19.09.2010 · by Patrick W. Galbraith
'Hardware Girls' launch party
A photographer and journalist, gravure idol and musician, it is tough to pin down Julie Watai, aka Amano Ai, aka Eye Taso. She is as unpredictable as she is vibrant. Saturday, September 18, marked the launch of her new photo album, "Hardware Girls." A party was held at Super Potato in Akihabara, with free beer and retro gaming. An awesome follow up to a long day at Tokyo Game Show!
"Hardware Girls" comes some four years after where Julie turned her camera on "spirituality and technology for the moe consciousness." It was a cool slice of Akihabara kitsch, and a chance to peek into the mind of an unnervingly self-aware otaku. Some of the images from "Samurai Girl" reappear in "Hardware Girls," but the hardware and the girls snap into sharp focus. Here are some sample images.
My take on the theme is the technological condition, specifically a free relation to technology opened through and grounded by the young girl. Anyway, worth checking out. Congrats, Julie!
PS - Vid is of Julie (as Eye Taso) performing with Cutie Pai (far right).
07.06.2010 · by Adrian A. Lozano
Sucked into the Black Hole AKA 4chan
We just received an "Anonymous" email informing us of Patrick's debut over at 4chan's Otaku Encyclopedia thread. Guess I'll have to sift through it should it prove to be interesting. Stay tuned.
Tags: Otaku 0 Comments
30.05.2010 · by Patrick W. Galbraith
The Politics of Popular Culture
Temple University Japan will be holding two conferences on Japanese popular culture as part of the Summer Institute. The first will be on politicizing Japanese popular culture, and includes panels on gaming, otaku and "Cool Japan." I will present on the limitations of "otaku studies." The second will be about gendered labor in Japanese popular culture, and includes discussions of hostess clubs, host clubs and enjo kosai. I will be presenting on maid cafes. Each event is 1,000 yen, including a reception with food and drink after the papers and discussion. Details are available at the official site.
31.03.2010 · by Patrick W. Galbraith
On the prowl for banned goods
I visited an underground collector in Koenji who had literally rooms full of books, CDs and items that had been banned in Japan. He also had acquired items from Aum Shinrikyo, bosozoku bike gangs and yakuza. He asked not to be named, of course, as he is worried about being associated with criminals - and pissing them off by flaunting that he sifts through their trash. It was a wild experience just talking to this guy. He allowed me to take a few pictures, including "Misshitsu" (Honey Room), the obscene manga that was at the center of the Shobunkan Trial in 2002. These aren't the sorts of items to be found in the Diet Library or even the Yonezawa Library. Apparently there is an entire network of underground collecting and archiving to save these items for future generations. Just imagine what might be inside all those darkened apartments around Tokyo...
Tags: Otaku Collection 0 Comments
25.03.2010 · by Patrick W. Galbraith
Sexy legs, no faces
Just walking through Akihabara and saw this sign for an independently produced erotic video. It is of the sentai-hentai variety, or mixing together Power Rangers and porn. Girls fight, get beat up, slimed, uniforms get torn off, and so on. This gem is called Akibalion, a combination of Akihabara and "GoLion" (aka "Voltron: Defender of the Universe"). What really caught my eye was the picture at the bottom of the poster: the actresses are wearing helmets, but no trousers. The imbalance of this expression of desire seems profound. The sign indicates that this is the second half of what must be an epic story...
