Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate - Kotaku Comments

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

taomaster99 — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 06:23:41 MST

This has to be done as there is no more dangerous animal then the NERD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

taomaster99

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

hunnii — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 03:13:49 MST

After reading some of the posts in regards to why people that are viewed as otaku are being targeted or seen as potential criminals, I can't help but wonder if people like Tsutomu Miyazaki or the notion of "figure moe zoku" might also be to blame for such prejudice?

hunnii

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

smeee — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 19:04:42 MST

This is why i dress classy, cept for the shoes...they stay busted up no matter what.Old skate shoes...

smeee

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Number41 — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 06:44:01 MST

Well, I dunno how much truth there is behind this story, but if it's true, I would imagine it's because some violent crimes are committed by the otaku type. If you watch the news in Japan regularly, every so often you'll catch a story about a social outcast who has killed his parents, or somesuch. The closest example I can think of at the moment is the guy who is suspected of killing Lindsay Hawker. Sure, it doesn't mean that all otaku are killers, but most people would say that otaku are creepy at the least.

Number41

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

fecalchaos — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 22:46:01 MST

Why did this news post not include all the pertinant information?
All we got for a motive was Ashcroft's collective assumption? We're just creating, or worse, perpetuating a stereotype unless readers are given the whole story.

fecalchaos

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

sing4england — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 21:05:05 MST

It was about time!! nerds have been running rampant and free for too long! let them be beaten the crap out of them so they stop watching hentai!

sing4england

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

muu — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 20:20:03 MST

@Yuki: they're targeting the weakass-looking fanboys who are known for carrying around knives and such, because it's an easy way to fill their quotas. Don't recall if the Tantei file article mentioned it, but go to dqnplus and you'll see a lot of people pointing out that they're targeting only the army fatigued anime fanboys, and NOT the (probably equally equipped) yakuzas or other suspicious looking grunts.

It's easy enough to see why they ignore the most dangerous targets -- they're also the ones most likely to bite back.

muu

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Echo_Hotel — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 19:08:04 MST

@Sparkamus: Really they are just in the bed they made for themselves when they thought that "Traditional Japanese 'Honor' " could take the place of good old fashioned anti-discrimination and anti-bribery laws.

People are bastards who will try and get away with whatever they can the entire world over, Japan thought they were better than that and this just proves them human.

I'm just telling it like it is no quarter given none asked for all people can be (are?) scum from European to Arab to African to Asian to American (natives of north, south and central).

Echo_Hotel

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Channing — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 17:42:23 MST

@badasscat:

OMG are you stalking me? How did you know I love MoMusu and I love U-15!?

@badasscat:

Otaku who don't leave their appartments? You don't mean hikikomori?

Channing

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

huhwhat — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 17:35:07 MST

@Bleentastic: First post and a most brilliant post.

My mind is already conjuring images of a Japanese-styled Manhunt.

huhwhat

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

develin — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 17:31:30 MST

＠Witzbold: I wouldn't hold the expensive of a layer so much an issue, as I know quite a bunch of people who actually sued. Record being a friend of mine whose German sense of what's right and wrong "forced" her to sue her Japanese landlord (anyone living in Japan knows how outrageous that is), her then former boss and a bunch of others for various reasons. IMHO it is more a mentality thing as sueing is considered bad, and you will be frowned upon for doing so.

In addition to that Japanese laws are so over the top conservative that they end up being absurd in a lot of cases. Looking at the politicians that is not surprising though. My favorite example is that until 9 month after a divorce, children are always counted as being the ex-husbands even if the involved parties claim it to be otherwise.

develin

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Vegan Shinigami — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 16:45:44 MST

Ahhh poor little otakus! They need the help of Akihabara@deep! ;)

Vegan Shinigami

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Sabre_Justice: Okay, no more long name. — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 16:29:32 MST

Just wait til one wins a lightsaber off Ebay and goes out for revenge...

Sabre_Justice: Okay, no more long name.

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

fuchikoma — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 15:50:36 MST

@elevenoverzero:
What's worse is if you use "weeaboo" you're actually a /b/tard

fuchikoma

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

The Great Moof — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 15:45:13 MST

@elevenoverzero: "What did you expect!? It's called 'Weeaboutique!' "

The Great Moof

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

$Bill$G$ — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 15:29:03 MST

Wish the cops'd stop the daggy emo's walking around everwhere here. What a waste of air they are. Instead they just pick on the somali kids, being the big tough guys they are.

$Bill$G$

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Tepoz — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 14:25:00 MST

Well, my friends in High School pretty grew up with this type of harrasment since they were the metal-heads. Sticking out in a Christian Conservative town will get you harrased fairly frequently no matter what you're doing or not doing. You know, since our Satan worshipping music was corrupting America, destroying lives and made us more violent than other youths. Assholes!

Tepoz

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

GaijinWarrior — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 14:13:30 MST

Damn I guess this means I need to bulk up before I go to Japan this fall, someone might try and kick my ass because I'm a nerd. Maybe they'll leave me alone if I tell them I only have blonde hair because of my Super Saiyajin ancestors?

GaijinWarrior

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Yuki — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 13:03:56 MST

Linking to Tantei File shortly after I mentioned it in one of my comments? I smell conspiracy!

