Cosplay: Now and Then

Assalamualaikum / Peace be Upon You

This time I'm going to talk about a somewhat hobby of mine apparently; Cosplay. What is cosplay you might ask? Cosplay is short for "costume play" and it is a type of performance art in which participants don costumes and accessories to represent a specific character or idea. Cosplayers often interact to create a subculture centered on role play. A broader use of the term "cosplay" applies to any costumed role play in venues apart from the stage, regardless of the cultural context.

Not an Otaku, boy. Not an Otaku

Otaku (おたく/オタク) is a Japanese term used to refer to people with obsessive interests, particularly animation, manga, and video games. Female otaku are occasionally referred to as fujoshi.

Assalamualaikum / Peace Upon You

As quoted above, an otaku is someone who is really obsessed with something. Ask them about their particular line of interest, and they will sure be able to tell and describe to you any facts about it. As such, an AniWota in Japan is regarded as one of the most important core target in terms of merchandising and DVD/Blu-Ray sales, since these are the guys who will fork out whatever and however much is needed to acquire that item. Thus why we are seeing how the direction of animation as a whole itself is changing, as they are trying to cater to the needs of these group. What they want, is what the animation studios will give them.

I would like to ask all the people in this forum that claimed themselves to be an Otaku, some questions. If you are a so called otaku from Malaysia, try asking yourself, how much do you really know about the animation you watch? Honestly in Malaysia there lies a misconception that if you watch animation, you’re automatically an “otaku”. WTF man, most of you don’t even know what the word really mean but you classify yourself as one? Do you know the names of every seiyuu? Do you buy all the DVD/Blu-Ray releases of the series? Do you spends your money relentlessly on any Japanese animaton merchandises without complaining on how high the prices are? Do you know who is Kawajiri Yoshiaki, Nagai Go, Ishiguro Noburo or Terasawa Buichi? Do you know who is Norio Wakamoto, Sakamoto Maaya, Fukuyama Jun, the most awesome Tomokazu Sugita or Hayashibara Megumi?

Lately, I found out it is irritating that there are some of people that only watched a couple of animations claimed that they are in fact an Otaku. That's not all, this so-called-otaku only buy animation DVDs that are being sold at some local shops and claimed it is original but in fact those things are Hong Kong bootlegs DVDs. I wonder if they really KNOW what original merchandise really means. I don’t think they are THAT stupid to not realize that the HK bootlegs DVD/VCDs are not original. But then again this is Malaysia. How do you show support for that particular series? Sure, by buying bootlegs of it, and proudly show them off…

A real otaku would go and try to buy the original release of that particular series. You bought pirated DVDs and you claimed yourself as an otaku? PTUI! Heck, even the figurines they buy are the Chinese knock off that cost just a fraction. And they are saying they are proud to be fans. Fans that are making the pirates richer by leeching off the hard work of others? If you say that the price is so high, there is a saying; Hendak seribu daya, taknak seribu dalih. If there is a will, there is a way. Bah! Not to mention to the people that doesn't cough up a single cent but just downloading the stuffs from the net and say that they are true fans. Do you know that the Japanese animation industry is actully going down? If they went any down further, all of those animation that you guys watch will either be stopped or the quality will go down.

I once met this so-called-otaku that claimed that he is a true fan of animations but when I asked him either he know about Shishio Gai, Nekki Basara, or even Captain Harlock, he answered he never heard of them.WTF?! You don't know that characters and you said you are an otaku? Man, what a sad thing this is turning out to be.

I would like to make it clear that I was never an otaku. I only like watching animation, reading comic books and playing video games. I have never been a hardcore fans of animations/comic books; I just like to watch/read them, but never to the point of obsessive interest. Heck! Even the first animation that I watched wasn't from Japan, it was from America and my favorite character wasn't even from Japanese animation whatsover, it's Spider-Man. I collect Spider-Man's stuffs either it is original or pirated but lately most of it is original. :P

Oh yeah, in case people were wondering this subject was inspired by linkinstreet's post at his blog (http://wakarimasenlol.com/2010/03/11/the-sad-case-of-malaysian-otaku/4193). I already asked him if I can use some of the contents inside his post for this and he approved.

Not an Otaku, boy. Not an Otaku.

Salam

Of Hobbies and Interests

Assalamualaikum / Peace Upon You

You know how people tend to make fun of you when your hobbies are slightly different from theirs? Like when you said you’re not into football and such, they treated you like a weird person just because you’re different then them.

I’ve encountered these types of people every time in my life. They tend to make fun and ridicule you when you stated that you enjoyed watching animation, reading comic books, and watching toku series. They will label you as childish and immature. Poke at you whenever they had the chance even though you didn’t do anything to them.

I got this person where I used to know. He likes to ridicule me whenever he saw me watching any animu or toku series. He would say; “Kau ni macam budak-budak ah, tak matang langsung. Dah besar tengok cerita macam ni. Bazir duit langsung.” (You’re just like a kid, very immature. You’re a grown up but still watching this sort of shows. Only wasting money). So I then reply; “Bazir duit? Sekurang-kurangnya aku tak bakar duit aku dengan beli rokok. Dah la rosakkan diri pastu nak bunuh orang lain lagi. Mak bapak aku tak kisah pun aku ada hobi macam ni. Yang kau nak sibuk kenapa? Mak bapak kau tahu ke yang kau habiskan duit dekat rokok?” (Wasting money? At least I don’t burn my money on buying cigarettes. Not only killing yourself but others too. My parent doesn’t mind of me having these kinds of hobbies. So why do you like to nag about it? Does your parent know about you smoking?).

