The evidence attributes the contemporary use of the term otaku to an essay by Akio Nakamori, published in 1983 in the Otaku research column of Manga Burikko magazine. The passage places the term within the history of anime and manga fandom.
Selected excerpts from our archive offer more context on this subject. Each reading links to the original article and its sources.
The Economics of the Cel and the Global Expansion of Anime
The concept of otaku, popularized in 1983 by journalist Akio Nakamori in the magazine Manga Burikko, marked a change in the social perception of the anime consumer. Initially laden with negative connotations due to stereotypes and media events such as the case of Tsutomu Miyazaki in 1989, the term evolved to describe people with passionate hobbies. The otaku subculture, which dates back to the 1970s, strengthened from 1980 thanks to changes in social mentality and the diversification of the comic market, laying the foundations for a fandom-centric industry.
KEY FACTS
- Type
- Person
- Country or region
- Japan
References
- Otakues.wikipedia.org
