Otaku Spent MILLIONS on Idols and Says He Has No Regrets
A man who is an idol fan revealed that at the age of 53, he has already invested over 30 million yen in idols (around R$1,005,901.80) and continues to spend about 5 million yen per year on underground idols, all without any regret.
The story came to light after his testimony appeared in the book “Oshi to Iu Yamai,” where he explains his views on idol worship, extreme dedication, and what it truly means to support an idol until the very end. According to him, the problem is never the idol, but the fan who creates unrealistic expectations.
Otaku Spent MILLIONS on Idols and Says He Has No Regrets
During the peak of AKB48, the fan revealed that he spent approximately 10 million yen on Minami Minegishi and around 20 million yen supporting Mina Oba, a former member of SKE48.
During election periods, he would buy hundreds or even thousands of CDs at once to vote for his favorite idol. According to him, it was common to notify his credit card company in advance to avoid blocks due to suspicious activity.
His involvement was so intense that rumors spread claiming he had sold an apartment to support his favorite idol. While he admits the story was exaggerated, he confirms that part of the money did come from the sale of a family-owned property, an investment that helped Mina Oba reach her best ranking in a general group election.
Even after the idol got married and had a child, he says he never felt betrayed. On the contrary, he believes that a clear and respectful conclusion to an idol’s career is the greatest reward a fan can receive.
After his favorite 48 Group idols left the spotlight, he did not abandon the idol world. Today, his focus is on so-called underground idols, which he prefers to call “idols of the sky.” Interestingly, his spending increased even more in this new phase.
He explains that unlike mainstream idols, underground idols perform almost every day. To always watch from the front row, including tickets and cheki photos, he spends over 10,000 yen per event, attending shows three to four times a week. By the end of the year, the total easily exceeds 4 to 5 million yen.
Currently, he admits he has practically no savings. His salary goes directly into his parents’ bank account, and he lives off an allowance. Even so, he claims to live a life that few people ever experience.
Despite his extreme dedication, he says he never seeks personal relationships with idols. For him, crossing boundaries is the worst mistake a fan can make. If an idol hides relationships and that becomes public, he believes the fault lies with the fan who trusted the wrong person, not the idol.
Although he acknowledges some sadness about not having built his own family, he says he would not trade his path for a normal life. His goal is to keep attending shows even after turning 60 and remain in the front row until the end of his life.
According to him, being a dedicated otaku is not a phase, but a life choice.