"The Origin Of Otaku"

What is an otaku?

In modern Japanese slang, the term otaku refers to a fan of any particular theme, topic, or hobby. Common uses are anime otaku (a fan of anime), cos-play otaku and manga otaku (a fan of Japanese comic books), pasokon otaku (personal computer geeks), gemu otaku (fans playing video games), and wota e (pronounced ‘ota’, previously referred to as “idol otaku’) that are extreme fans of idols, i.e. heavily promoted singing girls. There are also tetsudo otaku or denshamania (railfans) or gunji otaku (military geeks).

Japanese people use this word in a non favorable, negative connotation, which is to describe someone in an offensive way as weird, antisocial and obsessed, so most Japanese would consider it undesirable to be described as “otaku” in a serious fashion; many even consider it to be a genuine insult. The closest translation for otaku in English would be ‘nerd’ or ‘geek’.

Otaku Phenomenon

What makes otaku a new phenomenon? What makes otaku obsessiveness different from other obsessive forms of collecting hobbies? The few common denominators are that otaku are teens or twens, mostly boys who usually wear jeans, T–shirt and sneakers, which might not sound very differentiating as a characteristic but in the fashion–crazy Japan that is a distinction in itself. They despise physical contact and love media, technical communication, and the realm of reproduction and simulation in general.

They are enthusiastic collectors and manipulators of useless artifacts and in formation. They are an underground, but they are not opposed to the system. They change, manipulate, and subvert ready–made products but at the same time they are the apotheosis of consumerism and an ideal workforce for contemporary Japanese capitalism. They are the children of the media. (Grassmuck 1990)

The otaku new history begins in 1970 as an underground subculture, and the begging of the change in usage first came about among collectors of anime pictures. The expansion of the otaku population and its varieties can only be related to the expansion of the mediated world, the varieties of communication channels, as well as the new ways of information distribution.

Certainly, the background of the otaku phenomenon involves a number of factors, but the decisive element are new media and media usages permitting a different access to the world.

Otakudoms

If we look at the Internet as a society, fandoms will be one of the most peculiar social groups existing within this society. People virtually gathering around certain, at the same extent, virtual (in most of the cases) subject, exploiting it in various aspects.

Otakudoms, or more specifically anime and manga fandoms are one of the most enthusiastic and fruitful on–line fangroups. In this context we can see an entirely different picture of an otaku. Usually shy and unsociable otaku are showing great creative potential when they communicate with their group.

Having in mind that, to a large extent, they are created by the media, their real dwelling and acting is always related to one. When we add to this the information fetishism and addictiveness, otaku in the new media environment are acting as superconductors transmitting the data (naturally it is always connected with their interests) all around the net to their fellow otaku with unthinkable speed and diverse output.

"Geisha"

The geisha is the aristocrat of the mizu-shobai (water business)… but she is not a prostitute… Her business is tosell a dream-of luxury, romance, and exclusivity-to the wealthiest and most powerful men in Japan…

For many years the world of the geisha, often referred to as the flower and willow world, has perplexed and intrigued people around the world. The most common image of a geisha is a white faced, red lipped, kimono clad, glorified prostitute, but in truth they are so much more. A true geisha is a person of art and can be male or female. To become a geisha requires more skill and dedication than the Western World is able to comprehend and because of that, the misconception is, more often than not, upheld. Arthur Golden’s critically acclaimed book and feature film Memoirs of a Geisha was able to open the eyes of the Western World to the beauty, grace, and plight of these women; however, there is much more than meets the eye.

The geisha culture is the only business in Japan that is run exclusively by women for the pleasure of men and has been successful for many centuries. In this society, where a woman's place was either in the home or in the brothel, the geisha carved out a separate niche, creating a community of women that became known as the karyuaki (flower and willow world). Despite the often harsh realities of this world, a geisha could gain an education of sorts, acquire an art, make her own money, establish an independent identity, run a business, pursue romance, and sometimes find true love.

