ST3: Weeaboos, Dubs vs. Subs, and Cosplay Accuracy

This is going to be a longer post than normal, but on Facebook, 3 interesting topics came my way. And since it's rather relevant to what I talk about in Seiko's Otaku Pad, I figure I immerse myself into these 3 topics:

• Cosplaying: Is it just for fun?
• Dubs vs. Subs clashes
• The term Weeaboo: Why need it, and why its offensive?

With this in mind, let's get started. I'm sure there will be a video posting of this in the near future, should it come to this.

Topic I
Cosplaying: Is It Just For Fun?

I'm not much of a cosplayer persay, granted I only have one so far (which is in my picture gallery on this blog), as well as another I'm working on. However, I love the activity of dressing up, and so do many others. Cosplay is the hybrid word meaning Costume Play, which oddly enough was coined in a U.S. sci-fi convention, Worldcon. The term was created by Nobuyuki Takahashi of Studio Hard in 1984, when he attended the Los Angeles convention. Over time, it became a term applied to the anime and Japanese culture scene, where those who do not only adapt the look of a character, but also their mannerisms and characteristics. It became such a craze, there has been gatherings and contests made from these. Even to some degree, certain companies that distribute anime, like FUNImation, sometimes "hire" cosplayers for gigs dealing with a certain anime. Of course, there are some that do it just for fun, not really caring for detail, while you have some that not only focus on every little thing, but sometimes belittle those whose cosplay they don't like. Of course it takes the fun out of it whenever they do, which leads to why I address this.

Accuracy matters sometimes, yes, but when that applies is usually in the case of contests, photoshoots, as well as movies, should that happen. However, if they're doing it just for fun, should all the technical discrepancies REALLY matter? I'm not sure whether they do this to make themselves look/feel superior or what, but what of those who are hurt by this? They do such because they love it, to take that away from them damages the type of people we are: those that love anime, and have a healthy obsession with that and the culture of Japan overall. Of course, there is another field this applies too (well, ALL of what I'll be talking about.) That said, I'll end this topic with this:

"Traits and certain characteristics may matter in cosplay, but if it's just for fun, then it's irrelevant. They are just dressing up as who they love, don't take that away from them!"

Okay, on to the next one...

Topic II
Dubs vs. Subs Clashes

It's an old story, but one that exists even to this day. On this blog, I mention often about the names of those who voice characters in anime, sometimes covering both the English and Japanese sides of the matter (Voice Actors/Seiyuus, to be exact.) Very rare do I weigh in on which I favor more, as I don't have a bias in the matter. I may dislike one, but that isn't to say I'm "pro-sub and anti-dub" or vice versa. Sometimes, I just feel that at times, English just don't do enough, and sometimes for Japan, it can be overdone. However, this isn't about my view on things like this, but the general clashes that occur whenever this topic is brought up. The only time I felt that the subbed version was superior was in the case of Bible Black and a few other hentai, since their English voicing tends to be rather lackluster. I think the same was said in regards to Eiken. But I'm not saying I'd watch all in one specific language. I view both because it may contain different dialogue at times, as was the case with Sonic X.

Regardless, there are those who, rather for the sake of arguing, or whatever, feel the need to start clashes over which of them may be superior: The English Dubbing, or the Original Subtitled. There was even some cases, as with Dragon Ball Z and Sailor Moon, over which English Dub was superior. Call it nitpicking, but seeing such arguments everywhere I go just to watch anime gets a little aggravating, and it's not just me that feel this way. There are different versions for a reason, yes, but that's not to say that reason is to pick pointless squabbles over which reigns over the other. To me, it's irrelevant because it's the same damn anime. On this blog, I'm sure I didn't mention this specifically, but such topics I will not have here. It's fine if you want to weigh your two cents on something, but that's not a green light to attack someone for not sharing your sentiments. And whether verbally or physically, that's what a lot are doing generally. That said, I'm going to lay down the law with this:

"Subtitled or spoken in full English, anime is anime. Language does not take away from what it is in the end. So... shut up and enjoy it!"

Almost done, and we're getting to the last, infuriating topic before I call this a complete post.

Topic III
The Term "Weeaboo": Why Need it? Why Is It Offensive?