On topic, I recall hearing some time back (wasn't it here?) that it was because of the otaku tendency to carry scissors around in their backpacks so they could open all their new acquisitions.

As aside, these comments are getting scary, so I'm off.

Yuki

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

SSJPabs — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 12:53:20 MST

I'd also add that with American Hegemony in the region weakening as a nation they are trying to rediscover their international identity, so the whole "what is Japan" thing.

Blech, maybe I'm wrong. I do belong to a list-serve of foreign policy discussions on Japan which is where that impression comes from. (They are not amateurs, but actual professors and diplomats with experience discussing trends and current events in J-Politics).

SSJPabs

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Tsuzu — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 12:51:32 MST

This sort of thing happens in the U.S. too -- I can think of an incident just yesterday. I was leaving the mall after a movie and we passed a guy dressed all in black, with a long sort of black trench coat thing, with spikes on the shoulders.
The mall security guy stopped him before he even got near the doors of the mall.

Tsuzu

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Sparkamus — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 12:23:04 MST

@Echo_Hotel: I think they are sort of culturally confused right now. The adult in Japan loves feudal, traditional Japanese culture. However, the kid in Japan loves western culture that slowly trickled into Japan during the 19th century and then came as a great deluge during the American occupation of Japan post-WWII. They may have over dosed on that last shot of western culture during the occupation.

A whole generation of fathers dead, together with strong influences by western media in Japan, might serve to explain why the national culture seems stranger than many.

Sparkamus

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Echo_Hotel — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 11:41:22 MST

Japanese General Population == Xenophobes
The stories I've heard about creative types trying to find housing in Japan are pretty terrible, anti-discrimination law is pretty much non-existent or unenforced and bringing gifts "to show respect" the typical mode of operation.

Echo_Hotel

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

RuneX — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 11:32:11 MST

I find it funny when I hear all these stories of peple getting stopped by police. I mean, ive lived here 2 years or so now and never been stopped once. Ive walked down streets next to kobans with a bottle of vodka in my hand at 2am and never had an issue, ive ridden bikes just about everywhere with no issues. Yet my neighbor gets stopped atleast once a week. I doubt its appearance, I wonder if its attitude or something else.(for the record my neighbor is kinda weak looking, and fits the description of an otaku, even though he doesnt like that crap.)

RuneX

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

spork — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 11:31:41 MST

@new_pornographer: Yeah like stated before, some form of striking and grappling is probably better than Chinese Wing Chun. In fact Sanda was developed cuz the older Chinese martial arts pretty much sucked when going against actual competition or in a real fight. Just because they're focused not just on the actual fighting aspect, but they're also focused on being showy. I think before when there used to be kung fu vs muay thai competitions between China and Thailand, the Chinese competitors would get their asses handed to them. When they developed Sanda (which goes for utility over show) and switched to that, I've heard it's become pretty even.

@ROYALJESTER
Actually I'm surprised. Generally it's easy to tell who's a foreigner even if they're Asian just by the way they dress and the way they carry themselves. I was never bothered while I was in Japan. In fact the only people that mistook me for a resident were the group of white folk. Though I'll give them a pass because the okonomiyaki shop owner asked me to help explain the menu to them. It was pretty amusing though because they were like "wow, your English is SO GOOD!" and then they got really embarrassed when I said I was from the US. And then even more embarrassed when I told them I didn't actually work at the shop.

spork

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

MHCJimQc — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 11:28:30 MST

GAMERS ARE CRIMINALS!!! circa GTA

MHCJimQc

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

little_dragon — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 11:21:10 MST

Waiting for the "If you don't have anything to hide, why do you object?" comments...

little_dragon

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Witzbold — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 11:17:58 MST

@Sparkamus: Hell yeah, ever seen them during time bargins at super markets or department stores?

They could bury the 49ers front line defense.

Scary shit...

Witzbold

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Sparkamus — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 11:09:32 MST

@DigitalHero: Old Japanese ladies are the toughest people out there.

Sparkamus

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

DigitalHero — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 10:55:58 MST

"People who look weak"

bwahahahaha!

Time to arrest that 94 year old Japanese lady on the bullet train.

DigitalHero

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Strangelove — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 10:42:31 MST

People who look weak? The elderly and babies must be getting rectal exams.

Strangelove

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Witzbold — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 10:40:30 MST

@Tsukibara: You obviously missed his original post. Perhaps next time you should try reading everything before trying to correct others.

Witzbold

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

fuchikoma — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 10:33:25 MST

Spot-checking otaku...
I can see it kind of since I'd heard of a few muggings lately, but that's got to make for some awkward encounters - both from stereotypical otaku social skills, and backpacks full of eromanga/statues/etc...
*shakes head*
So who thinks it's just a short fad the cops will do to increase awareness before they move on?

fuchikoma

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Gray665 — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 10:29:32 MST

wow, thats pretty messed up. They'd be stopping damn near every person in my neighborhood in Philly. Plenty of chains and leather and skinny jean wearing hipster people around here obesessed with all kinds of weird shit. The cops dont bother anyone, and there are plenty of them, unless you are doing something disruptive and/or acting drunk and stupid.

Gray665

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Tsukibara — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 10:16:50 MST

@badasscat: Just a reminder: you're talking about anime otaku. There are more kinds of otaku than anime otaku. At least in Japan anyways. It's just the anime ones that get all the attention.