The heart of the geisha life lay in two Japanese cities, Kyoto and Tokyo. One, Kyoto, is a snapshot in time of the geisha of the past; living in the hanamachi with their geisha family, learning the arts, and preserving the way of the geisha. The other, Tokyo, is struggling to retain the dwindling geisha arts where technology advancement threatens to take over. In Kyoto an apprentice geisha is referred to as a maiko, person of dance, and a fully fledged geisha is a geiko, person of art. In Tokyo the names are hangyoku, because sharing in the company of an apprentice would only result in half of a charge, and ippon, meaning literally “one full point”, respectively. For ease, rather than use their Japanese names the words “apprentice geisha” and “geisha” will be used. This is because this paper will focus on both Kyoto and Tokyo geisha and to use one or both sets of names would become quite confusing. For convenience, there is a glossary at the end of this paper where the definitions of italicized words are provided.

Origin of the Geisha

The history of the geisha began during the Japanese Renaissance when the class system that previously governed Japan was being turned on its head. During this time, the first of the pleasure quarters, called Yanagimichi, was built by a man with an entrepreneurial spirit named Hideyoshi Toytomi. Before the Renaissance, the samurai had been directly under the shogun, and they still were, but they were forbidden from retaining other employment and as a result, they were struggling survive on their stipend. To survive they had to borrow money and the direct result was an increase in the income for the money lenders. To prevent the merchants from overtaking the samurai, edicts were frequently passed forbidding them from using their wealth to do things such as wear silk or live in three story houses. There was no tax system, but in order to keep the merchants in line every so often the shogunate would come up with reasons to confiscate everything.

Since no one wanted to relinquish all of their hard earned wealth to the government, squandering their wealth became a common habit, but since there were edicts preventing the merchants from acquiring silver and gold, the only option left was to go into the pleasure quarters to squander their wealth rather than lose it. This caused the pleasure quarters to prosper which was not what the shogun wanted in any way, shape, or form. He believed that if he walled in all of the people and things that were directly related to pleasure, the upstanding citizens would eventually get tired of having to travel to indulge themselves. However, the lure of sex and other sensual pleasures combined with the "elegance, culture, and brilliant conversation with beautiful women in an atmosphere of refinement" proved to be even too much for the shogun to control.

With the popularity of the pleasure quarters growing exponentially, it became vital to retain many new girls to ensure the unwavering attention of the merchants with their new wealth.

This necessity in conjunction with kuchi berashi ensured a steady stream of girls being acquired by zegen “who scoured the countryside and poorer sections of the city” where they could find parents willing to give up their children to lower their debt or reduce the number of mouths they had to feed. This was not looked at with the same disdain nor did it have a similar stigma that it would have today because it was viewed as improving the life of their child. They were able to send them off to a place where they would have a steady supply of fine food, clothing to wear, and be educated, if not completely, at least more than they could hope to provide.

Once a child was in the pleasure quarter, yes, they did indeed have the opportunity for a better class of life, but they were now the property of the brothel owner and saddled with an outrageous level of ever increasing debt. They began to repay their debt by becoming maids; and as they grew older, if they showed promise, they would become kamurof. This was the predecessor to the current day maiko in Kyoto. During this period the child would follow an older courtesan and learn the secrets that made her successful. At this point, the child would learn many things, but the most important idea that would be passed from courtesan to apprentice was the key rule: “Play at love but never, never to allow oneself to feel it. That way lay disaster.”

It was assumed that a person reached sexual maturity around the age of thirteen and at this point an apprentice was expected to accept a rite of passage called mizuage. This rite of passage was still performed until it was deemed illegal. The mizuage ceremony consists of a bidding war between patrons and the winner receives the right to take the virginity of the apprentice. This was required for a girl to be considered a fully fledged courtesan or geisha. After the mizuage ritual, a girl would be ranked and that would determine what kind of work she would receive. Often girls would be ranked as lower class prostitutes and condemned to a life of sitting and waiting for customers to come and choose them; but if the girl had exceptional beauty, she could be ranked as koshi and have the opportunity to work her way up to being tayu.