22.03.2010 · by Patrick W. Galbraith
Nippombashi Street Festa 2010
I shot over to Osaka for the Nippombashi Street Festa 2010. It was the sixth annual event, and by all accounts was a little more organized and controlled than before. I guess there were police patrolling, and the event had numerous corporate sponsors (the gray-haired suits marched in the parade, which I thought was hilarious). Everywhere you looked, there was Neon-chan, the image character of the area designed by Itou Noizi. (The more I saw her, the more I thought she looks like Cardcaptor Sakura...) But from where I stood it was a really wild time. At 12:00, the massive street in the center of Den Den Town from the overpass by Hero Gangu down to Ebisucho was closed to vehicular traffic. Cosplayers crowded the streets and began performing, including a Macross 7 cover band in costume! The parade itself was cosplayers and maids marching down a thin strip of red carpet taped to the road surface. No fences, no boundaries, just a bunch of people crowding around trying to take pictures. Imagine what the press at the Academy Awards would look like if there was no barrier between them and the celebrities. Yeah. So I am not so sure if this qualifies as organized and controlled. I can't imagine what it must have been like before. From early morning, empty plots where buildings had been leveled became makeshift swamp meets, cosplayers (and many crossplayers) walked the streets. Due to the car culture in western Japan, there were many itasha to be seen, parked right in the center of "Ota Road" parallel to the street through Den Den. People were lining up for special giveaways, and there were live idol performances (and otagei performances in response to them) at a stage. All in all, it was an incredible experience. Like a years worth of energy burst loose for one day. In that sense, it really reminded me of the convention circuit in the United States. That sense of festival, community and play was really there. Great job to everyone involved!
Tags: Otaku Event Travel 0 Comments
07.03.2010 · by Patrick W. Galbraith
Yamakan as 'girls anime'
I have a few issues with this issue of "Spoon," a women's magazine that ran a special on "Women's Anime 2010." It is mostly about "Eden of the East," which I can see, with a few others thrown in there. The issue at hand is the inclusion of Yamamoto Yutaka, the celebrated director of the Haruhi dance, the first episodes of "Lucky Star" and "Kannagi." He is identified in this magazine as Yamakan. The pictures of him are of a serious, sexy director auteur in black. And, instead of anime, his live-action film ("My Unkind Upperclassman") is featured. Issues are as follows:
1) When did Yamamoto Yutaka become "women's anime"?
2) He is known as "Yamakan" in mainstream circles?
3) Rather than moe, he is a live-action director?
4) Not otaku, but sexy man?
There are plenty of other things to bring up, but I am already in tears at how far out of context a personal hero has been taken. Or, even more upsetting, how he might want to present himself in the future...
Tags: Anime Otaku 2 Comments
26.02.2010 · by Patrick W. Galbraith
Too much time in maid cafes = moe poisoning
This must be a record. I counted, and I now have 15 full membership cards at Cos-Cha. Actually, 14 full and two half full. 20 stamps per membership card, 1000 yen per stamp. Add it up and see: I go to maid cafes too often. My life is over...
記録的な数ではないかと。やはり、私のメイド喫茶中毒は記録的かも。人生ｵﾜﾀ ＼(＾o＾)／
Tags: Maids Akihabara Otaku 2 Comments
25.01.2010 · by Patrick W. Galbraith
John Hathway in collection of great illustrators!
The man behind the art of Otaku2, John Hathway (JH Kagaku), has appeared in two published collections of great character illustrators. One is where he stands shoulder to shoulder with Ito Noizi (Haruhi), Kei (Hatsune Miku) and Nishimata ("Shuffle")!
The second book is
Way to go, man!
Tags: Otaku 0 Comments
22.01.2010 · by Patrick W. Galbraith
Intriguing transformable interior object
I am super impressed with this design, which I just received from Yamaji Tomo. He is an independent creator, and this is all made in Japan, an increasingly rare combination that I'd like to support. It is called the HENGE h010101, and it sells for around US$1,100, but it has been discounted to US$577. Check out the .
18.12.2009 · by Adrian A. Lozano
Patrick heads to AniFusion NYC
While sifting through a few piles of "Droppings" over at one of our
fellow comrade's online portholes; I was pointed to some free PR for AniFusion NYC. Thanks for the laugh by the way. So if you happen to be in New York the event will be taking place this Sunday December 20th over at Forbidden Planet New York City. As always Patrick is happy to talk about his research and personal opinion about the pros and cons of the Otaku status in and outside of Japan.
“AniFusion NYC: A One-Day Celebration of American/Japanese-Pop Fusion” on Sunday, December 20, 2009 from 2:00 PM ~ 5:00 PM at Forbidden City (212 Avenue A, New York, NY 1009, between 13th and 14th).
Tags: Otaku International Academic 0 Comments
15.12.2009 · by Adrian A. Lozano
Hello Kitty Loves Nerds?