A lot of people say this for shits and giggles sometimes, but it is to some degree hurtful. This word is coined a lot on sites like 4chan, and even found its way onto Urban Dictionary. There is no clear-cut definition, other than a slang term to describe someone who favors the Japanese culture over his/her own, even to the point of cursing not being born of Japanese ancestry. Funny thing is, prior to 4chan coining it, the word Weeaboo meant nothing, until it took the place of the similarly degrading term Wapanese, which was used to describe white people who favor the Japanese culture. In my opinion, the word itself wasn't hurtful, until it was used that way, I could be wrong, though. Stepping back for a bit, I'm going to get into the term Otaku. Granted, back in it's country of origin, it is a very hurtful term used to describe shut-ins obsessed with anime, and are portrayed in the worst of fashion as opposed to here in the US, where it's not really as frowned upon. Why this is so dates back to 1988, when in just a year, Tsutomu Miyazaki, aka the Otaku Murderer (no relation to Hayao or Goro Miyazaki) slain 4 little girls, molesting their corpses afterwards. Even after his arrest, the term Otaku had been brandished to the point it was loathed, assuming that all Otaku would end up being murderers/rapists. The 2004 incedent involving a former delivery man, Kaoru Kobayashi, didn't help matters. In this scenario, he  kidnapped, sexually assaulted, and murdered a 1st grade female student, suspected to be part of the Figure Moe Zoku, a group that loves and collect small figurines. In counts before this, he was listed as a sexual offender due to numerous other cases, sexually assaulting eight children in 1989, the same year The Otaku Murderer (T.O.M.) was cuffed. Granted, while he did do things akin to T.O.M., Kobayashi wasn't necessarily an otaku, but it did not stop the people for disliking those classified as such, and even had the law riled up about it. Because of this, any otaku was targeted as a possible sex offender, as well as the controlling of eroticism depictions, mainly found in what's known today as hentai movies, visual novels, and hentai manga/doujinshi, as they figure this would entice more crime by otaku. It was a pretty big deal, but to some degree, it was more than biased and blew out of proportion.

Otaku mainly classified those passionate about the Japanese culture, used in the same fashion as the words "Geek" or "Trekkie". But because of those men, as well as some others, even to this day, there is still negativity looming from those hearing the word. However, it's not that serious. Otakon, a convention for otaku, is one of the few GOOD things I hear in regards to the name. And even my anime club president and good friend, Christopher Wanamaker, proudly holds his title as America's Greatest Otaku, again, not to be classified in a demeaning way. Anyway, let me get back on topic here. Both terms had been deemed as unhealthy. While one is a shut-in, maybe, but I think they're just blowing smoke up someone's rear with that statement. And there is little, to no distinction between the two, save for those who actually speak the language in a mixture with their own. While I find it funny (no offense to those that do), it supposedly offends the others, and this I can see with actual Japanese-descent people, but for Americans to be offended, there is just no excuse. Attacking someone, verbally or physically, just because they think whatever comes from Japan is great is just being cruel. Some things actually are great to a person, what's wrong with that? Hell, I'd proudly say I'd rather listen to a Jpop song than any Pop music popular over here that's made here. The same could be said for one's taste in food, clothing, mannerisms, and to some degree, speech and tastes in women/men (yes, to some people they are attractive. Heck, I think so.)

While you can't change your race, people admire that of others, while they loathe their own (sometimes for the right reasons, IMO). The way I see it, they are a weeaboo (generally) if:

• They either speak fluent Japanese or mix English with Japanese words, despite not being of that origin.
• Eat certain foods while disliking the food of their culture, but this one can be rather vague, applying to almost any culture (ex.: liking Sweet and Sour Chicken and Green Tea and disliking Friend Chicken and Grape Soda) {Blogger's note: Yes, this is a scenario I found myself in a few times.}
• Only listens to Asian music, specifically Japanese or Anime music, as opposed to their culture's.
• Apparently flock many posters, figurines, even furniture of different anime/mecha/moe media. Even as far as having manga, computer software and DVD/VHS/Blu-Ray of anime.
• Who likes anime in the original language and subtitled, as opposed to the American Dubbing.

The list goes on, but anything on this list taken to the extreme is considered an unhealthy obsession, and to my understanding warrants the branding term "Weeaboo". Unhealthy obsession is one thing, but the term is still wrong in its usage, rather, why does one's obsession with the Japanese culture have to become the problem of others? Answer: it doesn't have to be, they just want to find something to nitpick about. To me, those who go day in and out finding these stereotypes, and brandishing the term to whoever is unlucky enough to do these things, they are just nitpicking on those who have a strong passion about the Japanese Culture, not necessarily the Pop Culture/Anime scene in particular. Hate on me all you like, those that do this, but here's my verdict, and forgive me if I come off condescending about it:

"OTAKU is not a negative thing, rather you make it that way by your assumptions. Unless it's in a Webster-Merriam dictionary, or properly defined in a book and not that half-ass for brains Urban Dictionary, WEEABOO or WAPANESE is nonexistent to me. If you must find the time to make miserable people who have a strong love for a different culture, then you must be a big flesh of nothing, wasting your life away picking on those with undying respect for Japan. Before calling anyone Weeaboos, take time to look in a mirror and discover who you are as a person, and give these individuals a break. They don't rain on your parade, so on what ground do you think you're in the right to ruin theirs? To answer that for you... NONE. So grow up, shut up, and deal with your own life."

Again, my apologies if this came off as a little heartless, but some things need to be said, though unlike this past one, not as a means of an insult and/or threat. I'll conclude this by saying:

"This has been another Seiko's Thoughts moment. Seiko Wolf, signing off."