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Re-Exploring Otome Road ~~~Feb 23, 2025

Re-Exploring Otome Road – A Fujoshi’s Paradise!

Yesterday, my friend, Moemi, and I set out on a little anime adventure. Initially, I had a craving for an anime-heavy atmosphere, so we headed to Akihabara. 

But to be honest, I don’t actually like Akihabara that much. It’s always so crowded that it’s hard to take your time and explore properly. After mentioning this to my friend, I said I’d love to visit Otome Road instead. Luckily, he said it wasn’t too far, so he drove us there!

What is Otome Road?

Otome Road is a famous shopping street in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, known for its focus on female anime and manga fans, particularly those who love boys’ love (BL) and otome games. The area is packed with bookstores, anime shops, and themed cafés catering to fujoshi culture (more on that later!). It’s like Akihabara’s quieter, more niche cousin, and it feels much more relaxed in comparison.

The Secret World of Unpublished Fanfics

I’ve been to Otome Road a few times before, but this visit was special because my friend explained a lot to me. Apparently, many of the bookstores here sell unpublished fanfiction based on popular anime, manga, dramas, singers, and even video game characters. 

These books, called dōjinshi, are self-published and exist in a legal gray area. Since they’re not officially licensed, they technically avoid copyright issues, though companies sometimes crack down on them if they become too popular.

I couldn’t help but laugh when I saw Joker and Ryuji from Persona 5 featured in a BL comic.

 Of course, all the books are sealed, so you can’t flip through them unless you buy them—but the cover art leaves little to the imagination, if you know what I mean!

The Fujoshi Spirit

For those who don’t know, fujoshi (腐女子) literally means "rotten girl" and is a slang term for women who love BL (boys’ love) content. It often refers to fans who enjoy romantic relationships between male characters in anime, manga, and games.

I used to be a huge fujoshi, and one of my favorite Japanese movies was Fujoshi Kanojo (My Girlfriend’s a Geek).

 The main female character in that movie was basically me!

 Since having my daughter, I’ve calmed down a lot, but deep down, my fujoshi spirit is still alive and well—so you can imagine how excited I was to discover all those unpublished fanfics!

My cousin says it's demonic buy I say let people like things dang! Lol ^ ^

A Quick Stop at Swallowtail Butler Café’s Gift Shop

We also stopped by the Swallowtail Butler Café gift shop. We couldn’t go to the actual café this time because reservations are required well in advance, but at least we got to browse the shop. My friend was kind enough to buy cookies for Moemi and me—they were delicious! I think they would have gone perfectly with the Gothic tea they were selling, which smelled absolutely amazing. I really wanted to try it, but Moemi was getting tired and started complaining, so we had to leave. Oh well—there’s always next time!

A Nostalgic Connection: Tokimeki Memorial Girl’s Side

One game series that played a huge role in my love for Japan was Tokimeki Memorial Girl’s Side. I grew up playing these games and have played every single one except the last. Once my money situation improves, I’m planning to buy a used Nintendo Switch, mod it, and get the English patch so I can finally play it properly. The game is packed with Japanese slang and cultural nuances, so English subtitles make the experience way better. I seriously can’t wait!

On top of that, I used to be into collecting and building BJD (ball-jointed dolls), which was another hobby fueled by my love for anime aesthetics. But let’s be real—that hobby is expensive!

I also used to collect figurines! An old friend of mine also taught me how to play UFO machines so I could win my own figurines!

I had SO much fun yesterday and can’t wait to go back! Otome Road felt like a hidden gem compared to the overwhelming crowds of Akihabara. Next time(once my money situation improves lol), I’ll make sure to book a reservation at Swallowtail and hopefully bring home some tea and more fujoshi treasures!