Kogyaru and Otaku: Youth Subcultures Lifestyles in Postmodern Japan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4312/as.2011.15.3.95-110Keywords:
lifestyle, youth subcultures, kogyaru, otakuAbstract
The article studies social-group peculiarities and lifestyles of kogyaru and otaku as significant groups in contemporary Japanese youth subcultures. They are typical for postmodern society, with its characteristic consumption, communication, and lifestyle. Kogyaru and otaku are investigated as examples of postmodern changes in the dissemination and perception of fashion trends, hobby activities, and innovative products. The causes of their emergence and growth are related to the general problems facing postmodern Japan: its economy, educational institutions, family, and value system. Their influence is considered to be an important source of growth for a large and profitable market.Downloads
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References
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Kitabayashi, Ken. 2004. “The Otaku Group from a Business Perspective: Revaluation of Enthusiastic Consumers.” Nomura Research Institute Ltd., Tokyo. Paper No 84. Accessed August 13, 2011. http://www.nri.co.jp/english/opinion/papers/2004/
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Lash, Scott. 1990. The Sociology of Postmodernism. London: Routledge.
Maffesoli, Michel. 1996. The Time of the Tribes: The Decline of Individualism in Mass Society. London: SAGE Publication Ltd.
Polhemus, Тed. 1996. Style Surfing. London: Thames and Hudson.
Rogers, Everett M. 1962. Diffusion of Innovation. New York: Free Press.
Simmel, Georg. 1904 (1971). “Fashion.” In Georg Simmel: On Individuality and Social Forms, edited by D. Levine. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Sobel, Michael E. 1981. Lifestyle and Social Structure: Concepts, Definitions, Analyses. New York: Academic Press.
Suzuki, Tadashi, and Best, Joel. 2003. “The Emergence of Trendsetters for Fashions and Fads: Kogyaru in 1990s Japan.” The Sociological Quarterly 44: 61–79.
Thornton, Sarah. 1995. Club Cultures: Music, Meaning and Subcultural Capital. Cambridge: Polity Press.
Veblen, Thorstein. 1899 (1994). The Theory of the Leisure Class. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books.
Warde, Alan. 1992. “Notes on the Relationship between Production and Consumption.” In Consumption and Change: Divisions and Change, edited by R. Burrows, and C.
Marsh, 15–32. London: Macmillan.
Weber, Max. 1978 (1922). “Classes, Status Groups and Parties.” In Max Weber: Selection in Translation, edited by W.G. Runcinan. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Zablocki, Benjamin, and Kanter, Rosabeth M. 1976. “The Differentiation of Life Styles.” Annual Review of Sociology 2: 269–298.
Chaney, David. 1996. Lifestyles. London: Routledge.
Crane, Diana. 2000. Fashion and Its Social Agendas: Class, Gender and Identity in Clothing. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.
Doi, Takeo. 1981 (1971). The Anatomy of Dependence. Tokyo: Kodansha International.
Eng, Lawrence. 2006. “Otaku.” In Contemporary Youth Culture: an International Encyclopedia, vol. 2, edited by S. Steinberg, P. Parmar, and B. Richard, 189–194. Westport: Greenwood Press.
Featherstone, Mike. 1991. Consumer Culture and Postmodernism. London: Sage.
Grassmuck, Volker. 1990. “I’m Alone, but Not Lonely”: Japanese Otaku-Kids Colonize the Realm of Information and Media (A Tale of Sex and Crime from a Faraway Place). Accessed August 13, 2011. http://www.cjas.org/~leng/otaku-e.htm
Kawamura, Yuniya. 2006. “Japanese Teens as Producers of Street Fashion.” Current Sociology 54 (5): 784–801.
Keliyan, Maya. 2008. Yaponiya i Balgariya: Modeli na Razsloenoto Potreblenie (Japan and Bulgaria: Stratified Consumption Patterns). Sofia: ValentinTrajanov.
Keliyan, Maya. 2010. Stil na Jivot na Lokalnata Obshtnost: Savremenna Yaponiya (Local Community Life Style: Contemporary Japan). Varna: Alex Print.
Kinsella, Sharon. 1995. “Cuties in Japan.” In Women, Media and Consumption in Japan, edited by L. Skov and B. Moeran, 220–255. Honolulu: Hawaii University Press.
Kinsella, Sharon. 2000. Adult Manga: Culture and Power in Contemporary Japanese Society. Honolulu: Hawaii University Press.
Kitabayashi, Ken. 2004. “The Otaku Group from a Business Perspective: Revaluation of Enthusiastic Consumers.” Nomura Research Institute Ltd., Tokyo. Paper No 84. Accessed August 13, 2011. http://www.nri.co.jp/english/opinion/papers/2004/
pdf/np200484.pdf
Lash, Scott. 1990. The Sociology of Postmodernism. London: Routledge.
Maffesoli, Michel. 1996. The Time of the Tribes: The Decline of Individualism in Mass Society. London: SAGE Publication Ltd.
Polhemus, Тed. 1996. Style Surfing. London: Thames and Hudson.
Rogers, Everett M. 1962. Diffusion of Innovation. New York: Free Press.
Simmel, Georg. 1904 (1971). “Fashion.” In Georg Simmel: On Individuality and Social Forms, edited by D. Levine. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Sobel, Michael E. 1981. Lifestyle and Social Structure: Concepts, Definitions, Analyses. New York: Academic Press.
Suzuki, Tadashi, and Best, Joel. 2003. “The Emergence of Trendsetters for Fashions and Fads: Kogyaru in 1990s Japan.” The Sociological Quarterly 44: 61–79.
Thornton, Sarah. 1995. Club Cultures: Music, Meaning and Subcultural Capital. Cambridge: Polity Press.
Veblen, Thorstein. 1899 (1994). The Theory of the Leisure Class. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books.
Warde, Alan. 1992. “Notes on the Relationship between Production and Consumption.” In Consumption and Change: Divisions and Change, edited by R. Burrows, and C.
Marsh, 15–32. London: Macmillan.
Weber, Max. 1978 (1922). “Classes, Status Groups and Parties.” In Max Weber: Selection in Translation, edited by W.G. Runcinan. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Zablocki, Benjamin, and Kanter, Rosabeth M. 1976. “The Differentiation of Life Styles.” Annual Review of Sociology 2: 269–298.
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Published
1. 12. 2011
Issue
Section
Past Inspirations and Present Explorations
How to Cite
Keliyan, Maya. 2011. “Kogyaru and Otaku: Youth Subcultures Lifestyles in Postmodern Japan”. Asian Studies 15 (3): 95-110. https://doi.org/10.4312/as.2011.15.3.95-110.
