This is really strange.

[Th1onein]

Japanese men battle epic loneliness by fostering intense relationships, and romance, with stuffed pillows representing teenage girls

Chuck Shepherd – Sun Aug 30, 1:00 am ET

Lonely Japanese men (and a few women) with rich imaginations have created a thriving subculture ("otaku") in which they have all-consuming relationships with figurines that are based on popular anime characters. "The less extreme," reported a New York Times writer in July, obsessively collect the dolls. The hardcore otaku "actually believes that a lumpy pillow with a drawing of a (teenage character) is his girlfriend," and takes her out in public on romantic dates. "She has really changed my life," said "Nisan," 37, referring to his gal, Nemutan. (The otaku dolls are not to be confused with the life-size, anatomically-correct dolls that other lonely men use for sex.) One forlorn "2-D" (so named for preferring relationships with two-dimensionals) said he would like to marry a real, 3-D woman, "(b)ut look at me. How can someone who carries this (doll) around get married?"

http://news.yahoo.com/s/uc/20090830/od_notw/nwx090830xml

[YOY]

1. Not all otaku are that fucked up.

n.t.

[seabeyond]

5. obsessive interest. seems definition itself speaks fucked up.

Otaku (おたく/オタク?) is a Japanese term used to refer to people with obsessive interests, particularly anime, manga, and video games.<[br />
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otaku


i personally did not know what termed meant so goggled. more interested in others thoughts on op than expressing my own opinion. one of those listen and learn threads for me.

[pipi_k]

2. OK, so kids have their teddy bears and adult men have their stuffed women

At least they can't have their hearts broken by squishy bits of polyester and cotton.

Unless they come apart in the washing machine, or the dog rips off their heads and legs.


Whatever floats their boats, I say...

[Emit]

8. Not stuffed women, stuffed teenage girls

according to the OP

[seabeyond]

9. girls. yes. nt

[patrice]

3. Sad.

ahhh, the wonders of industrialized society.

[tularetom]

4. What - they don't sell inflatable girls in Japan?

[Th1onein]

7. Well, I guess they do, but the anatomically correct ones aren't classy enough for dates.

After all, everyone knows what they're for. They're nothing but sluts, in my opinion.

[Berry Cool]

10. Yeah, a guy wants a decent girl to go out with

not just one who flaunts her stuffing in front of every guy in the place. :rofl:

[Kalyke]

6. Several comments and no one's mentioned that a grown man

obsessing over a teen-looking girl is just odd?

[Berry Cool]

11. Do we have to put it in so many words?