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One of the best things about being a self-proclaimed otaku is the unique relationship you share with other otaku, the only other people who can truly understand the depth of your passion for anime. Sometimes it can be hard to meet other people who share your interests, be it because of location, personality, or financial reasons (cons aren’t cheap!) To help you out, we’ve compiled a short list of different ways to meet other otaku. You’re bound to find at least one that works for you!

 Explore the Forums
One of the easiest ways to meet other people who like anime, is to go where they congregate on the interweb: forums! You’ll find that most of the people on forums like Anime-Forums are extremely hospitable and welcoming to new-comers. There is usually a section that will allow you to introduce yourself, and of course plenty of threads to share your opinion and have lively discussions with others about anime and manga. This is a great option if you don’t really live near any anime stores or cons, or if you’re on the shy side. I know when I first got into anime, I was a little intimidated by some of the more hard-core fans. I started out on forums and met a lot of great people and learned a lot more about my passion, and now I have the confidence to roll with the big dogs. It’s also a great place to get recommendations for new titles to watch!

 Stalk the Anime Aisle
Anime retail stores are pretty few and far between, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find like-minded people shopping for anime in your town. A lot of bigger franchises like Best Buy, Barnes and Noble and Hot Topic are carrying popular anime and manga merchandise now, so there’s still hope! Consider popping into some of these stores and perusing the anime and manga aisles. There’s a good chance someone else will be checking out the merchandise, and not only do you have the opportunity to strike up conversation with someone new, you also have something to talk about, saving you the awkwardness of discussing the weather! Yatta!

 Wear Your Passion With Pride
You know that Black Butler shirt you love so much? It’s basically a billboard advertising your interest in anime. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been grocery shopping or walking the dog and someone has stopped me to say “Hey, I love your shirt!” and we end up geeking out over whatever anime I’m representing. Right there in the middle of the street. The best time to geek out is all the time, wherever you are, with whoever you’re with. You’d be surprised how many (and what kind) of people will approach you. It just goes to show you can never judge a book by its cover. Just yesterday a suave looking business man complimented my Zelda shirt, and of course we got into a conversation about the future of the franchise. It’s actually very cool how many people share a love for anime, manga and video games. PS, Hot Topic has a great selection of anime shirts these days. Kill two birds with one stone, get some cool merch and maybe meet a fellow otaku who is also buying some new anime gear.

 Join an Anime Club
Up until now, a lot of the suggestions have been rather passive approaches to meeting other otaku, but now we’ll start getting into more active maneuvers. These are things that may take you out of your comfort zone, but are very rewarding. In my opinion the absolute best way to meet other otaku is to join an anime club. They’re everywhere these days. At your school, your local library, everywhere. One of my favorite resources is meetup.com. You can type in your interest (anime) and your location and be matched up with local groups instantly. Note that you’re more likely to find a group if you live in a larger city, but if you don’t, no need to fret! If there isn’t a group in your area, or if you fancy yourself more of a leader than a follower, you can always start your own group! Check out our article on starting your own anime club on Meetup, to get started. Running Tampa Otaku is one of the most fun things I’ve ever done, and my club members always express how grateful they are that someone finally started an anime meetup in our area!

 Get to Those Conventions
I know what you’re thinking. “Ali, if I knew other otaku to attend conventions with, I wouldn’t have to read all this!” I get it. But what I’m asking you to do here is to go out on a limb and attend a convention alone. Yes, it can be intimidating, but there’s no better place to meet other otaku than a hotel or convention center that is packed wall to wall with anime fans dying to meet other anime fans. I think otaku are some of the most charismatic and open people I’ve ever met, and if you start up a conversation with one, you don’t have to worry about being shot down or rejected. People attend these conventions because they want to talk and connect with other people who share the same interests. I guarantee if you attend a convention, you’ll leave with new friends. There is an alternative though. Grab a friend who isn’t an otaku, tie them up, throw them in the car, and take them with you. One of the most effective ways to convert a friend into a fan, is to take them to a convention and expose them to all the cool things about being an otaku. You never know, they may fall in love and now you have someone to share that love with.

 Work For Your Fandom
If you want to meet other otaku and you’re considering a job in the field, consider applying for an internship with an anime company. A lot of big guys like Viz Media have internship programs that allow you to work in the industry in exchange for school credit. Pretty cool stuff, but again, most require you be enrolled in a university program to take part into those internships. If you aren’t in college and still want to learn more about anime and meet others who love anime, you can try working for a blog (nudge nudge, wink wink.) Okay, fine, I’ll come right out and say it. We’re always looking for anime lovers to be content writers for Keiko-kun. It’s an unpaid internship, but it’s fun, laid back, and you get experience working in the field of anime blogging. If you have any questions about the internship, or would like to apply, shoot us an email at contact@keikokun.com. No resume is needed, just some info about yourself and any work experience you have that is relevant to the position.

Keep checking back as we discover more ways to share our love for anime with others!

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