Quote:
Originally Posted by butterflymiko18
3) I'm learning Japanese and want to study abroad there (preferably in Tokyo or Akihabara "otaku central" basically)
4) b/c probably about 80% of anime otaku want to live there someday
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This is the problem that I see around here all the time...
Please don't feel bad for me using your post as an example, it's nothing against you personally. There's just so many people who say they want to move to Japan and "because I love anime" is far too often the reason. Anime is really an insignificant part of daily life in Japan - the vast majority of adults in Japan don't even watch anime. If you go to Japan expecting to lead a life like anime characters do, you'll get laughed at, and reality will come crashing down
hard. Being an "otaku" in Japan isn't a good thing - it's not quite the badge of honor that it is in western countries.
At the university that I went to (in the US), every semester we'd have Japanese exchange students come over... and every semester they would have to go out of their way to avoid the anime club, because the anime club would always hound them, asking questions about what their favorite anime is or what anime is popular in Japan at the time. It was a little embarrassing to watch. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy some anime just as much as the next guy (or girl)... I have a few series sitting on my shelves - but the bottom line is, anime isn't, nor shouldn't, be a reason for someone to make a life-changing decision like moving to a foreign country.