Teggy's Top Ten: Hottest Gentlemen of Anime

I do love my pretty boys! After putting together my list of the top ten hottest gentlemen of video games, I figured I was obligated to do the same for anime. This list does not include manga-only characters, otherwise it would be very different. I'll save that for another time.

Allons-y!

Honorable Mention:
Roy Mustang, Fullmetal Alchemist
Roy will set your heart ablaze with a snap of his fingers.


Honorable Mention:
Alucard, Hellsing
Tati: "Yeah cause I would so totally rub up on Alucard all inappropriate like."



10th Place
Ishida Uryuu, Bleach
Remember what I said about characters who wear white? Ishida carries himself with a steely grace. You'll need to have a will of iron to keep his arrows from piercing your heart. Those sharp glasses make him look like that brainy, quiet guy you know is secretly a stallion in the bedroom.


9th Place
Ran "Aya" Fujimiya, Weiss Kreuz
"Angsty redhead voiced by Takehito Koyasu." Need I say more? Well okay, Aya is a flower shop worker by day and assassin by night. He's willing to take revenge on the mafia with just his guts and a katana. His fantastic haircut and badass jacket secure him a spot on the list. Aya may have placed higher if his show didn't suck so much.


8th Place
Lord Il Palazzo, Excel Saga
Now he may seem like a man of little action, but Il Palazzo has one fantastic quality aside from his golden eyes and long, silver hair: ambition. He wants to take over the city, and then, the world! Besides, who doesn't like a villain with a sense of humor? I even named one of my laptops after Lord Il Plazzo because it was a "huge, silver, sexy bitch."


7th Place
Shinomori Aoshi, Rurouni Kenshin
Now look, it's been a long time since I've watched Kenshin. I don't remember much about Aoshi. But when what I remember is that he's a dead sexy anti-hero who carries an "additional surprise" in his scabbard...that makes him worthy of placing on the list.


6th Place
Zagato, Magic Knight Rayearth
Yes okay, this is an image from the manga, but it was surprisingly difficult to find shots from the anime. Zagato gets his spot for being the token "tall, dark, and handsome" guy. Other appropriate adjectives include "powerful," "intricate," "devoted," and "self-sacrificing." Why? Well you'll just have to watch Rayearth to find out.


5th Place
Kurama/Yoko Kurama, YuYu Hakusho
It's two...two...two bishies in one! Everyday Kurama is intelligent, quiet, and romantic. As deadly as he is in his human form, when pushed to the edge, Kurama turns into a beast...literally. When he transforms into the silver fox Yoko Kurama, you may as well put your head between your knees and kiss your ass goodbye.


4th Place
Kaname & Zero, Vampire Knight
Wait...I can have my cake and eat it too? Take your pick when it comes to this pair. First there is Kaname, the pureblooded vampire aristocrat who could take whatever he wanted, but doesn't. Then there is Zero, a white-haired human who is slowly losing his mind as he transforms into a Level E vampire. Are they in love? Hell no. They both care deeply for the same girl, putting them in direct contention in an environment where peace is essential to survival. With tension this strong, one, if not both, could snap at any moment.


3rd Place
Hotohori, Fushigi Yuugi
It's good to be the king! Even so, Hotohori is more than willing to step away from his throne to fulfill his destiny as one of the seven celestial warriors of Suzaku. He deeply loves his priestess Miaka, but sets his own feelings aside so she can be with another man. His duel with Tamahome is one of the most intense and dramatic fights in anime history.


2nd Place
Allen Schezar, The Vision of Escaflowne
Any girl would trade her favorite pair of shoes to get caught in the rain with Allen. The white knight with the flowing, golden locks is one of the most swoon-worthy characters in anime. The fact that he's stuck on his dead ex, and thus unobtainable, only makes the girls want to win his heart all the more. If you're the kind of woman looking for a man to fix, Allen's your bishie.


1st Place
The gentlemen of Ohtori Academy, Revolutionary Girl Utena
With more wicked upperclassmen than you can shake a stick at, there is plenty of hot bishounen action to go around at Ohtori. If you want the romantic ladies man, your heart will flutter for Touga. If you want a man who will take control, then gamble your well-being on Saionji. If you like the mysterious type who will push you to the breaking point, Ruka will tempt you heart and soul. And if you're willing to make a deal with the devil himself, Akio will take you for the ride of your life.

