Geek Chic in Akihabara
Hacker, Randi Varner, Mindy
Hacker, Randi
Varner, Mindy
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Abstract
Broadcast Transcript: In the heart of Tokyo lies Akihabara--a district whose name means "field of fall leaves," though the actual scenery runs more to neon and silicon. This former postwar black market is now the holy land for fans of anime and manga. Akihabara features dozens of electronics shops and internet cafes catering to Japan's otaku--or nerd �set who are easily identified by their lack of personal fashion sense, their obsessive interest in manga, and their general clumsiness with members of the opposite sex. In 2005, the runaway TV hit and feature film Densha Otoko, or "Train Man," set off a nationwide fad for the nerd style personified by the hero of show--a so-called "Akihabara type making it, so to speak, downright chic to be a "geek." #ceas #hacker #japan
Description
This is one of hundreds of 60-second radio spots created by the Center for East Asian Studies (CEAS) for Kansas Public Radio (KPR). The purpose of this outreach program is to introduce the people of Kansas to the culture and current issues of East Asia.
Date
2009-08-12
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Publisher
Center for East Asian Studies, University of Kansas
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Keywords
Japan, Akihabara, Otaku, Densha Otoko, Train Man, Anime, Manga, Geek, Tokyo, Nerd