--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Otaku is a label applied to and adopted…" description: "\"“Otaku is a label applied to and adopted by those people who build a culture around anime, manga, videotapes and videogames. Their ideas and values wer..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6dd/patrick-w-galbraith-57116_anime_otaku-is-a-label-applied-to-and-adopted_1582100.jpg" --- # Otaku is a label applied to and adopted by those people… ![“Otaku is a label applied to and adopted by those people who build a culture around anime, manga, videotapes and videogames. Their ideas and values were different from the mainstream, and so they were labeled otaku, or called themselves otaku, to indicate that difference… In the end, otaku is just…” quote by Patrick W. Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6dd/patrick-w-galbraith-57116_anime_otaku-is-a-label-applied-to-and-adopted_1582100.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6dd/patrick-w-galbraith-57116_anime_otaku-is-a-label-applied-to-and-adopted_1582100.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6dd/patrick-w-galbraith-57116_anime_otaku-is-a-label-applied-to-and-adopted_1582100.jpg) > ““Otaku is a label applied to and adopted by those people who build a culture around anime, manga, videotapes and videogames. Their ideas and values were different from the mainstream, and so they were labeled otaku, or called themselves otaku, to indicate that difference… In the end, otaku is just a label created to contain difference. --Ono Norihiro”” [Patrick W. Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-w-galbraith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Otaku is a social label created to define a subculture that differs from mainstream tastes, especially around anime and games. **In simple terms:** A label for a distinct fan culture. Key Takeaway Recognize and respect subcultural identities. Themes identity subculture labeling difference acceptance Mood reflective analytical Type sociological cultural When to use this quote - anime conventions - online forums - gaming meetups - academic studies - media analysis Key Concepts social identity cultural boundaries stigma Questions to Reflect On - How does labeling affect community cohesion? - Can labels be reclaimed positively? A Different Perspective Labels can reinforce exclusion and stereotype. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anime/) [Called Otaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/called-otaku-5978056/) [Japanese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/japanese/) [Labeled Otaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labeled-otaku-5978059/) [Labels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labels/) [Otaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/otaku/) [Otaku Called](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/otaku-called-5978055/) [Otaku Indicate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/otaku-indicate-5978057/) [Otaku Label](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/otaku-label-5978058/) ## Related quotes > [“Everyone says I am an otaku, but recently everyone is an otaku, even if they just have a hobby. If someone says they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-w-galbraith/everyone-says-i-am-an-otaku-but-recently-everyone-is-an-otaku-even-if/) [Patrick W. Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-w-galbraith/) > [“There are only two types of people in the world--those who became otaku and those who didn't--and the latter just can't understand what the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-w-galbraith/there-are-only-two-types-of-people-in-the-world-those-who-became/) [Patrick W. Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-w-galbraith/) > [“You'll wondering why aren't you born in Japan if you think you're an Otaku”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otaku/you-ll-wondering-why-aren-t-you-born-in-japan-if-you-think-you-re-an/) [Otaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otaku/) > [Almost all Japanese animation is produced with hardly any basis taken from observing real people, you know. It's produced by humans who can't stand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hayao-miyazaki/almost-all-japanese-animation-is-produced-with-hardly-any-basis-taken/) [Hayao Miyazaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hayao-miyazaki/) > [I'm actually a hardcore otaku who likes maids more than having three meals a day. And I only read books related to maids. Also,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiro-fujiwara/i-m-actually-a-hardcore-otaku-who-likes-maids-more-than-having-three/) [Hiro Fujiwara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiro-fujiwara/) > [I'm wearing black leggings and a loose top festooned with a Menger sponge of empty pockets stitched out of smaller pockets and smaller still,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/i-m-wearing-black-leggings-and-a-loose-top-festooned-with-a-menger/) [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) > [“Hackers are nerdy, pasty, tubby, little geeks with triple thick glasses and this is probably a demented otaku with smelly feet. So catching him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keiko-nobumoto/hackers-are-nerdy-pasty-tubby-little-geeks-with-triple-thick-glasses/) [Keiko Nobumoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keiko-nobumoto/) > [You have to find a group that really desperately cares about what it is you have to say. Talk to them. They have something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/you-have-to-find-a-group-that-really-desperately-cares-about-what-it/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [To make a product, to market an idea, to come up with any problem you want to solve that doesn't have a constituency with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/to-make-a-product-to-market-an-idea-to-come-up-with-any-problem-you/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) ## More by Patrick W. Galbraith > [“Everyone says I am an otaku, but recently everyone is an otaku, even if they just have a hobby. If someone says they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-w-galbraith/everyone-says-i-am-an-otaku-but-recently-everyone-is-an-otaku-even-if/) [Patrick W. Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-w-galbraith/) > [“I guess I'm a "single aristocrat" (dokushin kizoku). This is a category of people in their thirties who have a decent income, but are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-w-galbraith/i-guess-i-m-a-single-aristocrat-dokushin-kizoku-this-is-a-category-of/) [Patrick W. Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-w-galbraith/) > [“There are only two types of people in the world--those who became otaku and those who didn't--and the latter just can't understand what the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-w-galbraith/there-are-only-two-types-of-people-in-the-world-those-who-became/) [Patrick W. Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-w-galbraith/) > [“When we get older we buy the things we really wanted as a kid and can finally afford and appreciate. But it all goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-w-galbraith/when-we-get-older-we-buy-the-things-we-really-wanted-as-a-kid-and-can/) [Patrick W. Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-w-galbraith/) > [“There are limits to human beings and science, and fiction is one way to expose those limits. --Ono Norihiro”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-w-galbraith/there-are-limits-to-human-beings-and-science-and-fiction-is-one-way/) [Patrick W. Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-w-galbraith/) [Explore all 6 Patrick W. Galbraith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-w-galbraith/) ## More Anime quotes > [Attack on playing cards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/attack-on-playing-cards/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“To endure becoming a monster you have to dicard your humanity”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armie/to-endure-becoming-a-monster-you-have-to-dicard-your-humanity/) [Armie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armie/) > [There are times in a man's life where he must STRIP.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gray-fullbuster-fairy-tail/there-are-times-in-a-man-s-life-where-he-must-strip/) [Gray Fullbuster Fairy Tail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gray-fullbuster-fairy-tail/) > [“Fear is necessary for evolution. The fear that one could be destroyed at any moment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sosuke-aizen/fear-is-necessary-for-evolution-the-fear-that-one-could-be-destroyed/) [Sosuke Aizen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sosuke-aizen/) > [“Talent is something you bloom, Instinct is something you polish.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haiky-u-oikawa-tooru/talent-is-something-you-bloom-instinct-is-something-you-polish/) [Haikyūu Oikawa Tooru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haiky-u-oikawa-tooru/) > [MY CAT LOL:P ANime cat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asking-alexander/my-cat-lol-p-anime-cat/) [Asking Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asking-alexander/) > [“Keep flying higher, so that others are inspired to fly with you!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oh-great/keep-flying-higher-so-that-others-are-inspired-to-fly-with-you/) [Oh! 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God, you're annoying!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natsuki-takaya/just-tell-me-what-s-so-irritating-katsu-that-s-none-of-your-damn/) [Natsuki Takaya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natsuki-takaya/) > [If you have love in your life, then you have to keep on living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvia-lockser/if-you-have-love-in-your-life-then-you-have-to-keep-on-living/) [Juvia Lockser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvia-lockser/) > [When people realise how lonely they are on their own, they will become kind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mirajane-fairy-tail/when-people-realise-how-lonely-they-are-on-their-own-they-will-become/) [MiraJane Fairy Tail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mirajane-fairy-tail/) > [When we two parted and you disappeared I felt brokenhearted but I dried my tears. I'd hope you'd move on and try to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/body/when-we-two-parted-and-you-disappeared-i-felt-brokenhearted-but-i/) [BODY](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/body/) > [To obtain something, something of equal value must be given.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiromu-arakawa/to-obtain-something-something-of-equal-value-must-be-given/) [Hiromu Arakawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiromu-arakawa/) > [In manga, nothing actually moves, and you just have to draw the poses in each panel, but in anime, you have to draw the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akira-toriyama/in-manga-nothing-actually-moves-and-you-just-have-to-draw-the-poses/) [Akira Toriyama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akira-toriyama/) > [“You'll wondering why aren't you born in Japan if you think you're an Otaku”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otaku/you-ll-wondering-why-aren-t-you-born-in-japan-if-you-think-you-re-an/) [Otaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otaku/) > [I'm a huge 'Harry Potter' fan, but I still think there is a lot of anime that is crazier than 'Harry Potter,' and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tomi-adeyemi/i-m-a-huge-harry-potter-fan-but-i-still-think-there-is-a-lot-of-anime/) [Tomi Adeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tomi-adeyemi/) [Browse all 225 Anime quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anime/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Otaku is a label applied to and adopted by those people who build a culture around anime, manga, videotapes and videogames. 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