Here's a new bag to go with a geek's fashionable ensemble while roaming around Akihabara. Is this a case of "Hello Kitty Loves Nerds", or perhaps it's another case of Engrish and should actually read "I'm a Nerd"? So what do you think Patrick; is this just more Hello Kitty is moe merchandise?
Tags: Otaku Fujoshi 2 Comments
07.12.2009 · by Patrick W. Galbraith
Otaku academic conference in Ottawa
I will be presenting on the potential, and limits, of moe and talking about my . Thomas LaMarre, who recently published a on anime, will also be in attendance. I believe in addition to our presentations we will dialogue about otaku. Looking forward to seeing how the event turns out! BTW, the name of the conference is in fact "Oniichan, what does moe mean?" This was not my idea, and yes, this is a real event. Just in case there are any doubts.
2010年1月にカナダのオタワ大学で「おたく」というテーマで学術発表会が開かれます。私は「萌え」について発表する予定で、トマス・ラマール先生はアニメについて発表するようです。それから、私と先生はおたくの社会的生態について対話します。因に、発表会のタイトルは「お兄ちゃん、萌えって何？」になってしまいました。本当に。これはネタではありません！
06.12.2009 · by Patrick W. Galbraith
Hatune Miku at the blood bank
I reported a while back that the blood bank in Akihabara is targeting otaku men (story here). Since then, the humble little Red Cross room has opened a new location on the other side of the station. To commemorate the event, they are giving away a limited number of exclusive, official Hatsune Miku goods. If there was any doubt that they are courting the otaku crowd, this puts it to rest.
Tags: Akihabara Otaku 3 Comments
01.12.2009 · by Patrick W. Galbraith
Girly Gundam
Terrifying. Absolutely no excuse for this. I mean, mecha meets moe, I can see that in mecha shojo. But this? It's pink. Just wait - Macross is next in line.
Tags: Anime Otaku Weird 3 Comments
12.11.2009 · by Patrick W. Galbraith
Momoi Halko in Akihabara
I met Momoi Halko, idol, seiyuu and self-described Akiba-kei otaku, in Akihabara to discuss moe. She had some fascinating things to say, including a strong opinion that moe can and will travel around the world. Her evidence was a recent world tour where fans responded to Komugi-chan and Seto no Hanayome. I can't think of a better ambassador for Akiba and moe culture than Momoi Halko, who was doing street lives here back in 1996 and was among the first to not use a pseudonymn when singing eroge songs. Thanks to Momoi-san for her time, and signing my copy of her book, and Fritz Schumann for taking some great pics!
06.10.2009 · by Patrick W. Galbraith
Honda Toru in Akihabara
I met the man, the myth, the legend, Honda Toru, a light novel writer who married a two-dimensional character and advocates other join in the moe revolution. One of his stories is going to be made into a live-action film, and we commiserated that it wouldn't be anime, but had to be better than "Dragon Ball Evolution." He signed my book, and asked that I never show his face to anyone so that he could continue to live his footloose and fancy-free otaku lifestyle. Long live moe, and long live the moe man who gave the movement a face (well, sort of).
Tags: Moe Akihabara Otaku 0 Comments
28.09.2009 · by Patrick W. Galbraith
Nippombashi pictures
Just some pics of the guys from Macross World and local Japanese otaku that showed me around Nippombashi last week. Thanks again Howard, Rob, Takumi and Shacho!
By the way, I think Rob may be the only guy who can claim to be banned from K-Books. Check it out here.
16.08.2009 · by Patrick W. Galbraith
Otaku2 in the pages of doujinshi!
Coming off of Comike 76, we have some very happy news. First, John Hathway, who provides the art for the site, released his new book and science mystery game. Next, Adrian Lozano had some of his artwork displayed in a doujinshi celebrating "Megazone 23."
Last, our tour made it into a doujinshi exploring Akihabara. I wonder if anyone bought these!?
Tags: Doujinshi Comike Otaku 0 Comments
15.08.2009 · by Patrick W. Galbraith
Young Anime People - Yappies!
Matt Alt has just posted a fascinating page from the history of otaku, discovered in "The Anime," circa August 1984. Wild stuff! Check it out here.
Tags: Otaku Academic 0 Comments