Tsukibara

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Tsukibara — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 10:12:14 MST

@Witzbold: "The ones that seem to get into trouble are those who cant seem to "fit in" with society itself. Even more so in Japan where the culture is still against those who "stick out"."

What do you mean, "still"? It has always been that way. Japan preaches conformity to their children, America and most other countries preach individuality. It is their culture.

Tsukibara

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Sparkamus — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 10:06:19 MST

@new_pornographer: It's interesting to note that the arrival of mixed martial arts competition has shown rather definitively that fighters utilizing pure Shaolin Kung Fu and Karate get destroyed by fighters using mixed forms of martial arts that focus on grappling.

(I personally prefer the relatively useless martial art of fencing. When I'm an old man I'm going to be fierce with my cane though.)

Sparkamus

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

kidko — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 09:54:05 MST

I have to say that on my one trip to Japan, where I spent most of my time in Osaka and then visited TGS, everyone was very friendly to my coworker and I. We stuck out like crazy yet locals were incredibly friendly. I'm also happy that we didn't get picked on by any police.

I guess it's a good thing it went down like that because now I've got very good memories of Japan. I don't know if I would say the same thing if I got hassled by the cops.

kidko

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Mongoosekun — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 09:51:53 MST

@Witzbold:

Nail meet hammer? :3

Mongoosekun

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

new_pornographer — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 09:46:36 MST

@Witzbold: Okay, Judo, Aikido, or probably the best would be Chinese Wing Chun but you get what I mean!

new_pornographer

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Sugoi — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 09:30:08 MST

I'm of two minds about this. On one hand, I feel that any discrimination is terrible and despicable, but on the other, they often do bring some of this upon themselves by purposefully going out of their way to stand out.

I like to go jogging at 3AM. I frequently get stopped by cops. There's nothing wrong with this - the cops are just doing their job, because frankly, it is a little suspicious that someone would be jogging in the middle of the night. No harm, no foul, and I've gotten to know some nice cops this way too.

It does sound like the cops are going a bit too far in this case, though. I wonder whose idea this policy was?

Sugoi

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

jchasse — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 09:23:22 MST

@kidnicky:

I'm not saying that getting harrased is anything new. But as I understand it, if those cops decide to rifle through your backpack that is where it crosses a line.

They can ask and you can consent, and perhaps that is what is happening to the otaku. I don't know the whole situation so I should keep my opinions to myself (if I had a nickle for everytime that was the case...), but I must say that everytime I feel like the US is one messed up place I don't have to look far to see how great we really have it.

ps As a side note, I use a Katana for my martial arts. If I put it in my bag it is a conceled weapon, ever try to get on a buss with a Katana in your hand. HA.

jchasse

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

DaiMacculate — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 09:12:47 MST

@Sparkamus: Well, to be fair CC isn't always right (see live sports), and I will continue to say Squee because it then associates Arkansas Razorback fans with hillbilly butt rape. Not that I'm a huge Duke fan who is still bitter about the '94 championship game, or anything ;)

DaiMacculate

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Witzbold — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 09:10:31 MST

@Sparkamus: Its not all that great apparently. Things seem to be a bit lop sided with the law + courts from what I understand from my friend whos very up to date with laws and such issues in relation to japan. I mean he better be since hes our business manager.

So he tells me of all sorts things where justice just is not served in this country.

You even have less of a chance if you are female going up against a male. My Japanese language teacher back in the days of living in Hawaii told me of these stories which is why one reason she had moved to the US out of Japan.

Granted things have gotten better for women, there still is a giant wall for them to climb over when it comes to facing another of the opposite sex in a legal battle.

Since lots of folks who get arrested for various things that would land you in jail in the US get let off with slaps on the wrists pretty much. Whats even more disturbing is that it still just a slap on the wrist for multiple offenders. It just doesnt make sense at times. :x

Witzbold

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

kidnicky — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 09:08:34 MST

JChasse-
If you seriously think this is just Japan's problem,cut your hair into a mohawk,put on a trenchcoat,and walk past some cops.

kidnicky

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Sparkamus — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 09:03:16 MST

@DaiMacculate: I watched Deliverance the other day with Closed Captioning. It's "Eeee, Eeeee!"
;)

Sparkamus

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Sparkamus — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 09:02:14 MST

@Witzbold: How's the court system in Japan if these folks do get arrested? I've heard some disturbing stories...

Sparkamus

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

DaiMacculate — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 08:58:09 MST

@badasscat: Yeah, I don't know if suspended is even a strong enough word for what the Patriot Act has done and is doing to the 4th amendment among others (at least the 2nd is untouched, right? :P). Let Me:

Patriot Act: Squeal like a pig boy!
Constitution: Squee! SQUEE!

DaiMacculate

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

bigman88zz — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 08:57:29 MST

@bigman88zz: i just realized something. when were the weak ever safe?

bigman88zz

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

bigman88zz — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 08:56:51 MST

well, it appears the weak are no longer safe. time for me to head to the gym, or better yet, steroids time!

bigman88zz

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

DaiMacculate — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 08:55:54 MST

@chaos242: Next time you're in the area

Unfortunately, my only time in Japan thus far was a long layover at Narita on the way back from the PRC, so it may be awhile before I get to see first-hand. I totally believe that this is true about the criminal presence though, and your theory about its relation to stopping Otaku certainly sounds reasonable ;)

DaiMacculate

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

badasscat — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 08:55:37 MST

@jchasse: The Patriot Act suspended most of the 4th Amendment.

