Otaku’s Corner
Tokusatsu Gagaga and Why You Should Like What You Like
Annabel Zeng
Embedded Files
Otaku’s Corner
I’ve decided to change the name to Otaku’s Corner, since I will mostly focus on Manga, Tokusatsu and JDramas. I think this change is very fitting for me because I like those types of media. And for anyone wondering why I didn't add anime, it’s because I barely watch it. If I do, it’s because I’m a big fan.
Let me get this out of the way and say that most Tokusatsu that I watch are meant for kids much younger than me. Super Sentai, Kamen Rider and Ultraman are all meant for young kids aged 6 to 10. Yet, all of these shows have a relatively high adult fanbase, to the point where even the creators themselves acknowledge that. And this show is a love letter for the adult fanbase who have stayed true to the Tokusatsu they know and love. It also highlights the stresses of being an adult, but we’ll get to that later.
Tokusatsu Gagaga is about the daily life of Kano Nakamura, a Tokusatsu Otaku, or a Tokuota. Like many Otaku, she has to hide the fact that she likes Tokusatsu, as Tokusatsu is meant mostly for young boys. She especially hides this from her mother who is very strict on what her children watch, only wanting her daughter to watch girls’ tv. However, Kano managed to hide this from her mother for her entire childhood. Now, as an adult, Kano uses the lessons she learned from Tokusatsu in her everyday life.
I love this show because it’s super relatable to those closeted otaku fans who I know are out there. Yes, I see you sports anime fans in the corner. You could put anything in place of Tokusatsu and it would still work the same way. It also shows the struggles of being a fan of such media, as one character has to hide her love for an idol group due to a falling out with a friend and falling out of her workplace. There's even a beach episode, but instead of the typical sunny day with girls in two piece bathing suits and surfing, we get a cloudy day where the characters just have fun while still wearing their jackets and boots.
There’s a lot to love about this series, and it doesn’t back away from the hard stuff, such as gender oriented media and toys. Kano’s mother wants her daughter to watch girl’s oriented media and shut out other media from her life. This is not good, as you need to let your children find what they like. If you limit what they can like, it can be very harmful to them, as they will start hiding things from you. This isn’t your action packed Tokusatsu, but a story about being a Tokusatsu fan and about life.
This show has been a fun watch for me, so I hope you enjoy it as well. Next time, I’ll review a manga that I’ve been wanting to review. See you!
Page layout by Sara Rastin
Page updated
Report abuse