Tayu, at the time, were in high demand and very difficult to obtain. If a man wanted to partake in the company of a tayu, the first step was to go to an ageya…to apply for a meeting…The owner of the ageya would write a letter to the bordello where the courtesan lived, roll it up, and give it to the messenger. While the customer was waiting, he would enjoy to services of jesters and dancing girls and ply them with food and drink, all of which, of course, would be added to his bill. The customer would then be able to spend time with the courtesan and they spend the “evening playing music, dancing, exchange poems, and enjoy the tea…and incense ceremony.” Even at this point in time, the tayu had the ability and responsibility to be selective because if they were not, their reputation could be tarnished if it was perceived that they were too easy.

The success that was enjoyed by Hideyoshi Toytomi in Yanagimichi led to Saburoemon Hara to petition to begin another pleasure quarter in Kyoto, specifically Edo; however, it was ultimately a wealthy brothel owner, Jinemon Shoji, who was successful in creating a licensed pleasure quarter. The success of this pleasure quarter was because of unmarried merchants and tradesmen from Kyoto and Osaka, and unmarried samurai who, on the stipend provided to them by their employers, could not begin or support a family. Yoshiwara set itself apart from Yanagimichi by not only offering sex, but also entertainment such as kabuki, shrine dancing, wrestling, and singing. As a result of these diverse offerings, Yoshiwara was “far larger than the country’s other famous pleasure quarters.”

“Gradually the number of women worthy to be designated tayu began to decline...It was then that a new breed of woman first began to step out…a woman who was not a caged bird, who dressed with understated sophistication, not showy glitter, and who sold not her body, but her arts.”

This was the foundation of the geisha.

"Onsen"

The Japanese Love Onsens

For Japanese, bathing is not only for cleaning, but to refresh the body and spirit. Baths come in several types, including house baths, Sento (simple public baths), and onsen . The popularity of the Onsen means they play a central role in Japanese domestic tourism. On weekends or vacation, Japanese people often go on an onsen - trip not only to relieve their fatigue but to enhance their mutual relationship with family, friends and co-workers.

What is Onsen ?

There are laws in place that regulate the definition, protection, etc. of an Onsen. According to these laws, an Onsen is defined as hot water and water vapor that springs from the Earth either naturally or from artificially-bored holes. The water temperature needs to be higher than 25℃.

However, meeting other conditions, the water can be cooler and still be authorized as an Onsen .

History of the Onsen

Japan is a volcanically active country, and as such, Onsen have been used since olden times and are mentioned in Japanese legends and mythologies. Descriptions are found in reknowned Japanese texts such as; Kojiki, Nihonshoki , and Manyo.

During the Kamakura and Sengoku era (12th-17th century), records indicate that the samurai healed their wounds there. In the Edo era (17th-19th century), the culture of onsens spread to common people. In the Meiji era (early 20th century), scientific studies began and by the Showa era (mid 20th century) the medical benefits of Onsen were proven.

Through the years, more and more people come to use onsens for different reasons. Today people enjoy them not only for medical treatment but also for sightseeing, socializing, and leisure. Onsens are a multipurpose place to have a great time. One of the reasons that Onsens are popular is because of the various health benefits people enjoy when using them .

Soothing your skin , easing stiff shoulders , and relaxing your muscles are just some of these effects .

Why are Onsens Effective?

The minerals contained in Onsen water have various effects. People call this effect To (hot spring healing, or balneotheraphy). A person can feel the effects of mineral water by bathing or by drinking. Only some Onsen are equipped to handle drinking water however, so please check the general guidelines or drinking permission statement before drinking the Onsen Mineral Water. Please do not drink from the bath water itself.

Generally, there are three different types of “rests” that can be appreciated at the onsen . They are as follows:

Rest for recreation: recovering from fatigue and becoming refreshed.

Rest for health: keeping a healthy condition and preventing against ailments

Rest for medical treatment: recuperation from ailments

Additional benefits include:

①Physical Effects:

The thermal energy stimulates your nervous system and your circulatory system. The water pressure activates your cardiopulmonary functions. The buoyancy makes it easy for the physically handicapped to bathe as well.

②Chemical Effects:

The minerals are absorbed through your skin into your body and provide various benefits.

