2026 Theses Master's

Subculture as Driver and Victim: The Commodification of Otaku Space in Tokyo’s Akihabara and Ikebukuro

Zhou, Jie

As two major spaces of ACG otaku culture in Tokyo, Akihabara and Ikebukuro have undergone significant commercialization and tourism-oriented transformation in recent years. Otaku subculture has become an important driving force for spatial development, while also facing the dilution of cultural atmosphere and the loss of niche resources. This study uses 86 valid survey responses as its main empirical data and combines document analysis with descriptive visual comparison to explore the characteristics, community perceptions, and theoretical interpretation of the commodification of otaku spaces in Akihabara and Ikebukuro. It also examines the contradictory relationship between subcultures and urban spatial development.

The research finds that otaku spaces in both areas have shifted from being exclusive to enthusiasts to becoming popular commercial and tourist destinations. Commercialization and tourism have become development trends, and there are significant differences in perceptions of spatial change among different identity groups. The spatial transformation of these districts combines typical characteristics of tourism governance with implicit tendencies of cultural gentrification. This study incorporates the spatial changes of otaku culture into the urban research framework, fills a gap in traditional macro-level narratives, and provides practical insights into the planning and governance of cultural spaces that seek to balance openness and subcultural ecology.

Keywords: Otaku subculture; ACG culture; Doujin; Subcultural space; Cultural gentrification; Tourism governance; Cultural tourism; Symbolic displacement; Akihabara; Ikebukuro