I can honestly say that I don't think I've ever truly done anything that could be considered "otaku-ish". Yes, I like anime and manga...but, that's about it. I'm not obsessive about it, nor do I watch just anime or just read manga because "American stuff sucks!" I'd say in my late teens I was more like the above, minus the "American stuff sucks", but, the majority fo what I watched did seem to be something Japanese oriented.
The thing, though, is that I do feel that I'm more so casual. My exposure to Japanese culture involved seeing a fan dance when I was just a kid. I'd been interested in Japan as a whole since then, just lacked the resources to do much pertaining to the country. I wouldn't say that my liking of these things is what's leading me to Japan, as I'd be satisfied with just a trip (as this isn't the only country I have a semi-interest in visiting someday). I'm applying for JET,
but, I don't think I'd be incredibly upset if I didn't get in. Of course I hope to as it would be a wonderful experience, I'm sure, but my missing out on the chance of living in Japan won't make me heartbroken or depressed or anything like that. So maybe, over the years, my interest has become more casual.
So, in other words, my answer to this is a "no". I've never been to Japan, and unless I'm working within the country, I doubt I'll ever have the chance of going there, nor would anime or manga lead me there. It's called "fiction" for a reason.
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Originally Posted by tsukimoon
I BELIEVE that otaku is a word to describe someone who is obsessed with manga/anime/etc?
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Pretty much, only it's not limited to anime and manga, which you said. It seems that otaku consists of people with an unhealthy (probably) obsession with said things. I call Yamada, who competes in the Sasuke (Ninja Warrior) competitions a Sasuke Otaku. I know other competitors come every tournament or have competed a lot,
but none have been mentioned sacrificing their families for it or their jobs, like Yamada, whose family won't even watch him compete since he's a bad husband and father, nor did he find a new job when losing his old one, and just works part-time as hotdog vendor (or something) just so he can train for the twice a year competition. The Sasuke competitions consumes his life, for the most part.