③Change-of-Air Effects

A feeling of freedom from daily life as well as a comfortable atmosphere and natural view can refresh the spirit.

④Change-of-Condition Effects

By visiting the Onsen routinely, you can appreciate better health and improve your condition.

"Heki Ryu Insai Ha"

The way in which Kyudo is performed has remained almost unchanged since the 15th century. There have been many schools, among them OGASAWARA and HEKI Ryu. The main concern of the Ogasawara Ryu was how to dress and how to move. During the Tokugawa Period in the first part of the 17th century the 3rd Shogun ordered the Ogasawara Ryu to define their own ceremony. The style of this school was developed from Yabusame (shooting from horseback) and it has remained unchanged up to the present. The All Nippon Kyudo Federation (A.N.K.F.) combined elements of Ogasawara and Honda.

The origins of the Heki Ryu are shrouded in myth and it is said that it began with HEKI DANJO MASATSUGU, a legendary hero whose existence even today has not been confirmed. Nonetheless Heki Danjo Masatsugu is considered to be a genius of martial arts who completely changed the way of shooting with the bow. At that time many techniques were used, almost every noble family having it's own. Heki Danjo checked all these different techniques, collected the best points of each school, adapted them for the best results and so developed a new technique. Historically the Heki Ryu Insai Ha was founded by the great warrior YOSHIDA INSAI who was named Master by the first Shogun IEASU TOKUGAWA on becoming his teacher in the 17th century. Insai learned the art of shooting from some families who had been taught directly by Heki Danjo. Insai lived at the time of the great battles; later in peaceful times (same period as Miyamoto Musashi) he was able to adapt the Heki technique of the battlefield and to make some changes for peaceful times without armour. For these reasons it is possible to say without any doubt that the Heki Ryu is still teaching a technique that was created and used for maximum efficiency on the battlefield and thus, as Inagaki Sensei used to say, is a TRUE technique.

The direct line of the most important masters of the Heki Ryu from the 16th century onwards is shown below:

Yoshida Insai            :

Master to the 1st shogun, about 1600

Yoshida Sadakatsu :

Insai's son, Master to the 2nd and 3rd Shogun

Yoshida Yoshikata            :

Sadakatsu’s younger brother, about 1700, very famous for his skill

Yoshida Gennoju Inkei    :

Yoshikata's son, Master of the Ikeda family

Tokuyama Katsutoshi    :

Master of the Bizen Daimyo (now Okoyama)

Urakami Naoki                           :

appointed Principal Master by Yoshida Gennoju

(Naooki)Urakami Sakae        :

appointed by Naoki

Inagaki Genshiro               :

appointed by Urakami Sakae

The Heki Ryu Insai Ha (as it is called by other schools, the true name is "School of the Shogun Family" - Heki To Ryu) has an unbroken tradition into the present century which started with Yoshida Insai. During all these years many changes were made to the bow due to the studies of many masters; on the other hand Inagaki Sensei has checked the ancient manuscripts from the16th century which confirm that the Heki technique we learn today is almost the same as that taught in the past. Nowadays, the Heki Ryu teaches technique according to its tradition and according to the studies made with modern equipment at the Waseda and Tsukuba Universities.

"Samurai's Life in Medieval Japan"

The Heian period (794-1185) was followed by 700 years of warrior governments—the Kamakura, Muromachi, and Tokugawa.  The civil government at the imperial court continued, but the real rulers of the country were the military daimyo class.

Kamakura Period  (1185-1333)

 The Kamakura period was the beginning of warrior class rule. The imperial court still handled civil affairs, but with the defeat of the Taira family, the Minamoto under Yoritomo established its capital in the small eastern city of Kamakura. Yoritomo received the title shogun or “barbarian-quelling generalissimo.” Different clans competed with one another as in the Hogen Disturbance of 1156 and the Heiji Disturbance of 1159.

During the Genpei Civil War of 1180-1185, Yoritomo fought against and defeated the Taira, beginning the Kamakura Period.  Yoritomo chose officials called shugo (military governors) in each province to be responsible for military control of the provinces, to supervise the land, and to collect taxes.