@VishusBurn: I'm not saying all otaku deserve to be randomly stopped and frisked. But I doubt that's really what's happening either. The guy in the photo above actually does *not* look like most "otaku", however he may be dressed. If you ask any random Japanese person to pick an otaku out of a crowd, that's not the guy they're going to pick. They'd be more likely to pick somebody like this guy: [www.otakudigest.com]

But even he is pretty tame. A lot of otaku rarely leave their apartments so they don't shower, they don't cut their hair, and they're just generally dirty, smelly, ugly, and look like social misfits. In Japan, where grooming is taken pretty seriously and even hardcore punks wear newly-made and purchased, perfectly clean and pressed clothes, these people stand out pretty easily. There's a whole subculture of people like this (in fact there's another word for them that I'm forgetting right now, but you can be both otaku and that other word). These people are not the equivalent of a "nerd" here at all.

I'm sure some people become otaku because they just get interested in various things through their regular life; those people are harmless. Other otaku, though, become obsessive probably because they're basically shut-ins and they have nothing else going on. So they look for an escape. Those people are borderline mentally ill and probably need some help, but that's one area where Japan is way behind the west. So instead, they just get harassed by the police. That's no surprise in Japan. But like I said earlier, there probably really are good reasons for it.

But I think the point is there are otaku, and then there are otaku. And I doubt this is affecting all of them equally.

I can't really explain why the guy above - who doesn't even really look like the harmless kind of otaku to me - would get searched, but it probably is just the fact that he has a large backpack. Don't forget that Japan has seen its share of domestic terrorism, and they're pretty paranoid about it.

badasscat

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Witzbold — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 08:54:17 MST

@jchasse: In Japan a big reason why lawsuits dont go flying around like crazy is lawyers are just too expensive. That and the society is generally a conformist society, so they see incidents as something that "cant be helped" most of the time. Which is why so much stuff slides by or from our view folks seem apathetic to certian situations that people overseas would find untolerable.

Also the law here in Japan is a bit skewed also. But lets not go into that since its rather ugly.

Witzbold

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Cheebahawk — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 08:50:48 MST

People need to realise that in Japan, the term "Otaku" is largely seen as an insult, more closely resembling the British term "Anorak".

In the Western world, we've adopted the word "Otaku" to mean anyone with a sligh geekish love for Japan and Japanese culture, so make note of the differences or you'll insult/confuse Japanese people.

Cheebahawk

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

GamerBunny — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 08:50:14 MST

Man, definitely those people who "look weak" should be looked out for. They're totally dangerous. Cops need to stop being so dumb, in all countries.

GamerBunny

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

jchasse — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 08:47:52 MST

Argggggggg please kotaku gods can we get an after the post edit or a before the post spell check option!

jchasse

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Gladman — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 08:47:37 MST

I think "look weak" is one of the first things that should be considerd

Gladman

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

jchasse — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 08:46:48 MST

@Witzbold:
"In this alarmist day and age, something tells me they would throw the 4th Amendment out the window for public safety / security."

You know your light but at least here in the states you could then sue the cops for a Galizzion dollars. God bless lawers, I mean America.

jchasse

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

DELICIOUS BUNNY — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 08:40:08 MST

At least I don't look scrawny. But I do have a Keroro Gunsou keychain often hanging out of my pockets. I might be in trouble.

DELICIOUS BUNNY

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Witzbold — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 08:39:38 MST

@jchasse: In this alarmist day and age, something tells me they would throw the 4th Amendment out the window for public safety / security.

Witzbold

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Bokusatsu_Tenshi — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 08:32:08 MST

Like I said on Danny's blog... dunno about this.

You have to consider some points:
1- Those characteristics are not exclusive to otakus.
2- They might have some criminal with those characteristics on the loose.
3- Remember even in Japan there were terrorist attacks long time ago involving fanatics (Sarin gas).
4- As long as policemen are not abusing, they are just doing their job.

Japan is a safe place... I don't have real statistics here, but isn't it one of the safest places to live? I mean, crime-related.

And finally... if you didn't commit any crimes, you have nothing to worry, right? So this should only make you feel safer.

Increases chances for policemen to get people like these: [www.dannychoo.com]

Bokusatsu_Tenshi

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

jchasse — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 08:27:36 MST

@Witzbold:

"Thats what happens when you stick out in this society. Hell in any society for that matter"

Last time I checked in America we have this thing called the 4th Amendment.

jchasse

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Do Kesubei — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 08:26:47 MST

@Witzbold: "Over all with the cops I just say its a lot of them just dont have the balls to take on real trouble makers..."

Heh, you're probably right about that.

Do Kesubei

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

mechis — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 08:26:18 MST

That note he stuffed in his back pack was pretty hilarious though. Being smarmy with cops is so satisfying that its almost worth being pulled over for.

mechis

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Witzbold — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 08:23:08 MST

@Robotube: I think its part of the fact that they are out of place in the current setting this story is taking place in. Since they stick out the cops are able to spot them faster. Also in my own personal experience all of the folks who I have seen stopped had backpacks which were getting searched.