So You Decided to Get that Japanese Tattoo...

(Note: Please check out the comments section of this article for more helpful advice and links from reader Brian M.)

Now that you've settled on your tattoo design, let's talk a bit about the process. But first, my disclaimer: Teggy is not a tattoo artist nor medical professional. Always consult your artist or a doctor for any medical concerns.

Finding Your Artist
You have your design planned, maybe even a picture printed. If you only have a concept, make sure to ask your potential artists if they hand draw their own work. Most do. All of them should have photos of their body of work. Inspect these books. I walked into a place and saw a crappy book, which was a real turnoff, even though I had a simple, pre-printed image.

If you can, make an appointment in advance and leave yourself plenty of time to have the work done. Advance notice to your artist gives him or her time to prepare materials.

Your artist should have a professional attitude. Remember, this person is going to be carving a permanent image into your skin. They should be treating you with respect, and you should show them the same courtesy.

Trust your gut. If you ever have a bad feeling about the artist, their work, their cleanliness, or their shop, walk away. What're they gonna do? Give you a dirty look? This is your body, after all.

Sanitation
It is law in some states that require artists to open fresh needles in front of you. Needles should always be new and sterile. If you aren't sure, ask. If you can't confirm that they're sterile, don't do it. Your artist should always be wearing gloves when working on you. The area should be clean.

When inquiring about an artist, ask them how they cover their tattoos when they're done. A paper towel and some tape is not acceptable. This is a fresh flesh wound. They should absolutely be using sterile gauze.

The Process
People fear getting a tattoo for the pain. Mostly, it feels like a vibrating needle scratching your skin. Yeah, it stings a bit, but there is far worse out there. The larger the tattoo, the longer it takes. Large tattoos may take multiple sessions. If you need a short break, just ask for one.

Some artists are chatty, others are not. If they aren't, don't chat with them. You really don't want to distract someone with a needle on your skin. Also, you need to sit very still. If you tend to flinch from touch, let your artist know before you start.

Afterward
It is customary to tip your artist. You are paying for them for their skill, so don't be a stingy jerk. Also, expect to pay cash.

Keep you tattoo covered. Change your bandage 1-2 times daily with clean hands. Between changes, clean your tattoo with water and gentle soap. I used alcohol swabs last time (but have since been told that these are too irritating and bad. Keeping the skin moisturized is key). Then coat the tattoo with a thin layer of antibiotic ointment such as Neosporin. I tend to keep my tattoos covered for longer than most people, generally 3-5 days. I just find that my scratches generally heal better if I keep them covered.

Around day 3, your scarred skin will start flaking off. Be very gentle when rubbing it away. It will also get itchy about then. DON'T SCRATCH IT. You should know better.

My hairdresser put it best. "A healing tattoo feels like a bruised sunburn." This is why I say keep it covered for 3-5 days. You'll suddenly realize how much contact your skin makes while going through this process.

Touch-Ups
Your artist wants you to be happy with their work. Word-of-mouth is a good way for them to get new clients. If something isn't quite right or you're not 100% happy, wait about 2-3 weeks for your skin to fully heal, and make an appointment for a touch up. Let the shop know you're coming in for a touch up because they often do those for free which means they lose money.

So You Want a Japanese Tattoo...

Ah tattoos...very personal symbols indeed. From what image to colors, to placement you use is your own. As otaku, there may be certain...Japanese tattoos that inspire you. So allow me to give you some advice on how to go about getting your perfect ink. This entry will only be about designs. I'll post another bit later on choosing an artist and the process.

First and foremost, you have to remember that tattoos are permanent. Yes, there is painful, expensive surgery to get rid of them; but why would you waste your time, money, and pain tolerance on removal when you can just take your time in thinking about what you want on your skin for the rest of your life. For now, we'll focus on three Japanese styles: art, kanji, and anime.

Art: Japanese art tattoos have a very distinct style that suits skin well. Ever notice how tattooed images can look a little...cartoony? Well Japanese style tats bend that look into a graceful art. However, there is something important to keep in mind...the Yakuza.