Obligation and dependency between shogun and military governors became the basis for the governing system until the end of the nineteenth century. As the shugo gained power and no longer acted only on behalf of the shogun, they evolved into the daimyo of the late fifteenth century. It also should be clarified that only about 10 percent of the population were of this warrior culture. Most Japanese at the time were farmers. 

Muromachi Period (1336-1573)

 The Muromachi district of Kyoto became the capital for the second period in medieval Japanese history. This time period, called the Muromachi or Ashikaga Period (1336-1573), was marked by unrest, disturbances, and violent changes. Warfare destroyed cities and countryside. The shogun’s power was still based on the coalition of shugo who helped control land and the power in the provinces. The increased power made many of these warriors wealthy, and this  period saw the development of feudal lords who were called daimyo. Their success depended on their military prowess and social connections. 

Within their provinces, daimyo developed their own local rule. Samurai served a lord or shogun as long as they were rewarded well. The Ashikaga were not able to control the various provinces, so it was the daimyo who ruled the local population, often fighting over territory and allies. There were approximately 250 daimyo domains at the end of the Ashikaga Period.

Momoyama Period  (1573-1603)

 The end of the Muromachi came when increasing rivalries between daimyo played out in the Onin War (1467-1477). Kyoto was destroyed, and the country spent the next hundred years in chaos known as the Sengoku or Warring States Period. 

 The Momoyama Period or Momoyama-Azuchi Period reunited Japan after these years of civil war. Over time, three generals worked to limit the powers of the daimyo and end the constant warfare between families and provinces.

 Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582) expelled the last Ashikaga shogun and began the restoration of order after centuries of war. His castle was built at Azuchi and became the model for huge structures to protect and defend the daimyo. Firearms, which had arrived with the Portuguese in 1543, influenced Nobunaga’s policies. He was known for brutally eliminating his rivals by any means necessary including burning temples, killing innocent civilians, and assassination. 

Nobunaga’s leading general, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, finalized the reunification of the country. He defeated some daimyo, and made alliances with others so that he became the most powerful man in the land.  All recognized his preeminence. Hideyoshi made some major changes, including forcing all non-samurai to give up their weapons, He introduced a class system and limited Chinese and Dutch to trading in Nagasaki in southern Japan.  The Portuguese and Spanish were banned from Japan for proselytizing.  

"Summer Festival"

It's SUMMER!!!

Well, actually Summer isn't my most favorite season but I adore how Summer is being called "Season of Love"

Even the festivals in Summer are romantics and it's usual to find these festivals in romantic stories J

I LOVE ROMANTIC STORIES

Here are some festivals that occurs in Japan in Summer:

Tanabata

The first annual observance of summer is known as Tanabata, falling on July 7. It is a day that commemorates a romantic story, first handed down to Japan’s imperial court via China and Korea and then becoming popular among the common people, about the once-a-year meeting on a bridge across the Milky Way of the “cowherd star” and the “weaving princess star.” It was believed that wishes made on this day would be fulfilled; in gardens and other places people set up leafbearing bamboo stalks to whose branches they attached strips of paper on which their wishes were written.

Nowadays, Tanabata festivals are celebrated at numerous places around Japan. Some of the best-known take place at the Kitano Tenmangu Shrine in Kyoto, the Konpira Shrine in Kagawa Prefecture, and in the cities of Hiratsuka in Kanagawa Prefecture and Takaoka in Toyama Prefecture. Also well known is the Sendai Tanabata festival in Miyagi Prefecture, which takes place a month later on August 7, closer to the time of year when Tanabata was earlier observed by the lunar calendar.

Fireworks Displays

Throughout Japan, night skies in summer are lit by colorful fireworks as various localities put on fireworks displays (hanabi taikai). Japan’s fireworks technology is said to be the world’s best and has been handed down from generation to generation since the Edo period.

Today’s fireworks displays are often controlled by computers to enhance their precision and spectacular visual effects. In Tokyo, fireworks displays along the Sumida River have been famous annual events since the Edo period.

