Figure moe zoku

Figure moe zoku (フィギュア萌え族, Figyua moe zoku, literally "figure budding tribe", or, closer to the true meaning, "figurine lover gang") is a Japanese term which refers to "Otaku who collect figurines". Originally, the term was not related to lolicon, but instead to agalmatophilia, since the figurines were not alive.^[1] Japanese journalist Akihiro Ōtani coined the term, claiming that this group was composed of potential criminals.

Summary

In Japan, the term "figure" can refer to dolls, statues, and other collectible figurines. Figures based on anime, manga and bishōjo game characters are often sold as dolls in Japan. Collecting them is a popular hobby amongst Otakus. The term "moe" is Otaku slang for the love of characters in video games, anime or manga, whereas "zoku" is a post-World War II term for tribe, clan or family.

Japanese journalist Akihiro Ōtani coined the term "figure moe zoku",^[2] and, although he said, "I don't intend to blame Otaku",^[3] he claimed that "Otakus who collect figurines" were potential criminals and that one of them had killed a 7-year-old girl in November 2004.^[2] According to his theory, the killer murdered the victim soon after the kidnapping, because the killer was not interested in her living body, but in her corpse. The lifeless body could then be described as a figurine. Akihiro Ōtani used the term in conjunction with Kaoru Kobayashi, who did not, in fact, own any figurines. However, during an ANN special broadcast on the morning that Kobayashi was arrested, Ōtani commented that Kobayashi was a "Figure Otaku", insisting that "Figure Otaku" was synonymous with "lolicon".^[1]

As Ōtani's idea of the "figure moe zoku" seemed illogical at best, fans of the anime genre began using it ironically and humorously.^[1] The term was awarded the Okada Toshio Award at the Japanese Otaku Awards' 2004.^[4]

Other usage

Although Kobayashi was not an Otaku, as of January 2005, Japanese local governments continued targeting Otakus, expecting similar cases from them.^[5] Therefore, the term became regarded as an extreme case of irresponsible statements of mass media, though the background of media circus was apparently Tsutomu Miyazaki.^[6]

References