The Otaku Holiday Shopping Guide

November 18, 201315 comments

The otaku in your life already knows where to buy anime. S/he probably already has that Attack on Titan hoodie that every otaku shop is selling right now. Otaku are famous for our geeky shopping sprees. So if you’re looking for something to buy them—that they haven’t already bought for themselves—what do you get?

Here are some fun, functional, and maybe even stylish gifts that that your special otaku might be putting on his or her wish list. As always, links from Amazon are affiliate links.

Pisces Tee. Support a small business while showing your interest in anime with one of Boomslank’s original designs. $30, boomslank.com.

Bento Box. Get healthy in distinctly Japanophile style with this BPA free lunch box. Comes in every color of the rainbow! $38, us.monbento.com.

Rei Ayanami USB. Save your Evangelion fan fiction for posterity on this 4 GB memory stick. Works for both Mac and PC. $59, geekstuff4u.com.

A year of Otaku USA. Twelve months, 6 issues, twenty bucks. $19.99, amazon.com.

Hanafuda Cards. The game at the center of Summer Wars is actually pretty fun, and easy to learn, too. $17.50, amazon.com.

Kimono Journal. This handmade journal wrapped in Japanese fabric wants to be your offline anime review blog. $18.01, byjanis on Etsy.

Ebi (Shrimp) Pillow. Squid Girl not included. $45, StoneWoodShop on Etsy.

iPhone Case with a Cause. One hundred percent of the proceeds go toward victims of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan. $19.99, crunchyroll.com.

Akira: 25th Anniversary Edition. Newly remastered, it’s a 1988 classic every anime fan should see. $29, amazon.com.
A year of Crunchyroll. No link yet, but keep an eye out for “Today’s Deal” on Black Friday. Likely the best value of the year. $50, crunchyroll.com.

Thanks to everyone on Twitter who helped me brainstorm ideas!

See also:

Kristina Pino

Fantastic list, Lauren. I love that you incorporated a pillow either way, and a far less shocking one. :)
Charles

This is terrific!
Chris Bachmann

A year of Shonen Jump? $26/year. Sometimes a special for $20/year.
- Lauren Orsini
  
  Thanks Chris! Also a good idea. Which reminds me, I miss Shoujo Beat =(
Zoe Le Loir

Nice list!
The Paper

No imouto pantsu. DISAPPOINT.
- Lauren Orsini
  
  This is supposed to be a general otaku holiday list, not The Paper’s Personal Imouto List!
  - Zarf
    
    I agree with both of you! Great list, Lauren! And how about a more “interesting” list from The Paper, as a follow-up posting!!!
    - The Paper
      
      My list is just pantsu oriented. Someone else, ahem, added the imouto.
      
      The sushi pillow is pretty…tasty.
      
      It would be cool if every visitor left one item as a comment. Could balloon into an ultimate list.
      
      I am sticking with http://www.fandompost.com/2013/11/06/official-chihayafuru-karuta-cards-introduced/
Zarf

I’d recommend a set of Moekana and Moekanji cards — a fun way to learn (or brush up on) your Japanese syllabaries! and
Zarf

I’d recommend a set of Moekana and Moekanji cards — a fun way to learn (or brush up on) your Japanese syllabaries! http://www.dannychoo.com/en/post/26495/Moekana.html and http://www.dannychoo.com/en/post/26524/Moekanji.html
Serdar (GenjiPress)

If you have $250 to blow, the Macross Plus Blu-ray Disc set from Japan, which not only includes English subtitles but English audio. http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Macross-Plus-Blu-ray/63609/
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