Bon

Bon or Obon is an annual observance to welcome and console the souls of one’s ancestors, who are thought to visit one’s home at this time of the year. It was traditionally observed around the middle of the seventh month according to the lunar calendar. At present it is observed in most places between July 13 and 15, though in some regions between August 13 and 15.

On July 13, welcoming fires (mukaebi) are lit to greet the ancestors’ spirits. Then, on the sixteenth, seeing-off fires (okuribi) are lit as the ancestral souls return to the spirit world. During Bon, many companies and stores close for vacation and since people who work away from their native places often return there with their wives or husbands and children, transportation facilities, as during Golden Week, become very congested.

"Keigo"

Today let’s talk about Keigo. Yep! THAT Keigo!

It is difficult and many Japanese people get confused as well.

Keigo or sonkeigo is “honorific expression/language“. In order to speak Japanese properly, we have to learn keigo and kenjyougo , humble or modest version of Japanese.

We use keigo towards people who are socially higher, customers, or people you are not familiar with. Students have to use keigo towards sensei (teachers). We hear keigo in daily conversation all the time in the stores, the restaurants, on the street, on the phone, etc.

When you refer to someone’s family, you have to keep it in mind to use the polite form. For example, haha usually refers to your own mother. Okaasan could be your mother or another person’s mother. Okaasama or Okaasama gata (=pluralmothers) are very polite form to address other people’s mothers.

The reason why uses honorific forms (keigo) is to maintain a certain distance in relationship. By using keigo, we subtly expressed our inner feelings, although you didn't realize it. Using keigo in such away is completely different from the old-fashioned, conservative usage.

Basically keigo is polite but the usage of keigo must be adapted according to a hierarchical relationship based on the status and rank of the speaker and listener. Therefore, many Japanese are unwilling to use keigo as they feel it is extremely troublesome to use in conversation. But modern keigo has become a mere facade. The reality is that it does not always function in a time-honored conservative way.

Other people might conclude that a speaker is poorly educated or has been raised in an improper way if he/she is not able to use keigo according to the time, the place and occasion, not just the hierarchical relationship.

Whaatt?? Keigo is so hard!

But I have to go through it if I want to be “d’ best bride ever”. You with me, gals?!!

Please leave comment below! J

"Cosplaying"

Cosplaying is really fundamental for an Otaku (wait, me?)

I’ve been expecting for my hanegasaki-gakuen cosplay costumes. It’s tailor-made, of course. I’ve been wanting to learn how to sew better so I can make my own cosplay costumes. I can do the basic of sewing. And I created some clothes for my barbies. But I never make anything for human’s clothes. Well, I do make some pencil cases and small stuffs like that.

Anyway! Back to the topic!
Today, I want to talk about cosplaying.

Cosplay is an abbreviation of "costume-play". The term refers to dressing up as an anime/manga/game character.
Cosplay is a popular hobby of teen-aged girls in Japan, and is also prominent amongst anime fans worldwide. Sometimes, cosplays can be very good; with a well-crafted, well-fitting costume that looks like its original reference. Such cosplays often require hours of hard work, and considerable seing talent.
Other times, cosplays can be horrendous; especially when fat, balding, middle-aged men decide to cosplay as Sailor Moon, or when a costume really doesn't fit the wearer.

Cosplays are made for the following reasons:

1.   To recreate a 2 dimensional art form into 3-D. 

2.  To challenge one's self to create a cosplay. Many of which dont seem possible to physically create, but somehow are. 

3.  To show appreciation and/or interest in a certain anime/manga/videogame. 

4.  To take pride in a cosplay that looks well done. 

5.  Because normal cloth that is shitted out for everyone via mass factories and little kids are dull. Cosplays are much more interesting to wear. And each cosplay is one of a kind unique considering the wearer most likely made it him/herself. 

6.  It's a Hobby 

Reasons why cosplays are worn: 

1.   To take pride in ones own creation 

2.  To wear something out of the ordinary (societies restrictions on what is allowable to be worn everyday is bland) 

3.  To show support and/or interest in an anime/manga/videogame 

4.  Self expression. Often the character that is choosen to be cosplayed mirrors the actual person wearing the cosplay.

Now, wasn’t that interesting?
Please leave comment!