Introduction
Here at Tokyo Otaku Mode, we pride ourselves on being fans of a wide range of material, whether that be games, anime, VTubers or more. We’re sure you’re aware, but being a fan can be a lifestyle in itself, and we often want to devote lots of time and energy to enjoying our favorite things. In recent years, a popular way of being a fan especially in Japan is through oshikatsu. Oshikatsu (推し活) is a combination of the words oshi (推し) meaning “one’s favorite” and katsu (活) meaning “activity”. When placed together, it describes the act of supporting your favorite, and it can be very fun and rewarding. In this article, we will take a closer look at what oshikatsu entails and how you can get started. We will also share different ideas and ways that you can participate in oshikatsu, so be sure to stick around!
Where do you start?
So where do you start if you’re interested in oshikatsu? The first part is fairly easy. What you need to do is to have an oshi. An oshi can be a real person like an idol, musician or celebrity, or they can be a fictional character from an anime, book, game or even a mascot! The choices are endless and it’s only limited to you. Whoever or whatever you pick for your oshi, they will be the one that you like the best and make you want to cheer on and celebrate with your activities. For best results, you should definitely go ahead and choose the one that makes your heart pound with excitement!
Oshikatsu Goods
Now that you’ve picked your oshi, it’s time to show your devotion to the world! One of the biggest parts of oshikatsu is collecting goods of your oshi. Not only do you get to experience the thrill of hunting down and obtaining each precious item, there’s also the enjoyment of choosing to display them in many different ways. At the end you get to have a physical representation of your enthusiasm. Depending on your oshi, the items might include official merchandise that can take the form of photos, badges, acrylic stands, plushies and more.
For those whose oshi is a bit more obscure (or maybe you’re on a tight budget) buying goods might not be a feasible option. The good news is DIY is highly encouraged for oshikatsu so don’t be afraid to get creative! The point of all of this is to show your support and have fun so you can always take the time to make your goods.
Once you have your goods then you will want to display them. One of the staple ways of collecting and displaying goods is by creating an ita bag.
Ita bag
The term ita bag comes from the Japanese word itai (痛い) meaning “painful”, given that these bags are so overly decorated they’re almost painful to look at! Similarly, depending on what you choose to display, collecting all of the goods can also be painful for your wallet! An ita bag can be any backpack, shoulder bag, tote bag or pouch that comes with a special transparent pocket in the front which you use to display your goods.
The most common type of goods used in ita bags are badges which are collected en masse and then affixed to the display pouch in an arrangement of your choice. For visual harmony, many people like to collect enough badges of the same design and fill up the display window, but you can choose to display a variety if you like.
You’re not limited to badges however, as recently goods like acrylic stands and plushies have also been interesting ways to decorate an ita bag.
Ita bags come in all shapes and sizes so you are sure to find one that suits your taste. There are even “hidden” ita bags that cover up the display window so you can take the bag to work and then once you’re ready, you can open up the display and head straight to an event.
Plushies
What better way to enjoy your oshi than to have a mini version of them that you can carry around with you? In fact, plushies have become such a popular form of oshikatsu they even have their own term, “nuikatsu”. Just like oshikatsu, nuikatsu (ぬい活) is a combination of the words for stuffed toy, nuigurumi (ぬいぐるみ) and katsu (活) which means activity. Nuikatsu involves taking your plushie on adventures, taking photos of them and even dressing them up!
Depending on your oshi, there might already be pre-made plushies of them that you can use. However, if your oshi is from a more niche fandom you might not be so lucky. Never fear, though, for handmade plushies are more than welcome. In fact, stores like Daiso even sell kits and accessories that help you put together your own plush. While your plush can be any size that you like, most plushies for nuikatsu are on the smaller side. This makes them easy and convenient to carry around. It’s also a more subtle option for those who might still feel a bit shy about carrying around a toy.
Once you have your plush, you can use them to decorate an ita bag like we mentioned before or you can get a special carry pouch for them. Many stores that cater to oshikatsu also sell goods for plushies or you can always make your own.
Oshikatsu Activities
So now that you have an oshi and you’ve gathered the goods, it’s time for the actual activity part of oshikatsu. Here are some of the things that you can do to live your best oshikatsu life.
Customize photos
An easy way to get into oshikatsu is to customize photos of your oshi. Photos are a common collectible and take up little space, so they’re a great place to start. In terms of DIY, it is also relatively easy to edit and print your own. Once you decorate them, they can be displayed in many different ways or used in other oshikatsu activities. Usually to protect the photo itself, you first place it in a clear sleeve or photo holder. You can gather your materials like various stickers, gems and ribbons and customize your photos to your heart’s content.
