The simplest and broadest answer to this is “a non-Japanese person who wants to be Japanese” though not all weebs will actually want or admit to wanting this.
Just going to share my own weeb story.
When I was about 11, my mom’s friend came over. She also brought her daughter. Her real name was Kiley, but she insisted I called her Himeko, or Himeko-chan. One of the first things she said to me was, “Do you like anime?” I didn’t know much about anime at the time, except I would find pictures online that I liked. (I called it ‘japanese animation’, then.)
Anyways, she familiarized me with anime. we watched Inuyasha on adult swim together, wrote terrible fanfic together, and even came up with a name for me. Mizuki.
One of the worst, we pretended to be our ocs. (Himeko: Emo ninja who is destined to marry Sasuke, Mikuki: Gaara’s long lost sister that was in love with Naruto.)
For instance, I had a swimming pool. We would swim around and pretend we were in a ‘hot spring’ and that there were lechers around. (I am dying inside right now.) This phase of mine was active until 8th grade I’d say. (So about, almost 2 years?)
Kylie is still in this phase. I don’t know how long she liked anime before I did, but she’s 17 now. She wears neko ears casually, uses the: ^______^ face twice every sentence.. You’d think she’d know the difference between a weeaboo/otaku and someone who likes anime by now. But no, she doesn’t.
I, myself, still like anime. I do not say ‘kawaii’, ‘sugoi’, or the like unless I am being ironic. I do not cosplay, and I don’t talk about anime unless someone asks me about it first.
I fought weeaboo-ism, and won.
Let’s give her a slow clap, everyone. That was really brave.
…and slightly hilarious….
As long as it keeps making you happy, it is a wonderful thing.
Everyone: Do what makes you happy.
There is nothing wrong with being a fan. Just like it’s normal in Japan to be a fan of anime, or in America to be a fan of Adventure time, it’s totally normal to be a fan of anime living in the US.
Yes some people make bad examples of what American anime fans are like, but those are only the ones you notice. The noisy ones. There are plenty of socially acclimated respectful people at those cons and such, but you don’t notice them because they’re not OUTRAGEOUSDESU. Some people are a bit embarrassed by these noisier fans, or by the fact that they used to be one, but don’t let that get in the way of doing what you enjoy.
NO SHAME, NO REGRETS.
Haha, there are chibis of just about everything huh? That’s funny though, because I never think of most chibis as looking Asian.
Do what makes you happy. If cosplay makes you happy do it. If it makes you uncomfortable (for feeling like a weeb or an reason) don’t do it. Having some anime stuff in your room is fine, if you like it— but understand the difference between a room with some anime stuff and an otaku cave.
If you want to be Japanese, you’re a weeb. If your life is dedicated to anime, you’re an “otaku”. There’s not enough information here for me to say what I think you probably are. But figurines and cosplay, especially if tasteful and in moderation, are not enough alone to make someone a weeb.
My word. I used to know a person like this. It’s uncomfortable in EVERY way.
I assume you are in a situation where you have to see this person a lot, like he goes to your school or something. If he’s just some guy who hangs out at your local comic book store or something… the easiest solution is just don’t go there.
But let’s face our problems head-on shall we?
There are two approaches you can take.
The indirect approach: Make him not want to talk to you anymore. The cold shoulder. If he goes up to you and says “OH MAN I JUST WROTE ALL THE JOUYO KANJI CHECK THIS OUT” just say “good for you” and go do something else, or occupy yourself with something else.
I imagine you might have tried this before and it didn’t work. The trick is you have to be REALLY consistent. And deadpan. NEVER engage with him. No matter what he says or how angry he makes you, comments beyond “I’m busy right now. Could you give me some space?” will make him think it’s fun to annoy you. If you say that and he doesn’t leave, just ignore him. If he asks why all you say is “I asked you to leave” and continue your business. This seems cold and not the right way to do things, but this is the real world, and you need to show him how the real world is going to treat him if he continues to act this way.
Let us take a moment to understand this boy. He probably doesn’t have many/any friends. He probably can’t relate to people except through anime, kanji, hentai, and himself. This boy really needs to mature a lot. People who talk about things like hentai to people who clearly don’t want to talk about it don’t understand boundaries. He probably bothers you and your friend because you’re the only ones who will talk to him, even if both of you don’t like him. You’re the only ones who will listen to his crap without totally humiliating him or beating him to a pulp. That makes you good people. Congrats. Anyway, there’s nothing you can really do about his social awkwardness. That’s his problem. And I understand that dealing with these sorts of people can be really difficult and awkward, which is why I’m giving two options.
Let us now see the Direct Approach!
Tell him you don’t care about his kanji. Carefully and calmly (in a slightly exasperated way) explain why even if it matters to him, it does not matter to you. You are not trying to undermine his efforts or deny his intelligence by not being at awe with his kanji. You just don’t care. When he talks about hentai, say “Can you not talk about porn in front of me?” It makes you uncomfortable. You are disgusted by the fact that he is talking to you about things that turn him on. Getting this though to people can be difficult. If he doesn’t stop, seriously, tell a guidance councilor (or whoever you have that talks to people). It will ultimately help him.
I spent a lot of time answering this one because I feel like a lot of people have this problem. Any more questions on this, specifics, criticisms, whatever, are welcome.
Now up and running, the sister blog of Former Otaku Finch, Doctor Otaku Finch!
At Former Otaku Finch, I was getting a lot of questions asking for advice or comments debating the nature of otaku/weeb. But it doesn’t really fit there. It goes here!
Here you may share stories, ask for advice, and discuss anything really about weebery and otakudom. You don’t have to be one to participate. All are welcome. But please, keep it civil.
