Quote:
Originally Posted by nanicoar
This doesn't seem to be a problem specific to Japanese but rather one of expression in general, perhaps I can help.
'Nerd' is most commonly used a derogatory term implying social inability and excessive focus on one thing to the neglect of others. More likely you will want to call yourself an anime geek, since geek became a positive thing in the '90s. Today it implies extensive knowledge on a subject and says little of social acumen, but the dictionary has apparently not wisened to this change.
As a rule you don't wish to talk ill about yourself or others in any language. With the Japanese context understood you can say you're interested in contemporary, modern or popular culture, visual media, namedrop some artists known for their skill or some you genuinely find impressive. This is an abstraction of something close to you and should imply enough for them to catch on or ask follow-up questions.
If you decide you want to mention Yu-Gi-Ho or Pokemon you're on your own, but with honest appreciation you're discussing art and the failure of others to meet you here implies they are moderately uncultured.
Know that making a good first impression is important and that you don't have to wear your heart on your sleeve amongst strangers. A person interested in foregin culture deserves respect, but people like otaku or fujoshi have usually done something significant enough to disclaim it and you should make no implication you belong to this category. If they ask you straight up if you like anime you shouldn't rant for half an hour about it, but rather give a short answer like 'some of it' and if they return to the subject you know they like it too. Over cultural and linguistic barriers a protocol like this aids communication even if it does slow it down a little.
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Alternatively, you could scream 冗談じゃないわよ, pull a hammer out of nowhere, hit the person calling you ヲタク, and mutter ばか.