Go Tokyo Your Experience
The ‘authenticity dispute’ among anime fans: experienced fans and the phenomenon of following trends
With the rapid development of Japan’s anime industry, the economic benefits of anime works are gradually increasing, and more and more artists are entering this field to increase their exposure. In response to this, veteran anime fans and comedian Courage Iwai (Courage Iwai) expressed dissatisfaction, believing that many artists do not truly love anime, but only refer to themselves as “otaku” just to cater to market trends and read popular works casually.
He even put forward the extreme argument that ‘if you like anime, you should change it to a licensing system’, calling for real anime enthusiasts to be screened through exams and certifications. Below, we will explore Iwai’s perspective and the debates surrounding this topic together.
The extreme argument of Iwai Courage: Anime fans need ‘qualification certificates’
Iwai Courage put forward his extreme argument on the Fuji TV variety show “Ode Ode x Ha La Ha La”: liking anime should be certified through exams, and only by passing certain tests can one be called a “true anime fan”.
He cited his own experience as an example, stating that he watches at least 30 to 40 new anime series every season, but in recent years, more and more artists have been trying to obtain more job opportunities by calling themselves “otaku”.
These artists often only watch popular works such as “Demon Slayer” or “The Kids I Push” and consider themselves anime fans, completely ignoring the true depth of anime culture.
Iwai is dissatisfied with this phenomenon and points out, “These artists are just following the trend. They don’t like anime at all, they just like those works that were once popular
He believes that the identity of anime fans should be determined by the breadth and depth of their viewing, rather than relying solely on a few popular works to obtain certification. In order to prevent these so-called “one-day fans” from filling in the gaps, Iwai called for the establishment of a licensing system to screen out fans who truly love anime.
Opposing Opinion: The Importance of Mild Fans to the Market
Although the viewpoint of Iwai Courage has resonated with some senior anime fans, it has also sparked many doubts. Another guest on the show, Qianfeng Kobayashi, refuted his viewpoint and believed that the anime industry needs mild fans to drive market development.
He pointed out that the prosperity of the animation industry not only relies on the support of senior fans, but also requires a large number of mild fans to expand the market size.
If these “mild otaku” are completely eliminated, anime companies will find it difficult to earn sufficient profits, which may affect the production and release of new works and ultimately lead to the decline of Japanese anime culture.
Xiaofan believes that any cultural field requires fans at different levels, and diversity from beginners to experienced enthusiasts is the key to maintaining the healthy operation of the entire market. Overruling out mild fans will only limit the influence of this field to a few people and weaken its appeal among the public.
The definition of ‘real otaku’: Does the number of views determine everything?
In the program, one of the judges, Gong Zeyi Ma, raised a key question: “Is watching more the more powerful it is
She questioned whether Iwai’s standards of courage were too strict and asked, “How many works do you think you need to watch every season to be considered a true anime fan
Iwai replied, “Fifteen
This standard has sparked surprise from on-site judges and audiences, who believe that the standard is too high and even difficult for many ordinary anime enthusiasts to meet.
This question reveals the controversy over the definition of ‘real homestead’. Many people believe that the identity of anime fans should not solely depend on the number of views, and true passion can be reflected in a deep understanding and emotional resonance with a particular work. Watching a large number of works may demonstrate a broad interest in anime, but it should not be the only measure.
Balance between Mild and Senior Fans: Diversity of Anime Culture
The diversity of anime culture is reflected in different levels of fan groups, including experienced fans like Courage Iwai who are deeply involved in each season’s new releases, as well as mild fans who have fallen into the trap due to a popular work. The presence of mild fans helps attract more new audiences into this cultural circle, while veteran fans play an important role in maintaining cultural depth and inheritance.
Whether it’s watching one or two popular works or following dozens of new episodes every season, they are an indispensable part of the anime culture ecosystem. For the entire industry, how to balance the needs of mild and experienced fans and maintain the healthy development of the market is the key.
The complexity of anime fan identity
The proposal by Iwai Courage regarding the “anime fan license system” reflects to some extent the dissatisfaction of senior fans with the phenomenon of following the trend, but it also appears to be too harsh. As a global cultural phenomenon, anime’s appeal lies not only in the deep love of experienced fans, but also in its ability to attract the attention and love of a large number of mild fans. Through anime works, different types of audiences can find the parts they are interested in, which is precisely the charm of anime culture.
In the future, perhaps we should be more tolerant and understanding of the differences between mild and experienced fans, and work together to promote the sustainable development of the animation industry. And true anime fans are not only because of how many works they have watched, but also because of their respect and love for anime culture, which is more important than any “license”.