Genshiken - The Society for the Study of Modern Visual Culture

Description

From Kodansha:
It's spring of freshman year, and Kanji Sasahara has a difficult dilemma. Should he declare his love for manga and anime fandom by joining an otaku club, like he has always wanted to? Is he prepared to deal with the social stigma attached to being an otaku? Meanwhile, Saki Kasakabe has her own otaku conundrum. How can she turn her boyfriend, anime fanboy Makoto, into a normal guy? Kanji follow his heart as does Saki. When both Kanji and Makoto join Genshiken: The Society for the Study of Modern Visual Culture, Saki chases Makoto through the various activities of the club from costumeplaying and comic conventions, to video gaming and anime model figures. Saki finds otaku to be more than she imagined, but not necessarily in a good way.

Official English

Type

Manga

Kujibiki Unbalance (Novel) (Side Story)

Kujibiki Unbalance (Spin-Off)

Genshiken Nidaime - The Society for the Study of Modern Visual Culture II (Sequel)

Ramen Tenshi Pretty Menma (Spin-Off)

Spotted Flower (Alternate Version)

Shouron Genshiken: Hairu Ranto no Yabou (Novel) (Side Story)

Associated Names

Genshiken

Genshiken - Otaku Club

Genshiken, The Society for the Study of Modern Visual Culture

The Society for the Study of Modern Visual Culture

げんしけん

现视研

現代視覚文化研究会

Groups Scanlating

N/A

Latest Release(s)

N/A

Status in Country of Origin

9 Volumes (Complete)
5 Volumes (Shinsouban)

Completely Scanlated?

Yes

Anime Start/End Chapter

Starts at Vol 1, Chap 1

Ends at Vol 7, Chap 42 (S2 + OVA) Original ending in S2E24, Skips Chap 17, 20, 35

User Reviews

N/A

Forum

5 topics, 30 posts

Click here to view the forum

User Rating

Average: 8.5 / 10.0 (971 votes)

Bayesian Average: 8.43 / 10.0

29%

27%

22%

13%

Last Updated

January 12th, 2025 12:36am PST - 11 months ago

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Genre

Comedy Drama Mature Romance School Life Seinen Slice of Life
Search for series of same genre(s)

Categories

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Category Recommendations

Rakkyou no Kawa

Genshiken Nidaime - The Society for the Study of Modern Visual Culture II

Wotaku ni Koi wa Muzukashii

Futaribocchi no Otacir no Hime

Otaku Tomodachi to no Sex wa Saikou ni Kimochi Ii

Recommendations

Author(s)

Artist(s)

Year

Original Publisher

Kodansha

Serialized In (magazine)

Afternoon (Kodansha)

Licensed (in English)

Yes

English Publisher

Del Rey (Defunct / 9 Vols - Complete)

INKR Comics

Kodansha USA (3 Vols - Complete)

Activity Stats (vs. other series)

Weekly Pos #747

(-8)

Monthly Pos #1616

(-12)

3 Month Pos #2681

(-324)

6 Month Pos #3103

(-653)

Year Pos #3711

(-422)

List Stats

On 1056 reading lists

On 1320 wish lists

On 2342 completed lists

On 149 unfinished lists

On 469 custom lists

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Forum Posts Click to view the forum

Should I read it?

15 years ago

Genshiken 57

15 years ago

Genshiken 56

16 years ago

new genshiken is out!

18 years ago

Season 2 is Official!

19 years ago

User Comments [ Order by time added ]

Good

by cherrykookie
16 years ago

Rating: N/A

Original and funny story, with nice art. I enjoyed it because it was something new, although story doesn't exactly have a plot..although it does have a theme which is 'change'/ 'look inside'..anyhow, it was good except it was a bit dull and boring at times!

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woohoo, spoiler

by HuhWhat
15 years ago

Rating: 8.0 / 10.0

In the end, Madarame never got the girl. And everyone else paired up like bunnies in a trench. In said nutshell, I was very disappointed by the end.

The extreme realistic portrayal of otaku life can only play the hook for so long before it becomes nothing more than novelty. All these match-ups of convenience ala school life, may have its roots in reality, but that's not what I want from manga. I empathetically hope Madarame the best of luck.

