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It is basically a daily drama that deals with a bunch of Otaku and one non-Otaku. There are several main characters in the series. However, there is one person who seems to appeal more than the others. And that is a woman called Kasukabe Saki. What you will read from this manga is events that Oktaku join and conflicts between Saki and other Otaku members and cosplay issues (caused by Saki). However, it does have its serious moments.
The whole plot envelops around a university club called "Genshiken", which is translated to "The society for the study of modern visual culture." Or, in another word, Okatu club. Saki hangs around Genshiken to be with her new boyfriend, Kosaka Matoko. He is a game maniac with incredible skills in both programming and gaming. He also willingly claims to be an Oktaku. Saki hates the way Kosaka is and tries to stop him and turn him into right (eh?) path. But she never succeeds.
The series doesn't really have a liner plot. The time seems to flow fairly quick and eventually some of members in Genshiken graduates and gets jobs and waves of new members come. Even after graduation, they still do what they did in Genshiken. According to a member whose name is Madarame Hadunobu, Otaku did not become Otaku because they wanted. They became so without realizing.
Here is a short description of main characters in Genshiken.
Kasukabe Saki : The only main character who is not an Otaku. She's Kosaka's girlfriend. Many episodes envelop around her. She can be very ...trouble-making.
Kosaka Matoko : A member of Genshiken, he excels in gaming and programming. A very cute-looking guy with very open mind. He is even willing to cross-dress. He later becomes a programmer for hentai games and continues his relationship with Saki.
Madrame Hadunobu : He comes the president of Genshiken when their former president resigned. He looks and acts like an Otaku. He's very slender and wears glasses. He likes Saki, especially after she had to cosplay once. He keeps pictures of her in costume.
Sasahara Kanji : He joins Genshiken along with Saki and Kosaka. At first, he refused to accept that he was an Otaku openly. But he eventually spills his beans and becomes an Otaku completely. After Madrame, he becomes the president of Genshiken. He joins Comic festival and tries to publish hentai books.
Tanaka Souchiro : He loves making models of anime characters as well as gundams. He is also an exceptional tailor. He makes costumes. He later becomes Ono Kanako's boyfriend.
Ono Kanako : The very first female Otaku who joined Genshiken. She loves to cosplay and enjoys yaoi manga. She is very glamour and has pure dark straight long hair which she is proud of. She becomes the president after Sasahara.
Kugayama Mitunori : A rather fat guy with some skills in drawing. He stammers a little bit.
Ohgiue Chika : A new female member who joins Genshiken. She claims that she hates Otaku, especially female Otaku. Thus, she conflicts with Ono. But, in the end, she turns out that she loves yaoi more than anything else. Also, she has feelings for Sasahara.
Kuchiki (Full name unknown) : He joined Genshiken before but left the club due to Saki's conspiracy. But comes back to join Genshiken one year later. He's not helpful at all.
P.S. On the back of each volume, the book claims that, if you enjoy this series, you are an Otaku.
There are currently 7 volumes plus a special fan book released for this series. The animation version has been concluded with 12 episodes, which covers up to 4th volume of the manga.
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