Tonernews.com, October 15, 2005. USA
Japanese geeks are a $3.5 bln market
According to a survey by
Nomura Research Institute (NRI), Japanese geeks (otaku) now number 1.72
mln nationwide and power a market worth more than 400 bln yen a year
(3.5 bln US dollars). Largest in number, and the biggest spenders, were
collectors of manga comics, with 350,000 people spending 83 bln yen a
year on comic magazines and related products. Next were fans of
celebrities such as singers and actors at 61 bln yen, and animation
geeks, who spend 20 bln yen.