... Last updated 15 years ago

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Unn so cute

by Lyn Emerald
16 years ago

Rating: 9.5 / 10.0

OMG! what a nice manga, through the story I really felt like the mangaka had a very developed feminine side! It was almost like a josei XD... I really like this type of seinen, it reminded me of D-ash. UuUuU I really loved madarame-san! at first I was like "what the hell is wrong with this freak!" but then I was like "Un so cuuuteeeee"
It's a funny, interesting and enjoyablle manga, everybody should read it!

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great slice of life series

by takitogr
17 years ago

Rating: 8.0 / 10.0

this was the greatest slice of life ive read until now...

i really felt for the characters eventhough i didn't like that it got turned mainly into a love story between two charas in the chapters nearing the end of the series & their efforts to get close to each other...bleh...that wasn't y i read the series in the first place spoilers end

anyway, genshiken is an amazing title...it says so much about otaku culture...so many great quotes that genshiken charas said about being an otaku will always stay with me...it really gives u a great perspective about y ppl get obsessed with games,manga,anime,cosplay,idols,doujinshi,figures,gunpla and many more that define otaku subculture...it gives u an insider's perspective...its really the best series for anybody who wants to know more things about otaku and about all their interests and what they find so fascinating about them...it also mentions many things that u probably dont know unless u lived in japan (shimapan only events!!! ??? ?? jesus...)

the art is just awesome...such a skilled artist...it has a very homemade feeling...natural lines without the strict structure of a manga made with the aid of a computer...lavishly detailed....very rich and filled with detail...u can see the love that was put into it from all the lil' details everywhere...i just love it

such an enjoyable title....i wish other manga would be more like genshiken...very realistic

p.s: i must thank JJ for mentioning that i can read manga for free at the store Public because thats where i started reading genshiken and where i read most of the vols :p thx JJ!

p.s2: i cant wait to watch the anime now!!!!

... Last updated 16 years ago

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One of My Best Manga Experiences

by cecropiamoth
11 years ago

Rating: 10.0 / 10.0

There are quite a few manga floating around that are very hard to read with pleasure unless you've had the experience of being some kind of "outsider" in relation to everyday or normal life. This story of an otaku club at a university is one such story. At least one reviewer has already dismissed all the manga- and anime-obsessed characters as being "just a bunch of losers", and therefore beneath his interest. Indeed they are losers -- in the sense that they are mostly not socially adept AND they lack any interest in standard things most people in college are interested in, like business, sports, chasing members of the opposite sex, and so on.

But, guess what, they are still human! That means they need friends and a place to belong. This manga is the story of how this collection of outcasts find and together build up such a place. To me, who has plenty of experience of being an undesired outsider, this story is all the more precious and fun because of the sheer unliklihood of a collection such persons getting together and ending up enjoying just about as much fun and friendship as non-losers.

I wish I had found a group like this when I was in college!

... Last updated 11 years ago

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Genshiken is...

by Faukner
16 years ago

Rating: 9.0 / 10.0

a story about different kinds of people though all of them (except for one)is an otaku. But don't let that put you off, Its a fun read and the characters are very different from any you will find in other mangas.
If you are in anyway interested in the japanese culture of cosplay, anime, manga and even doujinshi then this certainly is the manga for you.
But even if you're not into things like that give it a chance like I did. Perhaps you'll like it.

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happy and a little sad that it's over

by chaumein
17 years ago

Rating: 8.9 / 10.0

I liked it a lot. Even though nothing majorly traumatic happened I was still very moved at the end. It really did feel like you just spent four years with these characters and are watching them grow up and move on past a life where you can't read about them any more. And maybe it's because I'm also in university, Genshiken really made me want to be out there and enjoy it while I can.

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an excellent manga

by Ifancyme
19 years ago

Rating: 10.0 / 10.0

i'm waiting in awe for the next release ^^

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A favorite of mine...

by ajmanga
17 years ago

Rating: 9.0 / 10.0

I really liked how it's all the different otakus and each character has their own personality. I wasn't too into it when I first started it but as they added more characters it really got good. The characters are great! Ohno is exactly like someone I know!

The romance at the end did seem a little rushed and I wish they had dragged it out a bit more or started it earlier. But Ogiue x Sasahara are a great couple! Wish there was more to this series.

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w00t

by chowmein_x0
18 years ago

Rating: 10.0 / 10.0

I love it i love it i love it.. Though I'm only on the 6th vol, I fell inlove with this the first time i opened it. The name did not sound appealing, due to the fact that I didn't know what it meant, but I'm glad I stepped out of my norm, and purchased it, ignoring the fact that it didn't sound catchy.. yay! I'm glad i did so.

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