/jp/ - Otaku Culture

Anyone have any idea what the early stages of the gravure scene outside of Japan was like years ago, if there even was one? I wonder where we'd all have ended up sometimes. I also wonder how are foreign fans viewed by the idols themselves. Is there appreciation to be had there? A fan is a fan at the end of the day I guess. It just feels that no matter how much most of us do, there's always going to be some aspect of this lifestyle that is unable to be fulfilled as an outsider primarily on the basis of geography. Language would be another significant factor. I'd say most of our experiences here might not even be comparable, or generally would just be equal to a very casual fan that lives there in Japan. At the same time I guess that it lends to preservation of that culture as well, which is a good thing. Regardless, I'd say I'm happy that I get to experience what I can how I can.