I was quite surprised when my friend in Kanazawa informed me that tattoos are not very well accepted in Japan. In fact, most tattoos are associated with Yakuza. You wouldn't be allowed in most hot springs without covering your ink. Even worse, you damn well better not get caught by one of these guys with a full-body Yakuza design. Take the Japanese tattoo style and make it something of your own. Don't be a poser.

Kanji: The same friend of mine has a brother who got some kanji tattooed on his neck. He thought it read "spiritual energy" but ended up actually being something more like "sexual power." The moral of this story is: always research your kanji. There are websites that will charge you to design your kanji tattoo, but if it's not something too obscure, you can easily do some internet research and save some images. Be sure to cross-reference your words. Just like in English, there are heterographs (words that sound the same, but have different spellings and meanings such as "roll" and "role" or "bored" and "board.") For example, the word "jishin" can mean both "earthquake" or "self-confidence" depending on how the kanji is drawn.

I got lucky with my kanji tattoo. I always knew that I wanted "unmei" on my left ankle. I happened to wander into a store where they had a calligrapher who would design the tattoos for the artists to trace on the skin. (There's a funny story here, but this is a lengthy post as is) As long as you know exactly what you want and how the kanji is supposed to look, you should be alright.

Anime: We love our anime. Some of it means more to us than others. Sometimes we find a symbol or a character we can relate to on a deep level. The most important question to ask yourself when considering an anime tattoo is "Will I be embarrassed to explain to others what this is?" If the answer is "yes," you might want to reconsider.

As some of you heard, I recently got an anime-related tattoo. I don't have a finished image yet, but I'll post it when I do. I decided to get the rose crest from the TV version of "Revolutionary Girl Utena." Why that symbol? I have my reasons. It's not just because I love the anime, but it's a series that some of my dearest friends and I bonded over. To me, it doesn't just symbolize my passion for anime, it also symbolizes the love I have for my friends.

In conclusion, think long and hard about what you want etched into your skin. Make it worth your time, money, and pain. More on the mechanics of getting a tattoo next time.

Who Defines "Otaku"? Short Answer: Not You

Long answer below:

This evening, I received a comment from Mr. Daryl Surat of Anime World Order, a gentleman who considers himself an avid "otaku" in the fullest sense of his own definition of the word. So much so that I now much place the word in quotes for the rest of this article.

Your advice is good. Your advice is sound. It should be listened to and followed. But I think the fundamental, irreconcilable difference I have with your line of thinking is that you believe "otaku" is synonymous with "geek," "nerd," or "dork" (which themselves are unique terms, the generally agreed-upon "rule of thumb" definitions of which are listed here, among several other places that'll mostly say the same thing) and I do not. In light of this, the goal you're actually looking to achieve in these three "Making Your Mark" posts is to make "dorks" (and yes, "otaku") into "nerds" and "geeks." It's a worthwhile pursuit and I encourage it. But "otaku" is another beast, even in the USA.

"Otaku" is of course a loanword, and as with all loanwords the definition we'd use here isn't quite what it denotes in its original form. But using a Japanese word to describe something in a different language than Japanese--in our case, English--is a statement that "this is a uniquely Japanese product or concept," even if the word didn't originally carry that significance in its original language. You probably agree with me on that part. But where we diverge, based on what you said in the A3K podcast and written both here and at Graphic Novel Reporter, is that you appear to then conclude that "otaku" therefore means "geek or nerd with a predilection towards Japanese popular culture." It’s a commonly-reached conclusion, indeed, and not entirely inaccurate. But I feel that definition is incomplete and subsequently misleading/counterproductive, for it leaves out something critical.

In the interest of relative brevity, the critical difference between fan/geek/nerd/dork and "otaku" ultimately comes down to the tagline used for FUNimation's US release of Fullmetal Alchemist: "What are you willing to sacrifice?" That is to say: for the sake of your hobby (emphasis on the singular), would you abandon love? Would you cast away friendship? Eschew your own personal care? Given the choice between attending your best friend's wedding and attending your 5th anime convention for the year, would you choose the con? And would you do all of these things and others just like it without a second thought? That's a level of dedication which quite frankly, surpasses nerd-dom. That is a commitment level worthy of a new word entirely, and I say "otaku" is it.

