渡邉, 文枝

見舘, 好隆

小野, 憲史

WATANABE, Fumie

MITATE, Yoshitaka

ONO, Kenji

オタク力（Otaku Power）

意味論（Semantics）

換喩（Metonymy）

自嘲語（Self-Deprecation Word）

[SUMMARY] We examined the concept of “Otaku”, which inspired “Otaku Power” research, with reference to the knowledge of semiotics and linguistics, including semantics. As a result, we obtained the following findings. The word “Otaku” was originally an expression that honors the house of the other person or a third person, then becomes a second-person pronoun that respects the other person and keeps them away, and then people who gather at events that use such a second-person pronoun. After that, the word “Otaku” became a negative word with a meaning of people who withdrew into houses or buildings and performed strange and dangerous acts. Then it came to be used as a self-deprecating word. The use of “Otaku” as a self-deprecation word showed that using “Otaku” could increase self-affirmation and lead to self-defense. From these facts, it was suggested that the acquisition and growth of “Otaku Power” could lead to affirming and defending oneself, and eventually to redesigning society and communication.