There's a huge misconception in the Western world about the word "otaku", especially regarding it's usage. Most Westerners believe that the term refers to someone who is a zealous fan of something, in particular (but not exclusively so), anime and manga, with the word gaining a distinctly positive bias over the years. This is partly due to Gainax's tongue-in-cheek usage of the term in their 1991 movie "Otaku no Video", however the word has much darker and far more derogatory connotations in Japan, something which continues even to this day.
Bit of a sombre beginning to a review of a comedy manga isn't it? Well it
...
does have a purpose, particularly as Genshiken is a series about otaku in their various forms, from the cosplayers and fujoshis (girls who are crazy about "boy's love" stories), to the doujinshi mangakas and the game junkies, and everyone in between.
Created by Kio Shimoku in 2002, the manga quickly filled the void left by Comic Party and established itself as a firm fan favourite due to its realistically humourous take on otaku subculture. The story focuses on a university club called GENdai SHIkaku Bunka KENkyūkai (The Society for the Study of Modern Visual Culture - the capitalised letters show where the title "Genshiken" comes from), which, in truth, is nothing more than a collection of oddballs and social misfits who are only linked by a love of anime, manga, games, and other pastimes that are the "normal" realms of the social recluse. Into this strange environment walks freshman student and closet otaku Sasahara Kanji, a shy young man who wants to join a club that he would enjoy (and where he might be able to watch/read some hentai/porn).
If there's one memorable aspect of the slice of life plot that the manga adopts, it's the quirky, and often humourous, manner in which the various characters interact with each other. Genshiken is very much a character driven piece which, ironically enough, is also the main reason why the comedy works so well. In truth, the series is very much an otaku sit-com, and much of the humour is derivative of social stereotypes, particularly the more derogatory ones.
The thing that is most pleasing about the plot though, is that it presents a broad spectrum of otaku subculture rather than focusing on one single type. Each of the characters brings something unique to the story, especially Kusakabe Saki, who is basically the only "normal" major character in the series. Whilst it's true that otaku are portrayed through rose-tinted lenses throughout the manga, Genshiken also presents the characters as plausible human beings, something that no other otaku based story has done (until NHK ni Youkoso! that is).
The plot does have its flaws, but in truth these are mostly niggling annoyances rather than anything major. The story progresses at a good pace, neither too fast nor too slow, and because of the emphasis on the characters there are very few occasions where "events" are used to move it forward. Some readers may find certain chapters rather placid, especially those where nothing seems to happen, however it should be remembered that such small tales present the characters in ways that the manga may have only hinted at before.
As far as the artwork goes, I was honestly impressed by the level of simple detail in each panel. The author has taken great care with the designs of each character in an effort to make them as individual as possible while at the same time playing on the social stereotypes. This is particularly notable in the case of Kousaka Makoto, who is unlike the other members of the club (more on this in a bit). Given the focus on the characters and the fact that they are sometimes quite literally under the microscope, it's nice to see that the author has made them expressive in both mannerisms and actions. Facially the characters are pretty simplistic, however they are extremely emotive, and it's easy to tell what each character is feeling at a given time from their expression.
The backgrounds and settings, especially the clubroom where much of the story takes place, can sometimes seem haphazardly drawn, yet they are highly detailed, with very little in the way of open space used throughout the series. Each chapter takes place in an area that is literally filled with "stuff", and while the art may be a bit messy at times, each panel has a sense of realism about it because of the detailed nature of the artwork.
The characters form the centrepiece of Genshiken in terms of both the story and the club itself. Each of them are individuals to a tee, with their own thoughts, feelings, prejudices, hobbies, etc, etc. Genshiken is nothing if not a lesson in characterisation as each of the club members, together with the supporting characters, are complete from the start of the series. One needs to remember that because the story is set in a university club, the characters are adults for the most part. This gives the whole series an edge that many other otaku based tales lack in that the humour, the relationships, the prejudices, the emotions, the hang ups, etc, etc, are all presented in a manner that is more mature, more subtly humourous, and more accessible to fans of anime and manga, especially the older ones.
