キョロ充 [kyoroju]
Even though otaku coin a new term, some of those words might get into a common society, and get generalized so that people use. I think リア充[riajyu] or 死亡フラグ[shibou flag] are good examples. Now I can hear these words coming from general people. But otaku always go ahead of them and coin a new word, that is キョロ充[kyorojyu]. Sounds similar to リア充, but not really. What does it mean?
If you happen to be a student, would you see a classmate who is isolated at class? Although he is in the group, he seems to be isolated…and he doesn’t even realise. And behind his back, everybody else is insulting him…When a lunch time comes, he is coming to join the group. But actually no one wants him to come. In this way, wherever he goes he always look for a group to join, always look for someone he knows. That is キョロ充[kyoroju]. キョロ stems from キョロキョロしている[kyoro kyoro shiteiru] or shifty eye. In other words, he is always busy looking around to find someone.
He feels nervous unless he is in the group, and doesn’t want to be alone. That is why he always looks for a group to place himself. But why does he have to look for always? How come no one comes to him? Yes, キョロ充 sarcastically points out he is a boring person. There is no fun in talking to him, that is why no one comes to him. Once again, would you see someone like him at class or have you seen before?
Having said that, when I heard this term I laughed at myself. Because I could see who I used to be. In fact I was always isolated in the class when I was a student. Junior high, high-school, I was always like an outcast. The teachers used to say like I have no sociability. Yes that’s true. Well, I just tried to do better every time the classmates were changed. I wanted to catch up with the classmates so that I could have fun with them. But I didn’t understand what they were talking about, it could be a trendy fashion or something like that. Anyway, it didn’t interest me. But even that, I tried to catch up with the gossip or what was going on. I even pretended to enjoy myself although I didn’t. Next day, I saw someone else took my place as if he was a replacement. No, there was no my place in the first place. They just figured out that I didn’t fit.
I gave up. And after all, the teachers said you are not sociable at all. What should I do? How can I be more sociable? There was no where to go at school. I was trying to find a place where I can relax.
My cosplay friends
Now I am a cosplayer as you may know. Finally I could find such a place because I have my cosplay buddies. I don’t have to pretend to enjoy myself because I really enjoy myself. Surrounded by my good friends, I can say I am happy now. It took much time to find, but there is a place even for someone like me. Even though we cosplayers don’t come out of the closet, we can have fun. I don’t know if this is リア充 or not, but I do think the important thing is, that you are happy or not. So long as you are happy, everything is alright even if the place where you are is not something most people understand. You can say オタ充[otaju] to mean your otaku life is enjoyable. Yes, when I log in my blog, I can see you. When I upload my cosplay photos, I have feedback from you. It makes me very happy. My life is good, I can say. What’s wrong with オタ充? オタ充で何が悪いの？＾＾
There is no point in being キョロ充. I am sure there is a place for you, and you will have it even if it takes time. Because even I could find.
[Cosplay] Hakuouki -Kyoto trip 1-
Zuisouroku
I am back from Kyoto[京都], and even now I still miss my tour. In fact last weekend, my friends and I went to Kyoto for sightseeing and cosplay. Even though we stayed only two nights, we really really enjoyed. The cosplay buddy organised everything from the hotel to the cosplay event. I appreciate it. The series we decided to cosplay is…just Hakuouki[薄桜鬼]. Well, the 2nd season has started right? Are you watching it? So in Japan, the number of Hakuouki cosplayers are increasing more and more. We are one of them.
We cosplayers say 遠征[ensei], meaning to travel for cosplay. This is my first 遠征 in all of my life. Actually I had never been to Kyoto even though I am Japanese. In order to cosplay, I am going to Kyoto? What a strange life it is!
Kyoto Station
In fact, I hadn’t played the game Hakuouki although anybody else had done. So before the trip, I rushed to the shop to buy it. I couldn’t finish all of the guys as I had no time, but could finish Saito and Hijikata. Since I cosplay Saito and my friend does Hijikata, I should finish the two at least. The more I played the game, the more I could understand them. Saito is actually more complicated than I thought. But he is a really nice guy.
The manager guided us.
In the morning of the first day, I was a bit late for the appointed time since I overslept. But I could still catch the Shinkansen for Kyoto. Having a chat for two hours and a bit, we arrived. Unfortunately, it was raining. The Chidsuru cosplayer made a しおり[shiori, leaflet] for us, it was so pretty. Yes, しおり is supposed to be provided to students before school trip. We are having a school excursion, 修学旅行[shugaku ryokou] though we are not students anymore. After the lunch, we were going to the hotel. Since the map was a bit difficult to see, we almost got lost. But the hotel’s manager passed by and found us, she guided. Her husband helped our luggages. The hotel was, actually like a guest house. Looks so old, but it really fits Hakuouki. As soon as we had dinner, we started to prepare for cosplay.
The Chidsuru cosplayer did her 花魁[oiran] version, which you could see the additional game, 随想録[zuisouroku]. I didn’t play this so I had no idea. She made the costume and the wig herself, wow. We started the photoshooting from 9:00 p.m., and it lasted by 3:00 a.m.. Read the rest of this entry »
Japanese words of anime fans, by anime fans, for anime fans 