Granted it is rather stupid that its going on in the first place.

Witzbold

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Robotube — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 08:18:54 MST

What has not been addressed here is WHY they are being targeted by police. So police stop the otaku, and then what?!

What have they done? What are they looking for? Can you be arrested for being a nerd now in japan? I spent nearly one day a week in Akihabara a few years back and never, ever saw otaku offending anyone or breaking any laws. They keep to themselves and don't bother anyone. Why would they?

I saw far more annoyed by the right-wing black vans that spurted anti-foreigner messages, and the threatening stares I got from the guys in the vans.

Robotube

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

mechis — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 08:16:53 MST

It just goes to show that Japanese folks think differently than American folks. They've got a whole set of unspoken constants that aren't known here.

mechis

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Do Kesubei — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 08:15:44 MST

That's pretty interesting, especially because there's no reason for any of this. Unless they're looking for something like lolicon books to try and reduce the image of otaku even further (though I thought most Japanese knew about that already?).

"Shinjuku is crawling with organized crime - both Japanese and foreign."

Yeah, but mostly Japanese.

Do Kesubei

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Witzbold — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 08:15:06 MST

@new_pornographer: Karate is pretty useless for close quarters combat. Aikido, or Judo would be a far better choice.

@okenny :): Not really thats when more folks can get away with stuff in Akiba I suppose. The difference with that and this story is the fact that this occured in Shinjuku which is not "otaku" stomping grounds. So they would stick out much more. Granted sometimes shinjuku goes into the closed streets days, but still cosplayers and such dont show up there.

@icepick314: They dont carry tazers, they carry Raichus!

@blacksamurai87: Actually there already is one cept I forget what its called. Fujoshi or something.

[en.wikipedia.org]

---

Over all with the cops I just say its a lot of them just dont have the balls to take on real trouble makers. They have gone soft with the years of peace this society enjoys. I say ship a bunch of em off to LA to toughen em up in an "exchange" program. Let some cops from LA relax in those police boxes in Japan. ;D Although I have a feeling they might go insane from all the nothing that goes on in their day to day activities.

Witzbold

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Onizuka-GTO — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 08:07:57 MST

Gaijin smash!! love that! granted it's a bit harder if your of Asian descent, since you seem to "blend" into Japanese public.

I guess the best way to project your Gaijin Smash and prevent yourself from being even approached by Japanese coppers is go about loudly in English.

Onizuka-GTO

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

blacksamurai87 — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 08:05:31 MST

I wonder if I could start a lady otaku trend...

blacksamurai87

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

okenny :) ...building bridges (to hide under) — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 07:57:20 MST

@Witzbold: Don't all the freaks (pardon me, cosplayers) come out on sunday... have you seen police do the same sweeps still in those areas at that time, or is cosplaying not sticking out?

okenny :) ...building bridges (to hide under)

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

new_pornographer — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 07:56:54 MST

Thats crazy otaku are carrying knives. Its one thing to carry a weapon but that doesn't always mean you have the balls to use it. Especially if its tough people doing the mugging.

Why don't they just take some lessons in one of Japan's most famous exports - karate? I know that in Japan people who actually practice it are seen as 'eccentric' so they are probably scared of being seen as weird and shunned by society.

Wait a minute...

new_pornographer

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

PositivelyGreg — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 07:47:57 MST

Man, who knew that prank call tipping off the police to an otaku terrorist cell would be believed? Sorry, Japanese nerds... if it's any consolation, my long distance bill won't be pretty.

PositivelyGreg

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

friscom99 — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 07:47:45 MST

hahhhahahahah "people who look weak" hahahahahahah!

friscom99

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Starplate — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 07:40:13 MST

I'm pretty sure the camouflage getup got them to be to be cautious. That stuff use to be all the rage in fashion, even I was into it before but now it's just not appropriate anymore. it only makes sense that the police did a check on him before MGS4 gets blamed for the next "video game caused" killing

Starplate

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

evslin — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 07:39:12 MST

@cactaur: More like shaken down for your copy of the latest console RPG that's sold out everywhere!

evslin

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Akin — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 07:37:35 MST

"And since there have been incidents of otaku being mugged, many have started carrying knives and other weapons to protect themselves. Perhaps the police are searching for those."
Perhaps they should do sting operations to find otaku muggers. Then otaku wouldn't have to arm themselves. But I guess that's too much to expect from the cops over there, eh?

Akin

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

evening-aura — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 07:33:13 MST

@evening-aura: *incident... I hate mornings but love edit buttons.

evening-aura

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

TheDollHouse — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 07:21:09 MST

Listen you guys this is a very serious issue at hand. At one point the wild otaku used to run wild and free in the streets of japan. If we don't stop hunting of these magnificent creatures they'll disappear forever.

TheDollHouse

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

That Girl Hates You — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 07:18:39 MST

@badasscat: Its been a while since I've watched Perfect blue so I didn't see that. Hmmm but from what I remember it does make sense.

Anyway... I just find this article intersting and wonder what would happen if something like that happened here. Hmmm maybe lets say New York or San Fransisco. Geez I already here the war drums of Lawyers.

