Otaku translates to nerd. (n.) a person with obsessive interests {such as manga and/or anime, and may lack in social skills especially with the opposite sex.}
Also means "you" or "your house", in Japanese. A polite honorific.
You may even have seen them, at anime conventions, or maybe even at your school's anime club.
They are all around you!
While Gyaru, translates to a fashionable girl who dresses cute and trendy.
They can be seen wearing the latest styles, with bold and at times elaborate make up and hair, and looking girly.
So you can see the big divide between the two, right?
When I was a little seasoned on Ricoche.net, it seemed like a big No-no to even mention that you liked anime, gaming or manga. If you did (like myself...), you were not a real gyaru, and just an otaku or worse yet! A weeaboo! (like I was called in 2008 by a gyaru who had did the fashion for a little bit longer than myself!)
The term Weeaboo seemed to have sprung up in about 2008 or so where I lived. See definition here if you are of the loop!
Anyhoo...
Putting that little tangent aside, I had tried to save a lotta face by not mentioning anime around my more gyaru peers and sneaking off into an anime club in my first year of college (they had a big room and a viewing screen so it was like you were at a small film showing!!) and trying to squeeze in time to play some good ol' Final Fantasy.
Now, people seem to be more accepting to those who are into gyaru and also like anime, manga and things of that nature. And I am glad!! A lil mad that this happened AFTER LIKE, HOW MANY YEARS THO?!
But glad that girls/gals like accept that side of themselves and are not ashamed to share it. Plus, anime conventions are a great stomping ground for meeting up with various gals if they don't live in the area!
Why let hobbies and interests keep you apart?
What is even more interesting, is that there can be Otaku with other interests than just games and anime! From obsessing over fashion or camera devices, to being closeted otaku or spreading their interests with the world!
Max's video about the topic at hand
What are you an "otaku" for?
