The Otaku Encyclopedia: An Insider's Guide to the Subculture of Cool Japan

I love how well this book explains what different terms and phrases are. It is very precise and much better than just Googling the word. It's also helpful if you don't have a means to just Google what people are saying (eg. irl).I'd Recommend this to: -Those who love Otaku culture -Those who want to learn more about Otaku culture -Parents who want to see what their kids are talking about -Those who are in a business of selling merchandise to these fine otaku people. -Those who want to collect cool books like thisI would not Recommend this to: -Those who want to read a book about Otaku culture. This is more of a reference guide or dictionary or well encyclopedia. -Those who want authentic Japanese literature

I bought this as a gift for my young Niece. She really enjoys doing that Japanese animation kind of artwork not sure what its all called and she has a T-Shirt that says "Its an Otaku thing..." so I thought this would be a great gift for her. It just arrived a couple of days ago and appears to be pretty great, its thick and the pages are of a nice quality and there's lots of photos and artwork too she'll love this I am sure. Very pleased with the product and the condition on arrival.

I had doubts about, if I should order that book, because I don't nececerry like to read, especally encyclopedias :p and since this booke called The Otaku Encyclopedia I thought it's gonna be informative, but hard and boring to read, and if it's boring I just know I wouldn't read it, so why waste money? well after reading all those great reviews I dicided to give it a try, and guess what? I couldn't be more happier that I did so :D This book is AWESOME!!! if u have any interest in ANIME, manga,or video games, this is what u need to get! U give u a garanti of 99% u will not regret it, and 90% that u at least will LIKE it (:

A great book that's a must read. I knew a good majority of the terms in the book, but it was still amazing to read and get solid definitions for them. The work put into this book is clear and it is a great read, and so much. It really helps to get the know of terms, anime, and many other things in the anime fandom. This book is great for old otaku and new ones alike.

If you are looking for some extensive review on recent decades Japanese anime history and culture. This is the right book! The book is small and arranged like a dictionary. Explanations are in daily language easy to understand however still convey considerable professionalism. Also, a lot of interesting details and anecdotes are included showing the authors' exhaustive knowledge in this area.This is a overall great book and definitely worth its price.

Highly recommended product. If you are an otaku, you can't be considered as one if you don't have this item on your hands.Gives extra-detailed information of all proper slangs and otaku terms you can't relate to your friends because you don't know them. Trust me you'll like this one at all.

My daughter loved this book. Well written, entertaining, and obviously the author loves the subject. It was a hit as a gift.

I don't think this book was meant for children. I bought it for my 11-year old daughter who is totally into manga, anime and Japanese culture. The book has tons of interesting information but...I am not sure my daughter is ready for manga girls with naked breasts, all sorts of sexual references and definitions of "pervert" in the book. I am not a hypocrite, it is just...not what I expected. The description of the book should clearly state it is meant for adults. Returned immediately.

Ok, it's not something you might even have heard of, but once there you can't fail to miss it. Teenage girls, and more recently boys walking around in the most amazing outfits, Tokyo or Osaka or most City really in Japan. You start to wonder and this book answers all the questions you could have.This is the sub culture that most guide books barely touch on, if at all, but it is massive and you will see it. It's part of what makes Japan Japan.Laid out in a simple A-Z format, I am reading it page by page as opposed to dipping in here and there. It's funny, well written and always interesting. A book like this could easily have been an excuse for fetish pictures, cheap sexual text and basically concentrating on the more sexual side of this culture. Instead the author has treated it seriously but with humour. The A-Z style is interlaced with various short articles on people or parts of the culture, one soon understands that Galbraith is passionate about the subject. He hasn't simply clawed together some views and explantions littered with pictures, but rather has lovingly constructed what must be the most comprehensive study of this amazing underground culture that is as much Japan as sushe is.A very worth while additional to my book shelf.

A bit too focused on the seedy side of Otaku culture, especially with the illustrations. Wish I had known before I bought it. Had bought it for an anime fan but on looking through it, most of what I saw was sex toys and gratuituous pictures of boobs.

The Otaku Encyclopedia is an encyclopaedic dictionary of about 600 Japanese terms mainly from the Otaku subculture. It includes slang, jargon, characters, creative people and companies, and the like.The main areas covered are manga, anime, cosplay, figures and dolls. Associated areas such as video and tabletop games, or airsoft guns, are also briefly mentioned.Each term is fully explained with its original Japanese katakana and/or kana.There are also frequent mini essays or interviews on some of the main personalities of the subculture, such as maid cafe idols, big name otaku, and figure sculptors.As far as my knowledge goes this is all accurately explained. The author is an otaku-journalist, who having lived in Japan for about five years, is pursuing a PhD in otaku culture at the University of Tokyo. While I can't claim his depth of knowledge, my association with Japan goes back over 15 years. Although not an otaku myself I have been following Japanese and anime/manga culture since the early 1980s.So I recommend it. If you want to know what "tsundere", "moe" or "gokko asobi" means, this book will tell you. It will also work as a general overview of the otaku scene.If I have an argument with this book, it is the presentation of otaku as a part of Cool Japan. Good anime is cool. I don't think otaku is cool. Although otaku love anime, otaku itself is mainly a mode of consumption rather than self-expression or creativity. It does not have a cool image in the west, and much less in Japan itself. While the 2005 movie "Train Man" started to rehabilitate the image of otaku, it still remains a slightly weird subculture, especially on the outer fringes.Some aspects of otaku -- cosplay, maid cafes, "dollpla" and "doujinshi" -- undeniably have a camp charm and demonstrate creativity and active fun.The fetishisation of pubescent girls as sex objects, nude printed dakimakura (hug pillows,) and various kinds of sex dolls and figurines, will never be cool. It feels a bit creepy. It seems a small step from that to the pervy sarariman, groping schoolgirls on rush-hour trains and stealing housewives' panties off the washing line.A major area of genuine cool is the Harajuku based street fashion scene, portrayed in magazines and books such as Fruits. This is only peripherally part of the otaku culture, via photography and fetishisation, for example, of schoolgirls' loose socks. It isn't covered here, which isn't a criticism as you can easily get other material covering it.The book is an excellent introduction to the otaku subculture. I am left with the feeling that it is as much an attempt to claim public space and validate the author's personal interests, as it is a celebration of a successful cultural movement.

Habe den "Otaku Guide" von meinem kleinen Bruder zu Weihnachten bekommen.Stehen eine menge Informationen drinne, also brauchbar für langzeit Otakus als auch für diejenigen die neu im "Buisness" sind :-)

A mi hijo Otaku le encantó.