That Girl Hates You

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

VishusBurn — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 07:16:52 MST

@daftdethmonkey:
I have just been dumbstruck. Wonder how long it would have taken me to notice. Probably quite a long time since I have become so accustom to it. K+otaku = Obviousness.

@badasscat:
I hear ya about weirdos and perverts and all that, but the way the guy in picture is dressed looks like just another one of my buddies hear in Minneapolis and not at all deserving of harassment of persecution.

VishusBurn

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Señor Vorpal Kickass'o — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 07:09:22 MST

Personally, I think America profiles a lot better than Japan.

Señor Vorpal Kickass'o

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

evening-aura — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 07:03:53 MST

@Jonathan: The second incedent sounded like a Gaijin Smash.

evening-aura

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

royaljester — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 06:58:42 MST

I've actually been stopped by the police several times, even though I was a tourist. I was wearing khakis, and I'm asian and definitely I stick out since I wear non-Japanese fashion. Once I spoke English, they lost all interest in me. The first few times I spoke only Japanese, and that complicated things..the very first time, I thought they were selling something and told them to go away, but the guy grabbed me by the arm and yanked me. Bunch of idiots.

royaljester

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

badasscat — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 06:57:49 MST

@brent_w: Most Japanese don't think very highly of otaku either. There are exceptions, as Witzbold said, and like I said there are different kinds of otaku. Some are probably thought of as kind of cute, collecting their little Gundam models and whatever. Others are just creepy, plastering their walls with Morning Musume posters and collecting paparazzi photos of the (mostly underage) girls and even taking some themselves.

There is still a stigma attached to most otaku in Japan, and you would understand it if you saw some of them.

Go out and rent Perfect Blue, which is really a story about otaku.

badasscat

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

brent_w — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 06:57:18 MST

@wallapuctus:
Thats a plausible theory, especially when you consider that as similar personality type is responsible for a lot of school shooting incident's in the US.

A kid gets picked on to the point where their brain can't handle it anymore and they snap, who knows what they will do.

brent_w

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

chaos242 — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 06:56:51 MST

@Hitokage: Shit, you got the jump on me by a minute.

chaos242

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Electroqueen — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 06:56:42 MST

"They're looking for weak people?" By comparison to Americans, the average young Japanese male looks pretty weak. Why else would the girl's comics be full of pretty boys?
Why the anime nerds? Aren't there more important targets, like organized crime? I guess the cops need somebody to harass.

Electroqueen

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

chaos242 — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 06:55:47 MST

@DaiMacculate: He said it's crawling with mafia because it IS crawling with mafia. Next time you're in the area take a look at Kabukicho after dusk. It's very, VERY easy to spot the mafia there. They almost look straight outta the Japanese mafia films.

My guess is that there is some reason for this. The mafia might have been hiring/scaring otaku into running various "goods" for them and the police are trying to find out the source. Or they could even be just checking everyone and otaku seem to think they're unfairly being singled out. This happened to me while I was in Osaka. I was stopped no less than 20 times on my bike for a "random" check that I thought I was being singled out for because I was a foreigner. I began to notice that it wasn't just me, but kids, teenagers, parents with kids on their bike, and even some elderly people. You start to notice these things only after they've been pointed out to you.

chaos242

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Ignatius — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 06:54:11 MST

I think I have an idea. I don't know Japan's drug laws, but perhaps in Shinjuku, some otaku are becoming drug runners? They're kind of the people who usually look innocent and I could see some organized crime syndicates taking advantage of that for drug running opportunities.

Ignatius

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

icepick314 — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 06:54:06 MST

@inphanta:
at least they don't carry tasers...

how do you say "Don't tase me bro!!!" in Japanese?

icepick314

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

wallapuctus — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 06:43:45 MST

Whoever brought up the giant backpack thing might have a point. Japan has been and still is a target for terrorism so maybe that's what this is about. Random spot checking for weapons/bombs/whatever.

Or maybe they just like harassing nerds.

wallapuctus

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

brent_w — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 06:41:29 MST

@Witzbold:Glad to hear you don't want to burn them alive in a shed. :-D

brent_w

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

TinyLightning — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 06:41:18 MST

this is so wrong.

TinyLightning

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

ZeonicFreak — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 06:40:41 MST

Man, i would get picked up for wearing my Zeon Jacket with my Zeon keychain hanging out, so i would have that coming.

I wont get far at night if i wear my "light up" nike sneakers either...

ZeonicFreak

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Witzbold — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 06:38:33 MST

@brent_w: Well the problem is that a lot of them pretty much get that image stuck upon them basically.

You would have to be here to really understand it. Not to mention the lack of social skills doesnt help their situation here in Japan.

As Badasscat said there are many different types of otakus. You would be quite suprised to find perfectly normal folks who could be labeled as "otakus".

The ones that seem to get into trouble are those who cant seem to "fit in" with society itself. Even more so in Japan where the culture is still against those who "stick out".

Now there would be real hate in my comments if I had said "All otakus need to be locked in a shed and burned to the ground" but I didnt. What I say is my own personal opinions which pretty much everyone is free to state granted it doesnt wind up like my shed burning example.

Witzbold

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Azurite — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 06:30:52 MST

Some of you seem to forget that you can be an army, train, car, MC, music, martial arts, etc. otaku, you're branded otaku if you're obsessed with something.
Try not lumping all different kinds of otaku as one.

