of interest, and they will sure be able to tell and describe to you any facts about it. As such, an AniWota in Japan is regarded as one of the most important core target in terms of merchandising and DVD/Blu-Ray sales, since these are the guys who will fork out whatever and however much is needed to acquire that item. Thus why we are seeing how the direction of anime as a whole itself is changing, as they are trying to cater to the needs of these group. What they want, is what the anime studios will give them.

Certainly they are quite a powerful group, but why are we talking about them in the first place? Well easy. It’s for comparison. If you are a so called otaku from Malaysia, try asking yourself, how much do you really know about the anime you watch? Honestly in Malaysia there lies a misconception that if you watch anime, you’re automatically an “otaku”. WTF wei, most of you don’t even know what the word really mean but you classify yourself as one? Do you know the names of every seiyuu? Do you buy all the DVD/Blu-Ray releases of the series? Oh wait, talking about that, let me clarify that Bootleg DVDs from Hong Kong does not count. More on that later on, but seriously, ask any Nartuo or Bleachfags about the Seiyuu from the series and chances are, only a minority can name them.

Talking about seiyuus, how many of the so called local otakus knows name like Sakamoto Maaya? Fukuyama Jun? The awesome Tomokazu Sugita? Hayashibara Megumi? Or even Norio Wakamoto? I am thankful that we have someone like j1m0ne in Malaysia. Her blog is a good read for any seiyuu fans, and what made me started to learn about the seiyuus behind the a series in the first place. There is, however, just so much that a blog can do, and most of the so called “otakus” out there don’t even bother to visit sites like these.

Merchandising is also something that I really feel these so called “otaku” fail at. Miserably. Reading threads like this, this and this, I wonder if they really KNOW what original merchandise really means. I don’t think they are THAT stupid to not realise that the HK bootlegs DVD/VCDs are not original. But then again this is Malaysia. How do you show support for that particular series? Sure, by buying bootlegs of it, and proudly show them off…

Belilah Barangan Buatan Malaysia

A real otaku would go and try to buy the original release of that particular series. Ini kalau beli DVD cap ayam, pastu nak mengaku otaku? PTUI! Heck, even the figurines they buy are the Chinese knock off that cost just a fraction. And they are saying they are proud to be fans. Fans that are making the pirates richer by leeching off the hard work of others? Bah!

Seriously, if you think you’re a REAL otaku, try compare your level to one awesome non-otaku, Shinn87. If you find yourself not on par on his level, then dream on. Heck, the only person in real life that I can consider a real otaku is a friend of mine. Not only he’s knowledgeable in many animes, he also frequents Japanese discussion boards, thus he’s usually my source of news.

So what’s this article is about actually? Well not much. I just feel like talking about it. Drop me a comment if you feel that I am doing it wrong.

The price will be 7,875 Yen (inclusive of tax), and released on the 11th of March

Source: PSB-Mall via Ngee Khiong

One would wonder if music and moeblob is the next “in” thing for otakus in Japan, for which if it does, the future for them looks bleak.

Via Yunakiti

On the concert itself, it was damn worth it. AFA? Anison? This is waaay better. The atmosphere, the sound, and most important, May’n herself. There is no denying that she’s the real deal. Profesional, lively, bubbly, awesome voice…. what’s there not to like? And that’s why I must say, whoever missed that concert just missed out on something special. Sure there are some people with a lot of money would go “Oh well I can go watch in Japan/Budokan” or whatever. But I doubt they can have the same experience as last night. Being REALLY close to May’n without a 50 meter barricade between the stage.



16 songs, 3 costume change, and an emotional goodbye later, I was still feeling the goosebump from the whole thing. Singing along to Diamond Crevasse and Lion, and seeing her performing that really SEXY dance of Universal Bunny up close, that will always be a fond memory for me.



Anyways thanks to Dark Steno for being my media wingman, and Chizzu for lending me his stalking Nikon for close up shots. Also for all the other LYN/AS/TFM members that I met last night. It was a great day, altho something that stupidly forgot to do days before the concert dampen my feelings a bit at the end. But that might have been for the best at the end.


Look forward for the full review of the concert around next month. I will be busy handling Eva gath and GACC for the upcoming week.

Altho I never been a fan of vocaloids (I hated their whiny voice honestly), i found their character designs quite unique and appealing. And somehow I really liked Megurine Ruka, the mature one of the group. Might be due to me liking mature characters. Thus when it was announced that Ruka was made into a nendoroid, I quickly ordered it

You also get this cute Tako Ruka as well XD

You can put the Tako on her head, but I found that it made Ruka quite unstable.

Other face and poses

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Japonski newspaper????

Eh lol my Nendo Ruka. Yeay! Photoshoot tomorrow (I hope)

In Japan, we are shown videos that tells the viewers how large the screen has become, and the benefits of it

In France, we are given a simple math equation

The DSi LL, as the name implies is a larger screened DSi. Altho that’s just about it.

France Poster via: Kotaku

Via Yunakiti