Gallery: Otaku Spaces Shows Off Collectors' Riches
- Androniki Christodoulou01
otaku-spaces-3
*Nakayasu, 33, is a professional collector. He buys items for his collection and sells them like a business, but also works a part-time job in a call center. He collects toys from Japanese anime and live action special affects (tokusatsu) TV shows, soundtrack CDs, printed materials and video games. At the time of this photograph, he had been collecting for eight years and had amassed a collection worth about $20,000. He has 200 toys alone.* *Photo: Androniki Christodoulou* - Androniki Christodoulou02
otaku-spaces-6
*Uchimura Amika, known as Lita to friends, is a 28-year-old housewife and graphic designer in Osaka. She used to be the lead vocalist in a band, and has the tattoos to prove it. Now her room is filled with manga, books on Japanese monsters and hundreds of character figurines. Most are just for display, but some make their way into the hands of Uchimura’s six-year-old daughter.* *Photo: Androniki Christodoulou*
- Androniki Christodoulou03
otaku-spaces-5
*Takano Toshiyuki, 24, is a university student majoring in information technology. He is interested in machine learning and spends a great deal of time playing bishojo games, where players simulate relationships with beautiful girls.* *Photo: Androniki Christodoulou* - Androniki Christodoulou04
otaku-spaces-4
*Ono Norihiro, born in 1965 in Aichi Prefecture, is one of Japan's leading experts on Russian science fiction. He was part of the first wave of otaku and helped build bridges between fans in Japan and the former Soviet Union. He is proficient in four languages. In addition to books, he collects old calculators, martial arts weapons and strange musical and technological instruments.* *Photo: Androniki Christodoulou*
- Androniki Christodoulou05
tadaoshiraki
*Shiraki, 36, is a web designer who collects manga and figurines from the seminal Japanese anime series Mobile Suit Gundam. He started collecting manga in elementary school and got into figurines only about six years before this photo was taken. At the time, he had more than 1,000 manga of all kinds and about 300 figurines. He said that he spends about 50,000 yen a month on figurines and another 50,000 yen a month on manga. He reads manga for about three hours every day at home and for one hour while commuting on the train.* *Photo: Androniki Christodoulou* - Androniki Christodoulou06
otaku-spaces-2
*John Hathway, 30, is the alias of a well-known Japanese creator of dojinshi, or publications produced outside official channels. A craftsman who built his first Tesla coil at age 13, Hathway is funding radical scientific endeavors with the income made from his art, born of a precision computer process that takes months. He hopes to capture the spirit of Japan as he experiences it in his daily life. He focuses on urban landscapes because they are largely ignored despite their prevalence, and applies pink to traditional imagery to capture the discord of the cutesy anime aesthetic. In almost all of his images, at the center of a chaotic world stands a young girl.* *Photo: Androniki Christodoulou*
- Androniki Christodoulou07
otaku-spaces
*Aki, 20, is a seiyu (voice actor/actress) enthusiast and a fujoshi, or a “rotten girl” who reads manga about male-male romance. While studying to be a nurse, she also works part time in a cosplay café in Akihabara. She lives with her parents and older brother in Chiba Prefecture outside Tokyo.* *Photo: Androniki Christodoulou* - 08
otaku-places
*Akihabara, Japan, is the most well-known otaku neighborhood in the world.* *Photo: Androniki Christodoulou*
09otaku-places-2
*Akihabara, Japan, is the most well-known otaku neighborhood in the world.* *Photo: Androniki Christodoulou*- Androniki Christodoulou10
otaku-places-3
*Ikebukuro, a section of northern Tokyo know for its otaku stores.* *Photo: Androniki Christodoulou*
- Androniki Christodoulou11
otaku-places-4
*Nakano Fujoshi Sisters in concert.* *Photo: Androniki Christodoulou* - Androniki Christodoulou12
otaku-places-5
*Mandarake, an otaku store in Nakano.* *Photo: Androniki Christodoulou*
- Androniki Christodoulou13
otaku-places-6
*Cosplayer in Nippombashi, Osaka.* *Photo: Androniki Christodoulou* - Androniki Christodoulou14
otaku-places-7
*Cosplayers at a festival in Nippombashi, Osaka.* *Photo: Androniki Christodoulou*
The Best Ski Clothes for Staying Warm and Having Fun
From weatherproof jackets and pants to puffers, gloves, and socks, WIRED’s winter sports experts have you covered.
Chris Haslam
The Best Podcasts for Everyone
Get your fix of tech, true crime, pop culture, or comedy with these audio adventures.
Simon Hill
The Best Apple Watch Accessories
You finally caved and bought an Apple Watch. These are our favorite bands, screen protectors, and chargers to go with your new smartwatch.
Adrienne So
The Best Automatic Litter Boxes Tested by Our Spoiled Cats
With these high-tech automatic litter boxes, gone are the days of scooping and smells. Welcome to the future.
Molly Higgins
Our Favorite Merino Wool Clothes to Keep You Comfy in Any Weather
Merino is one of the best fabrics you can wear. We explain the different blends, what “gsm” means, and how to care for your clothes.
Scott Gilbertson
Give Your Back a Break With Our Favorite Office Chairs
Sitting at a desk for hours? Upgrade your WFH setup and work in style with these comfy WIRED-tested seats.
Julian Chokkattu
The Best Heart Rate Monitors Check Your Cardiac Health
These chest straps and watches will help you keep your finger on your pulse—and many other heart-related metrics.
Michael Sawh
The Best Game Controller for Every Kind of Player
A great gamepad instantly levels up your play. These are our top picks for Switch, Xbox, PlayStation, and PC.
Brad Bourque
The Best Android Phones, Tested and Reviewed
Shopping for a phone can be an ordeal. That’s why we’ve tested almost every Android phone, from the smartest to the cheapest—even phones that fold—to find the ones worth your money.
Julian Chokkattu
The Best iPad to Buy (and a Few to Avoid)
We break down the current iPad lineup to help you figure out which of Apple’s tablets is best for you.
Luke Larsen
The Best Kids' Bikes for Every Age and Size
The WIRED Reviews team has kids, and we tested all types of kids’ bikes. Here are our top picks.
Adrienne So
Death to Dry Skin. These Humidifiers Are Better Than Chapstick
From models for traveling to humidifiers that double as planters or air purifiers, we've tested a dozen of them.
Matthew Korfhage