Azurite

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

inphanta — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 06:27:00 MST

Interesting to see that even Japanese police are not above the petty discrimination, harassment and profiling that makes up the western police forces.

"A manga store was robbed recently by someone fitting your description. Would you mind accompanying us to the police station?"

Picking on someone because of how they look and what you THINK they MIGHT do because of this is not policing, it's bullying.

inphanta

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Chilly Hollow — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 06:24:48 MST

@RobTheBuilder: I take exception to this statement. Everyone looks dumb in head scarves. Except Grace Kelly.

Chilly Hollow

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

brent_w — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 06:22:29 MST

Hey Witzbold, reading through the comments on the criminal otaku hunting I was fairly shocked to find a lot of downright insulting and prejudiced remarks about Otaku.

You apparently don't think very highly of them, but you should probably be keeping that sort of hate out of your comments, especially if you're supposed to be setting an example in the community now.

brent_w

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Witzbold — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 06:13:39 MST

@icepick314: Nah in my town its just the usual light not on at night with the bike. I show em its broken, which it is damned switch is stuck. And they let me on my merry way.

Other times I just chat with them to see how things are going in the town.

Police dont seem to bother me asides from that being 6`1 might have something to do with it too. ;D

Witzbold

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

icepick314 — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 06:11:10 MST

as much as i miss Akihabara and Tokyo in general, it's getting suckier and suckier to hang around with crimes and police hassle...

yo, witz...did you get stopped as well?

icepick314

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

cactaur — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 06:07:29 MST

The cops are probably worried about a new generation of yakuza otaku. Nothing more unsettling than getting shaken down for protection money by a nerd.

cactaur

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

infi — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 05:59:44 MST

I've never got stopped by police in japan, it was only us who stopped them to ask for directions ^^

infi

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Infil — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 05:55:01 MST

I remember Shinjuku was a mission in Police 911 2, which basically confirms it's loaded with organized crime figures.

Infil

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Mister Adequate — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 05:48:27 MST

@elevenoverzero: Which is even better than being otaku!

So anyway, what justification do the cops give for this? Or don't they have to give any?

Mister Adequate

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

DaftDethMonkey — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 05:46:27 MST

@VishusBurn: Yeah dude but this the really crazy part: take the word Otaku and add a K to it.... hey wait a minute...

DaftDethMonkey

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

elevenoverzero — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 05:39:30 MST

@VishusBurn:
If you call yourself an "otaku" and you're not Japanese, you're actually a weeaboo.

elevenoverzero

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

TheBoxNinja — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 05:37:53 MST

Well then... FEAR THE NERDS!

TheBoxNinja

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

VishusBurn — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 05:32:28 MST

I wasn't familiar with the term Otaku, so I looked it up; and came to realization probably about 95% of the people (myself included) that read gawker type sites daily would be considered Otaku.
Makes me feel sympathetic to the plight of my nerdy Japanese counterparts. You?

VishusBurn

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

badasscat — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 05:31:04 MST

@Sixtail: Otaku are not always "harmless".

a) there are different types of otaku.

b) They're not just "nerds" - that's not the best translation, although I don't know what word would be better.

Otaku are defined in Japan as people who are obsessed with a particular niche subject that's by definition out of the mainstream. That can run all the way up to stalking. It can mean shoplifting things related to their chosen obsession. It can mean a lot of different types of crimes.

Keep in mind Japan is a largely crime-free country. Outside of organized crime and people with mental problems, the general populace basically does not commit crimes. So while it may seem weird to us for them to be focusing on otaku, they probably do commit more crime than other groups.

badasscat

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

RobTheBuilder — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 05:18:13 MST

Only early 90s rock stars can wear bandanas without looking majorly stupid...

RobTheBuilder

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

bnpederson — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 05:15:57 MST

@Witzbold:
Good lord, slow down on the comments Witz. I swear, I looked at my unread friends comments up top and saw over 50, almost all of them from you. I had to remove you because you were drowning out my other friends. :P

bnpederson

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Channing — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 05:09:40 MST

@sumdum_guy:

lulz. Yeah, I guess I should've clarified that. I didn't mean respect the emperor, expel the barbarians.

Channing

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

valuepack — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 05:08:59 MST

I'm glad the fashion police finally stopped screwing around.

valuepack

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

angry_gamer — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 05:04:09 MST

@Witzbold: That's what I figured, hence the "biker" comment but thanks for confirming it.

angry_gamer

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Witzbold — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 04:59:57 MST

@DaiMacculate: Well its like any part of the world with organized crime. The cops dont lean on them as long as they dont take the biz "to the streets" if you will.

Down in Kabukicho is where you can find all the yaks and triads. A little bit over in Shin-Okubo is the Koreans.

Witzbold

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Barts - www.bartsnews.net — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 04:58:01 MST

I was lucky to have been working for NTT when Japanese police stopped me in a sweep. They looked at my Foreigner Registration Card, company badge, said "NTT, mmm, so ndesu, aaahhh" (this 'n' is there on purpose) and let me go immediately.

I felt important.

Barts - www.bartsnews.net

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

DaiMacculate — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 04:57:09 MST

@Jonathan: Yeah, I learned that lesson in China also, even if you know a little bit of the language things always seem to work better when you claim as little understanding of it as possible ;)

I'm very curious about the "crawling with Mafia" comment though. Is the unspoken implication that the police in the area are on the Mafia's/Yakuza's payroll, and they're doing this to justify their existence in the face of all the arrest they're not making as a result?