One of Genshiken's biggest achievements is the degree to which the characters develop over the course of the series. This isn't simply a story based on one year of life, but covers several years during which members of the club leave, whilst new members are admitted. Over the course of the manga there are many notable progressions for each of the characters, Madarame's attempt at shopping for "decent" clothes, Sasahara being made club president, Ohno and Tanaka's cosplay based relationship, and a whole heap of other points where the characters learn something new about themselves and the world.
Probably the most notable and interesting character is Kusakabe Saki, who is very much the epitome of normalcy. She is in a relationship with Kousaka Makoto, a self confessed otaku who, against all of Kuskabe's reasoning, logic and judgement, looks nothing like the stereotypical "freak". He is handsome, smart, stylish, sociable and amiable, and cares for her deeply. He is also the king of eroge (erotic video games), an anime junkie, and a dedicated club member. It is because of his association with Genshiken that she meets the other characters, and although she has a deeply rooted dislike for all things otaku, this openly conflicts with her desire to be with Kousaka, and with her gradual realisation that otakus may not be as bad as she first thought.
Kusakabe's relationship with Genshiken is probably the most important point of the story, as even though the otaku characters are very much plays on social stereotypes, she represents the voice of "society", and her gradual understanding of otaku subculture plays a huge part in the development of the story and every other character. In truth, one could say that Kusakabe is the most important character in the story, and that while Sasahara may be the main lead, she is the one whose influence on the other characters is the most telling.
Genshiken is a series like no other, not simply in terms of its realistic portrayal of otaku subculture, but also because of its sensitivity, humour, maturity, and the depth of its characters. Any fan of anime or manga will find themselves relating to the story in ways that they probably never thought of, no matter the age of the reader, and it's this level of accessibility that makes the series truly great. The dichotomy between normal and otaku is handled extremely well, however it should be noted that this is very much based on the Japanese perception of otaku.
At the beginning of the review I mentioned that the word "otaku" is misinterpreted in the Western world, and it's understanding this fact that brings new depth and meaning to almost every aspect of the manga, from Ogiue's unwillingness to "come out of the closet", to Kusakabe's efforts to have a "normal" relationship with Kousaka. If the reader remembers that, for Japanese people at least, the word "otaku" is generally a derogatory term (although admittedly this perception is changing as anime, manga and games become more and more mainstream), then much of the story becomes more understandable.
One thing I think will clear things up a bit more is the anime series called Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu. In that show, the lead female character is a closet otaku who was shunned, teased and bullied to a degree when her schoolmates found out she was a huge fan of anime and manga. It may surprise many to know that this sort of reaction to fans of anime and manga was once considered acceptable, as otaku were, for the most part, shunned like lepers. This is how the word "otaku" is viewed in Japan. Not as something positive, but as something purely negative and derogatory.
Genshiken may be a comedy series, however it is in no way like Comic Party, Lucky Star, or any other otaku based comedies. The series possesses a sense of realism that is unlike many other manga, especially in terms of its interactions, and key to fully appreciating the story is knowing how the word "otaku" is meant to be used.
Now that you know the difference, give Genshiken another try. You may be surprised at how different it is.
 Alternative TitlesSynonyms: The Society for the Study of Modern Visual Culture, Genshiken Nidaime, Genshiken: Second Season Japanese: げんしけん More titlesInformationType: Manga
Volumes: 21
Chapters: 127
Status: Finished
Published: Apr 25, 2002 to Aug 25, 2016
Demographic:
Seinen
Serialization:
Afternoon Authors:
Kio, Shimoku (Story & Art) Statistics Ranked: #4052 2 based on the top manga page. Please note that 'R18+' titles are excluded. Popularity: #419
Members: 40,583
Favorites: 2,019 Resources | Reviews
Filtered Results: 16 / 16
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Nov 14, 2009
There's a huge misconception in the Western world about the word "otaku", especially regarding it's usage. Most Westerners believe that the term refers to someone who is a zealous fan of something, in particular (but not exclusively so), anime and manga, with the word gaining a distinctly positive bias over the years. This is partly due to Gainax's tongue-in-cheek usage of the term in their 1991 movie "Otaku no Video", however the word has much darker and far more derogatory connotations in Japan, something which continues even to this day.