(At this point, I should note that if anyone reading this has such dedication, please buy Otaku USA magazine because my articles are AWESOME.)

The Madarame, Ogiue, and Konata type characters are idealized caricatures of otaku, but perhaps the purest example of the otaku spirit is Shou Tucker, the Sewing Life Alchemist. For his response to the question "what are you willing to sacrifice?" is "everything."

People probably shouldn't be sacrificing everything for the sake of hobby pursuits. They should probably be doing things in moderation. Maybe it's not so good to be that committed. The literal translation of "otaku" typically given involves the adjective "obsessed," which isn't exactly the most desirable of traits. But take solace, for even at an anime convention with tens of thousands of people, such as this weekend's Anime Weekend Atlanta there are very few "otaku" per my definition. A Japanese person may think they're surrounded by otaku, what with all the costumes (and make poor business decisions as a result). But these are fairly balanced folks by comparison.

I understand you can't permit yourself to agree with me in this regard. You are, after all, using "Otaku Goddess" as a nickname; to relent on this matter would mean you'd need to change your name, and GeekGoddess and NerdGoddess are both taken domains. But if someone who wears cat ears and goes to an anime convention with their boyfriend or girlfriend is an "otaku"...

…then what word is left for people like me?

I'm pausing The Biggest Loser premiere to respond to this. But before I get into it, I would like to clarify your first assumption about me. I do not consider "otaku" to be synonymous with "geek" or "nerd." I, personally, associate the word with fandom for Japanese pop culture. I may consider a metallurgy wiz with a pocket protector and big dorky glasses a "nerd;" but to me, again personally, there's nothing "otaku" about it. I just described my own father. He is not "otaku," by my definition. The purpose of my post is to help human beings become better human beings. Yes, my audience tends to be geeks, nerds, dorks, otaku, whatever. It's for everyone and anyone who wants to read it. Why limit my audience?

Okay, on with the response.

First of all, Daryl, thank you for taking the time to listen to the podcast and read my blog in order to hear me out and share your well thought-out response. You have a very specific and certainly reasonable definition of the word "otaku" which closer reflects that of the Japanese definition, but here's the thing:

It's not your decision to make. Nor is it mine.

"Otaku" is one of those words that is still open to interpretation. As I mentioned in the podcast, a phone is a phone, a television is a television, and a chair is a chair. These are considered facts because anyone can physically prove it. "Otaku" has yet to be officially defined. It's not in the Mirriam-Webster dictionary (yes, I checked), and it is currently open to debate. You linked to that article on the definitions of "geek," "nerd," and "dork" but those were "generally agreed upon." So now you have to ask yourself if your definition of the word "otaku" is "generally agreed upon." If not, does that mean your opinion has any less weight? If so, does it give your opinion more?

I think I may know why do you feel the need to be defensive about it though. You strike me as someone who is very protective of his independence, a trait I share. I will do things for the sake of being different from others (like joining my high school football team one summer even though I didn't even like football). And by broadening the meaning of "otaku," you start to lose the sense of entitlement.

Respectfully, sir, get over it.

You asked how can you define yourself if you can't use the word "otaku." Oh, but Daryl you can! You absolutely can have power in the word! Calling a general anime fan does, in no way, make you any less of the the proud man you are. You can compare it to the legalization of gay marriage. Some claim that if homosexual weddings become legalized that they will somehow cheapen their own marriages. That is a load of bullshit used as an excuse because they feel the need to place different people below themselves socially. That's exactly what you are trying to do to me, and I'm not going to stand for it.

Only I define myself and I choose to use the word "otaku" as one of many words when I do.

Making Your Mark: Part 3 of 3

For those of you who actually listened to the latest Anime 3000 podcast, you likely heard my closing statement about how we otaku need to better represent ourselves through our appearance, speech, and writing. Since I've already elaborated on the first two, let's move on to the final part of my editorial: writing.

Part Three: I'll Take "The Penis Mightier," Alex

(Anyone else notice the grammatical error in that picture?)

