Wotagei ヲタ芸
The Otaku movement in dance
The otaku movement is known in Japan as the West, people who devote their free time to manga, anime, idols, or video games. An alternative version has developed in recent decades, integrating dances into the gathering of "Otaku": the Wotagei movement.
Idol lovers
Initially, the wotagei movement was born in the gatherings of otaku following their idols, these young Japanese women who devoted themselves to artistic activities such as singing but whose impact is primarily due to their image of dolls, smiling, and the naive air. Fans organized themselves from the 1970s to prepare songs and choreographies using props which they then practiced during concerts, chanting the name of their idols. This is where their name comes from, “wota,” or “ota,” for otaku, and “gei,” which in Japanese means art.
The idol group AKB48 performing
Wikipedia
A growing movement
It is from the 2000s that some fans call themselves "wota" to mark the difference with the otaku. These are the fans of the idols of Hello! The project is a Japanese idol agency whose several groups have performed in France and were invited to Japan Expo, such as Morning Musume. The movement is developing so that it is no longer only performing at concerts but also during meetings with idols or conventions.
Read also: The Akihabara district.
Wotagei performance in Akihabara
Wikipedia
Dressed in the same clothes, fluorescent sticks in hand make their steps more complex until they offer an impressive result. The groups even post videos of choreographies on the internet, the Youtube platform full of wotagei performances. Fan groups practice regularly in parks in Japan, so hopefully, you might come across a rehearsal while walking around!
International open to wotagei
Like the otaku movement, the wotagei have managed to export beyond the borders of Japan in Asia and Western countries. This fashion reaches people already interested in Japanese pop culture, who integrate this new Japanese creation. In the same vein as Japanese wotagei, foreign wages create their choreographies and share them on the net.
See: The pop group Perfume.
Universe previously reserved for fans of female j-pop groups, more and more amateurs create choreographies on different styles of music or simply on the hits of the moment!
Example with the very famous song "Shape of You" by Ed Sheeran:
