GeekStrike

With the Geeking101 feature, we intend to impart you, our dear readers, the 101 ways to attain true Geekdom.

The Geek has always been obsessed with technology. PCs, cars, cameras etc. Comics, sci-fi novels and video games also fall within his purview. The Otaku, however, is a different type of geek. Simply put, he focuses more on anime, manga and games. The GeekStrike Team has recently got hold of a book which gives us an insight into these people : The Otaku Encyclopedia. It contains the A-Z of everything you want/need to know about Otakus…but are afraid to ask.

The book is informative, yet fun and entertaining to read. It is filled with tidbits of information which to the N00b, will find them enlightening and to the veterans, will bring smiles to their faces. Famous personalities are included, anime terms as well as animes and mangas that helped shape the industry. Interviews with the various people who work in the industry are also there. Interestingly, they all give differing views on what defines an Otaku, which make for a fascinating and informative read.  And like most anime and manga, fanservice is provided in the form of your guide, who is aptly named Moe.

Now, I’ve only started watching anime and reading manga 2 years ago and thought I knew a lot about Otakus, but it was a humbling experience to find that I knew less than 30% of the terms inside. Fellow writer, Hayashi Shigi, on the other hand, knew every word in the ‘A’ section. He also commented that the ‘right’ terms were all there. So, I guess this encyclopedia could also be used to gauge your level of ‘Otakuness’.

Nonetheless, this book should only be used as a reference. If you seriously want to be an Otaku, there can be no other way than to experience it yourself by watching/reading anime/manga. Thus, I will give it a Geek Factor of 4/5.

The Otaku Encyclopedia is available at Kinokuniya for SGD$35.