Bit of a sombre beginning to a review of a comedy manga isn't it? Well it ... 
Nov 7, 2007
With a medium-sized cast of characters, Genshiken provides a rich and realistic portrayal of otaku life, showing the otaku as not necessarily a positive or negative subculture, but simply one that is.
The characters designs are unique, with distinct yet reasonably subdued designs backed by an elaborately detailed look at the otaku world around them. The artwork changes significantly over time, but it manages to remain at a high quality all throughout. The only point in which the art suffers a little is in the volume 8 4-panel comics. The series can be divided into roughly two parts, with the arrival of the character Chika ... 
Dec 16, 2007
Genshiken: A fairly simple story concept which gets executed with surprisingly deep results. This is a tale of a loosely-run club of otakus, and of the trials and tribulations of the various members. Although none of the plots of the show is entirely original, the characters and the fact that they suffer through realistic otaku problems (combined with the fact that most readers are probably otaku) make it a very fun, and occasionally emotional, manga.
Characters: You have Sasahara (freshman), the introverted guy who opens up as he gets to know the rest of the club members. Kohsaka (also a freshman), who ... 
Feb 10, 2009
What is Genshiken about? Put simply, it's about a group of college students who hang around in a college club for the 'study' of manga, anime and video games, the club being called Genshiken (The Society for the Study of Modern Visual Culture). The group go to Comicfest (a convention held twice a year where fan made manga gets sold) twice a year and hold a school event once a year, but most of the series takes place within the Genshiken club room. Also, there's no real main character -- some characters got more 'page time' then others but there wasn't a character that was
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Nov 3, 2018
“Otaku” is a term that I’ve labeled myself with in the past, when I’d eagerly watch new episodes of seasonal anime that come out weekly as a getaway from hours of tedious class lectures. Fully professing as one at the peak of my teenage years, I rejected most of the reality around me and got absorbed at the 2D world in front of my laptop screen. I had friends who would identify as one and we’d chatter away during school breaks about the latest developments in the anime world. I’d start obsessing over the latest doujins and video games which caused me to neglect
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Oct 20, 2018
I gained slight interest of Genshiken after hearing about its premise. The story just being otaku life-style being explored in-depth and the praise I seen from the anime community/anime YouTubers made the series sounded very promising, though initially, I was turned off by its realistic otaku character design and the low production values of the anime to give it a shot years ago. My interest in the series came back at a time where I personally felt seriously depressed, questioning my purpose of being part of the anime/manga community as more of my in-depth, passionate analyses started to feel brushed off by most now, despite
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Oct 14, 2008
Art - 8
The art itself while stylistically bland and sometimes rough is fairly elaborate. Backgrounds usually are filled in with motion or scenery bringing you in to the scene instead of the stereotypical white background shot. There always seems to be something going on behind the story making it feel like an actual part of real life. Each and every place is filled to the brim with small details that generally go unnoticed but never seem to detract from the scene. The style itself also plays very well with the message of otaku life. Characters are unique looking but somewhat ... 
Jan 25, 2017
Genshiken: A character driven story
Overview and Analysis Spoilers in paragraph 9 Genshiken is a story that is really about its characters than anything else, among all the, otaku humor, witty references, comedic relief, or romance, the characters are the epicenters. The plot of Genshiken revolves an otaku club in college which is known in English as “The Society for the Study of Modern Visual Culture”. As you gleam from overly pretentious sounding English title, Genshiken has a lot to do with itself, anime, manga, video games, cosplaying, and the otaku lifestyle (Hell, it even has its own anime inside Genshiken), both good and bad. Oddly enough ... 