There aren't too many people left in this world who have never been on a forum. Heck, my dad is nearly 70 and even he's on them. The one thing that truly appalled him though was the way people write. Quite frankly, there is nothing I find more frustrating than trying to translate some poorly written rant. So here are some tips to make you a better writer. Or for some of you, a better arguer.

1) Practice makes perfect. You should have a grasp of the English language by the sixth grade well enough to know that complete sentences generally require a subject and a predicate. There is no excuse not to be able to handle them. Periods are your friend. Psychologists say that the human brain has difficulty retaining its short term memory of information over a certain length (a good argument for the 7-digit phone number). When you break up your thoughts with appropriate punctuation, it makes it easier for others to comprehend and remember what you write.

2) Edit before (or after) you post. Fortunately, most forums have a handy dandy "edit" button. I use them often. Now if I actually paused to reread my writings before hitting "post" I might not have to use it so much. You may not have this luxury in a live chat, but it only takes a few seconds to read what you just typed before hitting "enter" to send it. Typing mistakes happen. I'm horrible with those in live chat. Still, it's your responsibility to make sure your ideas come across clearly.

3) Don't assume to know something you don't. One of my biggest pet peeves are writers who assume they know how the entertainment industry works, but really don't. Get your facts straight. Link to a source. My martial arts teacher always told us that admitting that you don't know something carries far more integrity than pulling an answer out of your ass.

4) Long lists suck. On many anime forums, I see lots of threads that say "What are your top five ____?" Responders then go on to post twenty-plus answers! They asked you for your top five, not your top twenty usually because they need to narrow down a decision. Nobody wants to read your stupid, long list. It only makes you look like a know-it-all douchebag with no focus. You know how people always tell you to keep your cover letter and resume short when seeking work? Same concept. People don't actually want to take the time to slog through something longwinded. (*eyes the length of this post*)

5) Name calling gets you nowhere...unless you do it right. There is no reason to get nasty when arguing with someone. There are plenty of funny, smart, and sassy ways to insult a poster if you take the time to think. Just saying, "Lulz noob" doesn't make you look any more intelligent or worthy of attention than the original poster.

In conclusion, other readers will take you more seriously if you practice writing with some patience. I find that I barely have to write two sentences in a forum post, but others will respect my opinion because I present myself as an intelligent human being (they don't need to know I'm a vampire). Take the time to use proper punctuation and spelling with solid messages, and you will find that the way others respond to you will change for the better.

Oh man, I really hope there aren't any typos in this post. >.<

Otaku Pride!

A viewer comment brought it to my attention that being deemed a fanboy/fangirl/otaku is apparently a new four-letter-word. I say people who think like that are boring, average, and have no imagination.

In Japan, the term "otaku" has a much stronger meaning than in Western civilization. An otaku is someone who is obsessed with general pop culture stuff such as anime, manga, computers, video games, and idols (called "wota"). In the U.S., "otaku" tends to specifically apply to the anime and manga crowd, but for the most part, we just call them "nerds."

Many of you, along with myself, have probably been classified as a nerd or otaku at some point in your life. Hell, I've been a nerd since kindergarten. I couldn't help the fact that I had huge glasses, mousy hair, and no clue how to dress myself. Thankfully, my fashion sense has improved drastically, but that didn't really happen until I made one important life decision:

I embraced my inner geek.

It happened late into my sophomore year of college. I met this guy named Will when I approached him after class to talk about our love for swords. We've been fast friends ever since. Will introduced me to anime and got me back into Dungeons & Dragons (which I used to hate). Over the next two years, I surrounded myself with my fellow geeks. These people liked me for who I was. Even if I totally sucked at something, they would always cheer me on just for trying. I didn't need to be popular or in a particular crowd. I was with people who made me happy, and that's all that mattered.

What I'm getting at here is that you should never let anyone call you a loser or make you think that being a fanboy/fangirl/otaku is something to be ashamed of. If you keep trying to fit into someone else's mold or what society tries to make you think is cool, you're never going to be truly happy. There is no joy in pretending to be something you're not. Let it go. Surround yourself with people who like you for who you are and you will find friends for life.

The ironic part of it all? Now my geek status somehow makes me seem cool and popular to the boys. Go figure. >.>