DaiMacculate

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Witzbold — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 04:55:19 MST

@sumdum_guy: I think hes talking about this type

[www.urbandictionary.com]

And not as a reference to Americans.

@RPGr: Actually though if you look at the criminals and those who have been arrested before for crimes and such, they do rather fit into the "otaku" fashion category. Some of the criminals anyways.

Not to mention otakus are always carrying around those giant backpacks.

Witzbold

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Witzbold — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 04:52:37 MST

@Sixtail: The cops are very, very bored and need to look busy.

Witzbold

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

SumDum_Guy — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 04:49:02 MST

@Channing:

What's that supposed to mean?

SumDum_Guy

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

angry_gamer — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 04:48:48 MST

Err just to add, they do look like "bikers" though.

angry_gamer

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

angry_gamer — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 04:47:55 MST

I actually find this rather ironic though... look for the people who are most likely not to do anything (literally)? Sounds like the opposite of every other police squad in the world.

angry_gamer

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Jonathan in Kichijoji — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 04:44:44 MST

I've been stopped by police twice in Tokyo just for being gaijin. First time I was scared and carefully tried to understand what they were saying. Second time I just played dumb and pretended I couldn't understand Japanese/Jenglish at all. The second time things went much more smoothly.

Jonathan in Kichijoji

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Karlott — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 04:40:48 MST

"People who look weak"

Whoa, they're stopping everyone on the street in Japan? ZING! Oh yeah, I went there! Now I'm gonna go get Shoryukened by Ryu or elbowed by Akira IRL.

Karlott

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Foxstar Sixtail — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 04:40:26 MST

@Witzbold: What's the point though? Otaku other from being nerds or withdrawn to the point that they may never ever have a relationship are largely harmless, pouring all their money and time into various well noted hobbies.

Do the police wish for them to never leave the house save for work and instead have everything delivered?

Foxstar Sixtail

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

FarmboyinJapan — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 04:39:43 MST

Let me elaborate....

1. EVERY Otaku I see for some reason or another is ALWAYS wearing khakis. Don't know why, but every single Otaku out there is wearing really really short khaki pants....so much so that literally like 4-5 inches of their socks are showing.

2. Every Otaku out there has a backpack high up on their back.

3. Glasses are (obviously) a must.

4. Otaku more often than not travel in groups.

5. They all have on New Balance (or similar looking) sneakers.

6. A lot of the time they carry bags full of treasures (Games, Manga, Figures, that they just purchased.

No idea why in the hell the cops would crack down on Otaku.....in Shinjuku of all places. Like Ashcraft said, Shinjuku (namely Kabukicho) is famous for its concentration of organized crime. Must districts in Tokyo are defined by something; Akihabara is obviously the game/otaku hub, Ginza is known for its high fashion, Roppongi is the foreigner district....and Shinjuku (at least one part of it) is the 'crime' district.

If it was me......I would be issuing ID checks for all "Gyaru-O" effective immediately.

FarmboyinJapan

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

PlayerX — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 04:35:29 MST

@Keanu: No, he said, "My name is Keanu. I play the pianu."

PlayerX

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

thinkfreemind — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 04:34:52 MST

Maybe the police are searching otakus for some moe to confiscate?

thinkfreemind

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Witzbold — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 04:29:20 MST

Actually Ive seen this happen quite often around the Yodobashi on the west side of Shinjuku.

Thats what happens when you stick out in this society. Hell in any society for that matter.

Witzbold

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Kikujiro — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 04:27:21 MST

@FranUnFine: Most probably NOT.

@Keanu: I think he's shocked about police using the "weak" criteria to determine who's an otaku and who's not.

Kikujiro

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Antiterra — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 04:26:06 MST

"NEET sweep! NEET sweep!"

Antiterra

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

PeonCulture — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 04:24:04 MST

"People wearing leather"

So was James Dean the alpha nerd?

PeonCulture

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Keanu — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 04:16:28 MST

@FranUnFine: Yes, it's a shock but some otaku are weak.

Keanu

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Channing — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 04:15:45 MST

So we stop otaku but we don't stop yanki?

Otaku, serious business.

Channing

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

FranUnFine — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 04:14:45 MST

"People who look weak"

That can't be serious. o.0;

FranUnFine

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

FP Bleentastic has cake — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 04:13:37 MST

oh i forgot it's also a Time exclusive for The Phantom. but if they are actually carring around knifes and start stabing muggers there could be some bully otaku's made out of this and no one wants a bully who's a otaku and might cos-play before kicking your ass and taking your milk money

FP Bleentastic has cake

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

CallMeRorschach — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 04:13:15 MST

Its hard out there for otaku.

CallMeRorschach

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

Keanu — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 04:11:09 MST

... And Keanu said, "Let my otakus go."

Keanu

Japanese Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate

FP Bleentastic has cake — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 04:10:17 MST

Oktau Hunt confirmed for the DS, Wii, PS3, PS2, PS1, Xbox, Xbox 360, Mac, PC, TI-83 calculators. Using the Unreal 3 engine

FP Bleentastic has cake