Figure moe zoku
Figure moe zoku (フィギュア萌え族, literally "figure budding tribe", or, closer to the true meaning, "figurine lover gang") is a coinage made by Japanese journalist Akihiro Otani who says that "otaku" (or "Geeks)" are potential criminals, when journalists profiled the murderer of Kaede Ariyama.
Otani also uses the term "moe zoku". Some otaku have begun to use the expression "moe zoku" in a self-mocking fashion based on his accusations. This word is often used interchangeably with lolicon and pedophilia, but to be exact this is a parrot-cry.[1]
Japanese "Figure" culture
In Japan, the term "figure" can refer to figure skating or to dolls, statues, and other collectible figurines. Figures based on anime, manga and dating sim characters are often sold as dolls in Japan. Collecting them is a popular hobby amongst otaku.
Controversies about otaku
Serial killer Tsutomu Miyazaki
Following the 1988-1989 Tokyo-Saitama serial murders of four young girls, otaku were sometimes presented by the mass media as would-be sex offenders. The murderer, Tsutomu Miyazaki, was labelled by the mass media as an “otaku” following his arrest, leading to harsh criticism of the sub-culture from media outlets and politicians. The Japanese mass media dubbed this "The day when society discovered otaku," and it was this famous report at Comiket that began the demonization of otaku in Japanese society. Due to a lack of understanding of Otaku, the Japanese mass media continued to bash Comiket as a breeding ground for future criminals, despite the fact that the event had already existed for 14 years and was meeting for the 36th time by that point, with no other offenses. In addition, it had been covered on television and other media in years past, without any suggestion of deviancy. Some of these earlier reports included interviews with figures like Osamu Tezuka.
Murder of Ai Hamana
On March 11, 2004, in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture, a first grade girl Ai Hamana was killed by her neighbor Noriyuki Noda.[2] The murderer was reported to have lots of "dolls".[3] NNN reported that his dolls were specifically Super Dollfies, without any further explanation or description. Volks, the manufacturer of Super Dollfie, protested this statement, leading NNN to apologize and correct the report. The damage was done, however, and figure-otaku quickly began being stereotyped as potential murderers.
Murder of Kaede Ariyama
On November 17, 2004, in Tomio, a suburb of Nara City, another first grade girl, named Kaede Ariyama, was abducted on her way home from school. The kidnapper Kaoru Kobayashi sent the girl's parents a picture of her, along with the message "I have your daughter," using the child's camera phone. The girl's body was found later that night in Heguri, Ikoma District of Nara Prefecture.
This event was widely reported on in Japan because of its shock value. Many non-professional experts [self-described profilers] served as media consultants in the case, making guesses about the murderer's personality.
Otani's inference
Akihiro Otani, a journalist for the Yomiuri Shimbun, covered Osaka Prefecture's Criminal Investigation Division, which deals with serious crimes, like murder. Otani was highly regarded in the field, with his research skills considered to be almost equal to those of professional detectives. Otani was also a popular media figure, seen as a crusader for justice, a skilled speaker, and a defender of the common man. Otani suggested that the killer treated his victim like a doll, and as such, the killer might be a doll collector or figure otaku. He coined the term "Figure Moe Zoku" to identify this group, first using it on a morning news broadcast in November, 2004. Otani immediately objected, suggesting that the spectre of earlier otaku-related murders colored his judgement.
Otani also writes fiction, and one of his stories was published as a manga in 1997. In the story, an individual becomes obsessed with a dating sim after repeated play, and kidnaps the actress who plays the game's love interest, in the hopes that she will love him just as she does in the video game. Otani essentially suggests that while dating games can be fun, they can also become dangerous if players get too attached to them. The events presented in the manga were purely fictional, but some otaku feel persecuted by them nonetheless.
After the arrest of Kaoru Kobayashi
On December 30, 2004, an alleged sexual pervert Kaoru Kobayashi living in Kawai Town, Kitakatsuragi District, Nara Prefecture was arrested. Kobayashi did not collect dolls nor play the questionable games.[4] After this, it seems that the credibility and influence Otani had previously exerted against otakus began to wear off.
However, mass media continued bashing Otakus as if they were the ones who had performed the crime.[4] During an ANN special broadcast on the morning that the aforementioned suspect was arrested, Otani commented that the suspect was a "Figure Otaku", contradicting the police report that the offender had no such items.
Otani is opposed to a Japanese version of Megan's Law. Instead, Otani suggests that the government should restrict otaku hobbies either through legal action, or by increasing the social stigma of such acts.
In January 4, 2005, he denounced otakus in a newspaper column in response to those who have protested against him and his comments. Many otaku feel that Otani is using them as a scapegoat to further his political career.
Otani claims that a popular otaku hobby is "child pornography", encouraging pedophiles to indulge in otaku culture and possibly encouraging otaku to engage in acts of pedophilia.
In a January 13, 2005 interview on ABC, Otani said "Throw [those who complain about me] in prison and castrate them. Japanese society can do that!". This statement angered many otaku, with some claiming that it was tantamount to hate speech. So far, neither ABC nor Otani have apologized for the comments.
Otani appealed in the mass media for the restriction of otaku's hobbies. Otakus protested this, resulting in Otani being dismissed from the ABC program where he had first put forward his theory. However, Otani continues to insist upon his theory every time a similar event occurs.
In 2005, two more first grade girls were kidnapped and killed in Japan. Airi Kinoshita was killed by a Peruvian Jose Manuel Torres Yake, who was not an otaku. The killer of Yuki Yoshida remains at large.
Japanese mass media continued to blame otakus and otaku culture for the crimes, despite a lack of evidence of their involvement.[4]
See also
References
- ^ Takashi Odajima (2005-06-15). "萌え市場の市場規模" (in Japanese). Asahi Shimbun. Retrieved 2008-02-22.
- ^ "Man gets life for killing girl". The Japan Times. 2005-12-10. Retrieved 2008-02-27.
- ^ "March 14, 2004". CrimeTimeNews. Retrieved 2008-02-27.
- ^ a b c "Otaku harassed as sex-crime fears mount". The Japan Times. 2005-02-06. Retrieved 2008-02-27.
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Extenal links
- "Open letter to Otani" (in Japanese). NGO-AMI. 2004-12-09.