Wear your oshi’s colors
If physical expression is something that you’re interested in, then wearing your oshi’s colors is a classic way to show that you’re a fan with your whole body! This is a fairly common practice for people with oshi who are idols as each member of an idol group will usually have their own signature color. If your oshi does not have an official color, choosing the right shade could be as simple as picking the color that they are most easily associated with.
Wearing your oshi’s color can be as simple or as complex as you feel comfortable with. It can be as simple as a single accessory or as bold as a head to toe outfit. You can also choose to do your nails or makeup in your oshi’s color.
An extreme example of this is called oshi decora. It’s an extension of the decora fashion style in Japan where you use as many layers of clothing and accessories to make your outfit bright and colorful. With oshi decora, you pile on as many items related to your oshi or your oshi’s color as you can wear for a truly spectacular look. The choice is yours!
Because of how flexible this is, it can be a great option for people who might not be keen on more obvious things like ita bags or plushies or who might need to fit their oshikatsu alongside a more professional environment. It’s also quite exciting to go to events like concerts (if your oshi is an idol or a musician) and see other people wearing the same color as you. You’re sure to feel a sense of camaraderie and it’s also a surefire way to make friends.
Build a shrine
We previously mentioned displaying your goods. Well, if you have a bit more time and dedication, going the extra step and building a shrine to your oshi is a tried and true way to show off your goods and your design skills! A shrine can be as small as a corner of your wall or as large as an entire room depending on the amount of goods you have and what you want to display. No matter how much space it takes up, you’ll surely get a feeling of satisfaction seeing all your items lined up side by side and neatly arranged.
When making a shrine you can put your design skills to the test and get experimental with the layout. The sky is the limit for what you can add to it. Of course, it all depends on what you have and what is available but you can always employ a bit of diy! Some things you can do are printing photos and images that can then be framed or made into a collage for the shrine. You can also make a custom uchiwa fan or decorate existing goods like penlights in your oshi’s colors. The best part is that items like uchiwa and penlights can also be used at events so you get double the use out of them.
Start a journal or a blog
Whether you prefer analog or digital, having a space where you can write about your oshi and collect your memories is a great way to practice oshikatsu. Keeping a journal or a blog is a great way to record your thoughts and feelings about your oshi and also develop your writing skills in the process. It’s also a more understated activity as a journal can be easily tucked away from prying eyes and a blog can be as private or as public as you want it to be.
A journal or a blog can be a place to collect and arrange your favorite photos of your oshi as well as keep a record of your oshikatsu. You can also make it a space full of things that remind you of your oshi. For example, if your oshi is related to music, you can write down your favorite lyrics or quotes that remind you of them, or if your oshi is a celebrity you can keep track of events and appearances almost like a planner. You can also keep things like ticket stubs, gintape streamers and other memorabilia from events.
Celebrate special occasions
With oshikatsu you immediately gain a whole new host of special days that you can celebrate. This can include things like your oshi’s birthday, anniversaries related to your oshi, event days and more. You can choose to celebrate these days with friends or by yourself, but once again the way you celebrate is totally up to you.
Depending on who your oshi is you might even get a special task or mission to complete on their special day. This can be anything from eating a specific food to visiting a special place. Otherwise you can always celebrate with some good old fashioned cake!
Take lots of photos
Finally, the one thing that you’re going to want to do a lot of is take photos! Not only do you want to keep track of all the activities that you’re doing to preserve your memories but you can also share the photos with other fans.
Oshikatsu is definitely better with more people involved and sharing your photos is a perfect way to find community and friends. If you choose to share your photos on platforms like social media, then you can also have fun using specific hashtags or keywords related to your oshi. It also makes it easier for other people with the same interests to find you.
If you would like to keep it more private, creating a photo album of your oshikatsu is a great way to look back on all your adventures and activities. This can be an extension of customizing your photos and you can also decorate the album in your oshi’s colors for extra emphasis.
Conclusion
Now that we’ve come to the end of the article, we hope you have a better idea of what oshikatsu is and how you can get started. We want to stress that this is only a small selection of the things you can do when practicing oshikatsu. Most of these activities require imagination and they can be great ways to find new hobbies and even develop new skills.
With a little creativity you can find even more ways to practice oshikatsu and you can make it as loud or as low-key as you want. The best part is you get to do all of this while expressing your love for your oshi and showing off your support!