The definitive guide to the world of otaku (Japan's anime nerds, game geeks and pop-idol fanboys).The Otaku Encyclopediaoffers fascinating insight into the subculture of Cool Japan. With over 600 entries, including common expressions, people, places and moments of otaku history, this is the essential "A to Z" of facts every Japanese pop-culture fan needs to know. Author Patrick W. Galbraith has spent several years researching deep into the otaku heartland and his intimate knowledge of the subject gives the reader an insider's guide to words like moé, doujinshi, cosplay and maid cafés. In-depth interviews with such key players as Takashi Murakami, otaku expert Okada Toshio and J-pop idol Shoko Nakagawa are interspersed with the entries, offering an even more penetrating look into the often misunderstood world of otaku. Dozens of lively, colorful images-from portraits of the interview subjects to manga illustrations, film stills and photos of places mentioned in the text-pop up throughout the book, making The Otaku Encyclopediaas entertaining to read as it is informative.Otaku: Nerd; geek or fanboy. Originates from a polite second-person pronoun meaning "your home" in Japanese. Since the 1980s, it's been used to refer to people who are really into Japanese pop-culture, such as anime, manga, and videogames. A whole generation, previously marginalized with labels such as "geek" and "nerd," are now calling themselves "otaku" with pride.