The Otaku Encyclopedia Launch Event

12.06.2009 by Adrian A. Lozano

Last night was the official launching event for The Otaku Encyclopedia written by none other than our very own Otaku2 co-founder Patrick W. Galbraith. The Otaku Encyclopedia hit Japanese book store shelves earlier this week just a few days before the event. Patrick has worked tirelessly on this book over the past year and the finished product is just amazing. The softcover book is in full color with a 258 page count of interviews and anime terminology from A to Z, that isn't just based off of popular or niche opinions.





Over the last two decades quite few books have been released covering Anime and or Manga, but they usually tend to be full of second hand information (I'm being generous) or written in a way that makes you feel the writer is on a superiority trip in the world of geekdom. Every page of this book is full of amazing imagery from official product shots to actual locations that have a relation to Japanese sub-culture. Thinking back it's also probably one of the hand full of recent books that focuses solely on reaching out to Otaku not living in Japan that features original art work that well "doesn't suck", I'm of course talking about the books' mascot character Moe-pon. Now if you are a hard nose first or second generation anime fan and are dead set against current anime trends (Like me, to some degree), don't be fooled by the overly loud and bright Moefied cover, this book covers detailed information for all generations to pick a part and scrutinizes.



The book launch event took place in Akihabra on the evening of Friday June 12, 2009 hosted by Akihabara Culture Café Schatzkiste. The party started promptly at eight o'clock and guests quickly piled in. Once in the most common question being asked was "Where is Patrick?". The man of the next two hours was late for his own Ball. I could hardly blame him since Café Schatzkiste is now relocated on the farthest side of Akihabara, and no Otaku would be able to make it there with out making purchasing pit stops on the way, unless they were muzzled, bound and dollied upright like Hannibal Lecter straight to the event. Only this Hannibal tends to cospaly as Super Saiyajin Goku and is known by the locals only as Gaigokujin .



The event was a crowded one and finally upon Patrick's late arrival a toast was made and the books were made available for purchase. Some of the surprise guest where video game goddess Haruna Anno and Danny Choo in full Imperial Stormtrooper garb. It was a celebration among friends and colleagues that Patrick has come across while on his Otaku pilgrimage that he had began in fall of 2004.



Passion is the best word I can think of to describe this book. It is and will be sold in the . Let us know what you think in our comment section below.

In the words of Patrick............ "Take Care."