You know the funny thing is? The people who like to ridicule people who like to watch animu and such, likes to watch the so-called kiddy shows such as Naruto and Bleach. Hypocrisy? I don’t think so, they are just to imbecile to see that what they are watching is also called a kiddy shows. Sure, animu is made for kids and so does mango and toku series. I only watch it because it is my hobby since I was little. I’m not stopping just because I had grown up. It’s a hobby. As long as I got a life and not neglecting my job as a Muslim, it is fine.

I remember one time there is a guy how made fun of me about my hobby but a few months later, he asked me either I have new animu for him to watch. I only managed to laugh at him and told him that I thought he would never want to watch kiddy shows. He replied that he was bored and it was the only thing that he could borrow from me.

In this world nowadays, people will only like things that they had familiar with and tends to make fun out of something that is new. Up until now, this type of hobby is nothing more than child’s hobby in the mind set of some of people not only in Malaysia but across the world. For me, I don’t care what others might think as long as I only treated this as a hobby and not get too hype with it.

Salam

She’s Just Not Into You

Assalamualaikum / Peace Upon You

During this week, my mother goes and performs her ‘umrah’ in Mekah while my sister went to Johor for her job interview. Well, actually I lived with my sister. So, technically, I’m home alone. Desperate to find some entertainment and to kill my boredom, I asked a few of my friends to hang out at Mamak’s which only 3 agreed.

So, we head out to some Mamak Stall which is located at Wangsa Maju during midnight time. We sat and chat about old stuffs like previous school, what are you doing now, yadda, yadda, yadda. It is all the average talks that you usually have with your friends that sort of stuffs.

Suddenly, this group of girls sat right beside the table where we are at. It’s the usual typical girls that you usually found. Bouncy boobs, wears skimpy outfit, that type. The three of my moronic friends couldn’t help it but to stare at them (while covering that they aren’t, that is). I did managed to catch a glimpse but then lost interest as they are the type of girls you usually found everywhere.

As I continue sipping my ‘teh tarik’, my friends noticed that I wasn’t actually looking at the girls beside us. He asked me;”Dude, aren’t you gonna check that chicks out? They are totally hot.” Which I replied,”Nah, been there done that. Not my type anyway.” Then the three of them stared at me with this awkward looks. They were like, “Seriously man, being in Dungun for a long time made you lost interest into fine and attractive ladies.”

I told them which part of them that made them attractive? The skimpy outfit? Their figure? To me all of that doesn’t matter much. I told them that this sort of girls tend to be shallow and a gold-digger which they doesn’t care much about you, they just want you moolah. I wonder why guys really like to go out with girls like that. They know that the girls only want what’s in their pocket. Why would go out? Normally, I usually like this sort of girls. But unfortunately, I’ve seen the light. I’ve been dumped by girls like that for like over 10 times already. And I usually got over it and move on. Meh… What’s the big deal? I told myself that ‘She’s just not into you. So, move along…’

For me, I don’t care. I'm not that good looking. Not handsome. Not macho. Not dandy. Sometimes I even think myself as the unattractive guy in Malaysia. So I don't care about my partner appearance. Don't care even if she is taller than me or shorter than me. Even if she’s plain looking or doesn't wears makeup (which I think some girls shouldn't). Even if she’s got a scar on her face (which suprisingly really turns me on……). Don’t ask me why but I love girls who have scars on her body. Fetish? All that matters are she understands me and understands her. She respects my hobbies and she likes me the way I am and vice versa. Not to mention that she have a nice smile and smiles a lot. It doesn’t matter if I don’t get a hot supermodel as my girlfriend. All I want is a girl who I can have a click with. Someone that I can talk to. Chemistry matters in a relationship. If you don’t have that with your partner, then it will not be long.

But then again, most of the relationship that I’ve been with, I’m the one that screwed it up. Either it is intentionally or unintentionally. Who am I to kid? I’m not good with girls. I tend to speak something in my mind out loud. I don’t like waiting and I especially don’t like someone to be late. People really think it is inconsiderate of me for walking off but it’s her fault that made me wait for 1 hour like an idiot. If she have something to take care of, just call or something. But in the end, she’ll always make you look like the guilty one. But I don’t care. At least I got my family with me.

In the end, all of the things don’t matter. If God want you two to be together and you shall but if not, better keep on searching. Don’t give me this bullshit about waiting for the right one. God will not help those who doesn’t help themselves. If you want something, you better earned it. Kapisch? Well, I am still single at the moment and currently enjoying it. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! *sigh* I really wish I have someone I could spend my times with. Unfortunately, that's not gonna happen for the next few months.

Salam

Respect!

Assalamualaikum/Peace Upon You

Respect… A word that people wouldn’t fully understands. How can some people lose their respect on their leader? Insulting him like he has done something bad to them. I simply can pity those types of people. Heck... they even want other people to respect them but they don’t show a good example of people that should be respect at.

Like somebody once said; I’m not afraid of God. I love God. I only afraid of His wrath if I do bad things. It’s the same as why you obey your parent’s order. It’s not about fear but respect.

To be honest, I’ve seen so many people like this. They want others to respect them but they don’t respect other people. Hey dude, if you want people to respect you, you got to earn it. This is my short entry for today but remember, respect others and people will respect you. Peace and out.

Salam.