Genshiken


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		Genshiken The Society for the Study of Modern Visual Culture Media: Anime, Manga Origin: Afternoon Creator: Kio Shimoku Vintage: 2002 Background: Genshiken is a manga drawn and written by Kio Shimoku that totalled 50 chapters and was serialized in Afternoon. In 2004, Genshiken was adapted into a 12 episode anime. In 2006, an anime remake of Kujibiki Unbalance, a fictional anime within the Genshiken world, was released. The DVD releases of the Kujibiki Unbalance TV series will include three new OAV episodes of Genshiken.
	Story: Genshiken differs from other anime and manga because it is a story about the otaku - hardcore anime fans. The story revolves around a group of university students who belong to ‘The Society for the Study of Modern Visual Culture’ club, or Genshiken for short. Genshiken is basically an otaku club where the members share common interest in all things involving anime, manga and video games. The club activities mostly just involve members sitting around a table reading manga or talk about anime, or play games. What makes Genshiken unique is that it provides a deep look into otaku culture in modern society with a realistic perspective. Each club member provides a different archetype of the otaku. All except Saki Kasukabe, who is not an otaku but joins the club because her boyfriend is one. Saki may be coonsidered the central character of Genshiken because she provides an outside perspective into the otaku world, and it is often through her that more intimate information about each of the Genshiken members are revealed. The first character introduced in Genshiken is Kanji Sasahara, a young freshman who is seeking a club to match his interests. Sasahara is an otaku but is initially shy to admit it. He joins the Genshiken after the other members catch him reading their doujinshi (adult manga). Makoto Kohska joins at the same time as Sasahara, he is Saki’s boyfriend. Depsite his good looks, Kohsaka is the most hardcore otaku in the club, much to the dismay of Saki. Saki hangs around the Genshiken only because Kohsaka goes there, Saki is not an otaku and is infuriated when somebody refers to her as one. Although lacking a solid plot, much of the story in Genshiken involves the other members trying to make Saki understand the otaku culture. One of the hardest points for Saki to understand is why some girls are otaku. She befriends the new female Genshiken member, Kanako Ohno, but has a hard time understanding Ohno’s obsession with cosplay. Ohno, on the other hand, is set on making Saki do cosplay in order to teach her. Saki’s juxtaposition to the other Genshiken members surrounding her provides a lot of comedic situations and dialogue throughout the series. Since her boyfriend, Kohsaka, is an otaku, Saki tries to change him but finds herself adjusting more to fit his lifestyle. Eventually Saki gains a better understanding about otaku and who they are. Saki even saves the Genshiken from being disbanded on a few occasions despite the fact she had hoped the club would be shut down. Although she would never consider becoming an otaku herself, Saki has come to accept them.
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