The Otaku Encyclopedia

The Otaku Encyclopedia was written by Patrick W. Galbraith.

Otaku: Nerd; geek, or fanboy. Originates from a polite second-person pronoun meaning "your home" in Japanese. Since the 1980s it's been used to refer to people who are really into Japanese pop culture, such as anime, manga, and video games. A whole generation of people, previously marginalized with labels such as "geek" and "nerd," are now calling themselves "otaku" with pride.

Are you an otaku? Do you have otaku friends you can't relate to? Then let The Otaku Encyclopedia expand your knowledge of the fascinating subculture of Cool Japan. This definitive guide introduces the world of Japan's anime nerds, game geeks, and pop-idol fanboys, with over 600 terms that any fan of Japanese pop culture simply must know. Moe, doujinshi, cosplay, and most importantly otaku itself, are clearly explained in a fun yet informative way by a self-confessed otaku who has spent years researching the otaku heartland.

Scattered among the encyclopedic entries are interviews with key otaku like artist Takashi Murakami, otaku expert Okada Toshio, J-pop idol Shoko Nakagawa, and many others entrenched in the world of maid cafes, street-idols, and figure collecting.

Written by Patrick W. Galbraith.