*Did you know that we’ve also been translating manga since 2017?
*As of March 2022
*As of March 2022
*As of March 2022
How long have you worked for TOM?
*Including both full time and part time experience
Out of the 47 responses, 10 (almost 20%!) were from people who have worked 9-10 years–in other words, they’re the senpais even among us TOM Senpais!
What industry did you work in prior to TOM?
Given what we do, it’s no surprise that a lot of our staff come from backgrounds like this!
Where do you currently live?
We may be TOKYO Otaku Mode, but did you know that we also have members in places like sunny Barcelona and snowy Hokkaido? Who knows, maybe you share a state, prefecture, or city with one of us… (dun dun dun!)
How many countries have you visited so far?
Aaand our top number is a whopping 20 countries! With travel conditions being what they are, it might be a little difficult to increase those numbers right now, but that doesn’t stop us from hoping to get out there again!
What country would you like to live in someday?
Japan was an obvious choice for many, but it looks like some of us who are already here are dreaming of places like the US and Europe. Maybe one day…!
What do you mainly eat for breakfast?
Looks like there’s an obvious choice for what gets us bread-y for the day!
Coffee? Black tea? Or green tea?
Tea may come to mind when you think of Japan, but don’t underestimate the power of coffee!
What's your favorite sushi topping?
There are heaps of options, but we can all agree on one thing: sushi = good!
What's your favorite type of ramen?
The front runners are the usual suspects, many of which can be easily found in quite a few countries outside of Japan too! But don’t forget the less well-known types, like abura soba and Jiro-kei–they’re definitely worth a try when you come over.
Do you usually work remotely, or do you work at the office?
Can you believe that just two of our 47 respondents go to TOM’s office to work?
What kind of pets do you have?
While most of us don’t seem to have pets, there’s a fair amount of variety among those who do, from cats and dogs to hedgehogs and even squirrels. Either way, they’d definitely be a welcome sight at remote meetings!
Do you often go out on weekends, or do you stay home most of the time?
You’d expect otaku to prefer the indoors, but it looks like it’s a fairly even split! Hang on, though–how many of those outings are otaku-related…?
What are you into right now?
While there are plenty of otaku options, we also got a few other answers that aren’t listed in full here, including the heart-warming “playing with my one-year-old.” Aww!
How many manga volumes do you own?
*Including digital volumes
Can you imagine owning over 1000 of anything?! For the sake of the three members who answered that, we hope they’ve got plenty of storage space in their house and/or hard drive!
What's your favorite genre of games?
Whether it’s blasting enemies away or feeling the rhythm, you can be sure that we’ve got plenty of gamers at TOM!
What genre of songs do you often sing at karaoke?
Pop reigns, but anime songs aren’t doing too bad either. Do you have a favorite song you’ll always turn to for karaoke?
Do you have a shrine, or have you ever made one?
What is it, though? It’s simple–your very own shrine built to worship a beloved character. They’re generally made from tons of merch, from badges to plushies, but we’re not picky–what’s important is your love for that character!
Have you ever cosplayed?
With the gradual return of in-person otaku events, there might just be some more chances for cosplay debuts!
Have you ever sold something you created yourself, such as illustrations, manga, music, games, character goods, etc.?
*Excluding anything made for work
TOM is blessed with many creative people, but distributing your own work can definitely bring different challenges. Even so, almost a third of the respondents have done it before–what kind of creations could they be?
Can you do wotagei?
To be fair, it’s quite a workout. If you’re not sure what wotagei is, be sure to look up a video–it’s definitely a unique experience!
Btw, do you have a penlight or lightstick?
A vital tool for any respectable idol otaku, plus many other types!
Are you an otaku for something?
Let’s end things with another question–are you an otaku for anything? Whether it’s anime, manga, games, or something completely unrelated, we encourage everyone to feel the joy of being an otaku!
During TOM’s 10th Anniversary celebration (April 10-24, 2022, PDT), be sure to take a good look at all our special anniversary pages. Discovering Ninja-kun will score you a turn in a gacha mini-game that guarantees you a TOM Shop coupon each day you play! Once you find a hidden Ninja-kun, simply tap or click to learn how to get your daily coupon.
* The gacha game is limited to one turn a day. You must be a TOM member to play.