Oct 25, 2008
Well, first off a manga about otaku life in japan. The story revolves around the Genshiken club at a university and the activities both the club members and the club go through in their 3 years of school there. The story is always a calm slice-of-life, it shows the pressure of non-otaku peers and otaku peers.
The art is especially fantastic, very detailed for the messy otaku rooms, comi-fes and even the light refractions and shadows from the trees and such. Through the 3 years the story takes place, all the original characters grow from students to working adults at the end. Even the characters that ... 
Feb 3, 2017
Let me just say it beforehand: i think Genshiken is a must for any anime/manga fan who's minimally interested in the otaku/fujoshi culture and in how much things have changed from the 90s/start of this century to the present time. It's a social study in many ways. So, if you're interested in this kind of stuff or if you're not exactly new to the anime/manga world, you should definitely read this manga. Like, seriously, do it if you haven't yet.
Back to the review, it was a solid conclusion to the manga series/first anime season. The original Genshiken still stands as the best Genshiken for me, ... 
Oct 13, 2008
This manga is a breath of fresh air compared to most manga I read. the chapters are usually one shot stories and the occasional mini-arc, as it follows the lives of a group of college students, which to me felt more enjoyable reading than epically long action manga that rambles on for 40+ volumes.
During the course of the series, the reader bears witness as the group grows in its cohesiveness over time, and bonds form between the characters as they begin to see themselves as more than fellow club members, but friends as well. We also see growth in characters like Sasahara, Kaskube and ... 
Mar 19, 2011
The most tantalizing thing about Genshikken is perhaps that in the end it is a story about normal people. Sure each of them has their own quirks, but don't all people have their quirks? Sure they're all otaku, but that doesn't exempt them from the labors of life such as: attending class, buying food, finding jobs, pursuing romance and friendships, and most importantly trying to find a place in life. Because of this Genshiken is that rare manga where you can really find that character who you identify as yourself. Perhaps you identify with Sasahara (as I did), the timid and introverted otaku who knows
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Jun 22, 2012
Charming is the singular word I'd use to describe Genshiken. The book has its share of plot and characterization problems, but I've never failed to be charmed by a volume of Genshiken, so I forgive a lot.
The characterization of this series is just balanced so well. Shimoku Kio has created the best realized and most sympathetic otaku portrait of all time with Madarame. Unlike the protagonists of Welcome to the NHK and Ressentiment, we see Madarame go to dark places because of his investment in otaku-dom, but he never loses a sense of optimism. You can tell the author loved to draw him, too. ... 
Aug 6, 2020
Genshiken is a slice of life comedy about a college otaku club.
To start, I'll first state that I like to split Genshiken into three parts, based on the generation of the members of the club. There is the first part, with Sasahara, Saki, and Kousaka. Then, there is the second part, after Ogiue and Kuchi join, and then finally the third part with Hato, Yoshitake, and Yajima. While it's hard to choose a favorite, I think that the second part is the strongest, followed by the third, and then the first. If I were to rate them, I'd give the first part a solid 8, ... 
Mar 21, 2010
My first and favorite manga.
What makes this manga so great is the premise. What could have been a meandering slice-of-life kind of story about a college anime club, is transformed into something much greater by a very careful set up. Although it takes a little longer to get there than in the anime, there is a definite story being told here.The manga doesn't just pull out random days for our amusement like most slice-of-life shows, it's building towards the conclusion of the conflict and the development of its characters. Featuring some of the most three dimensional characterization I've seen, detailed and careful artwork and a story that ... 
Dec 16, 2020
tl;dr: A manga with a broad story of a club that is mostly a lot of amusing light hearted small fast paced stories that build up, but flubs a bit with a final story that’s much longer, heavier, and messier.
Genshiken is a manga that changes tremendously as it goes on. It cycles through multiple years of a college club, and thus members graduate while others join. However, members that have already graduated still maintain connections with the club and pop up sometimes, with one such graduate becoming incredibly important. Still, for the most part it is the characters that are active members of the club ... |
