{"id":4720,"date":"2016-04-25T11:05:45","date_gmt":"2016-04-25T02:05:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.fromjapan.co.jp\/en\/?p=4720"},"modified":"2019-07-03T12:01:49","modified_gmt":"2019-07-03T03:01:49","slug":"ita-bag-obsession-carry-your-painful-otaku-devotion-with-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.fromjapan.co.jp\/en\/anime\/ita-bag-obsession-carry-your-painful-otaku-devotion-with-you.html","title":{"rendered":"Ita Bag Obsession: Carry Your “Painful” Otaku Devotion with You!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Admit it: you\u2019re an otaku and you want to show it! You take your fandoms seriously\u2014and why shouldn\u2019t you? They\u2019re a huge part of who you are. But what\u2019s the best way to flaunt your favorite fictional friends? You can\u2019t exactly take your room full of wall scrolls, figurines, and merch everywhere you go. How can you let the world know, without a doubt\u2014anytime, anywhere\u2014that you are the ultimate fangirl or fanboy? The answer: Make\u00a0an ita bag!<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The Ita Bag Obsession: Both Painful and Fun<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"orange
Photo by @sparklepipsi on Twitter<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The name ita bag, a variation on the term \u201cota bag\u201d or otaku bag, literally means \u201cpainful bag\u201d\u2014mostly because the bag, weighed down by the endless\u00a0decorations expressing your deep dedication to a particular fandom\u2014can be so over the top that non-fans may find them almost painful to look at! They can also be quite expensive, with some fans spending up to $600 USD on one bag, but don\u2019t let that stop you. Ita bags are the ultimate guilty pleasure, and they\u2019re quickly becoming a cross-cultural phenomenon that\u2019s taking otaku devotion to the next level.<\/p>\n

\"otaku
Photo by @melonbunnyy on Twitter<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Essentially a bag covered in character merchandise and memorabilia\u2014button badges, plushies, keychains, phone strap charms, and more\u2014ita bags have evolved from a mere labor of love into an art form. Ita bag contests are frequently held in Japan, and while most otaku prefer to show off their creations at cons and cosplay events, they\u00a0are easily spotted\u00a0in Japan’s popular\u00a0otaku hubs.<\/p>\n

They\u2019re customizable, creative, and can even hold your additional fandom valuables (if the zippers and pockets aren\u2019t too covered in button badges\u00a0and keychains, that is). But, of course, ita bags are ultimately about pure passion\u2014the passion you have for your chosen obsession.<\/p>\n

Top 3\u00a0Ita Bag Styles<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Once you’ve\u00a0decided to take the next step in otaku devotion for that special anime husbando<\/em> or waifu<\/em>, the big decision is what style of ita bag you should design.<\/p>\n

1. The Devotional Ita Bag<\/h3>\n
\"ita
Photo by @kellyonelani on Twitter<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you’re particularly artistic, consider designing your ita bag by pinning your accessories in a stylized shape (like\u00a0a symbolic heart or other fun symbols). This is also a great design for when you don’t have enough button badges\u00a0and keychains to completely cover your bag\u2014that is at least until your next FROM JAPAN package comes in the mail.<\/p>\n

2. The\u00a0Over-the-top\u00a0Ita Bag<\/h3>\n
\"runaway
Photo by @ChanKirara on Twitter\u00a0and Instagram<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ideal for fans who want to go as over-the-top as possible, this ita bag\u00a0style is by far the most shocking for anyone passing\u00a0by you. Whether you’re someone who doesn’t mind a little chaos in your life or someone who is just too busy scoring new merch in a Japanese claw machine<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0to be bothered with being neat and tidy, you will surely make it known that your fandom is not to be messed with.<\/p>\n

3. The Neat & Tidy Ita Bag<\/h3>\n
\"grape
Photo by @nyasebe on Twitter<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This ita bag style features the same amount of accessories pound-for-pound as the over-the-top ita bag,\u00a0but focuses more on symmetry. What often separates this style from other bags is the use of only a few\u00a0button badge and\u00a0keychain designs neatly organized in layers.<\/p>\n

How to Make an Ita Bag<\/strong><\/h2>\n

So you know\u00a0the style you want to make. Now you just need the perfect decorations so that you can begin arranging, pinning, and clipping! Otaku are always finding new ways to make their ita bags stand out from the rest, but these four items are a great way for beginners to get in the game.<\/p>\n

1. The Bag<\/h3>\n
\"ita
Photo Source: Amazon.co.jp<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

You can\u2019t make an ita bag without\u2026 well\u2026 a bag! Whether you buy it from a specialty store or hand make it personally, just make sure it\u2019s strong enough to hold your collection.<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0Button Badges<\/h3>\n
\"ita
Photo Source: Rakuten<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Easy to pin on, excellent for filling in spaces, and versatile, button badges\u00a0are an absolute must! They come in all shapes and sizes and are easy to use. In addition to official character merch, there are of course many doujinshi fan art button badges\u00a0available in Japan.<\/p>\n

3. Keychains<\/h3>\n
\"ita
Photo by @LittleScarfGirl on Twitter<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The two most popular\u00a0types of keychains are rubber strap and plastic, and both can bring your bag to life! Rubber keychains are generally one-sided and flattened, featuring an often chibi-fied version of your fictional soul mate. While also in chibi-form, plastic character keychains tend to be three-dimensional\u2014perfect for when you want the character to be recognizable from every\u00a0angle. Luckily, Japan has a serious obbsession with anime keychains, so you are likely to find your favorite character on FROM JAPAN!<\/p>\n

4. Plushies<\/h3>\n
\"ita
Photo by @Shikarius on Twitter<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The largest decorations you\u2019ll probably put on your bag, plushies offer a soft contrast to metallic button badges\u00a0and zippers. Plushies are often more difficult to find than button badges\u00a0and keychains, making them something of a trophy item. Don’t worry though, FROM JAPAN’S got your back!<\/p>\n

Ita Bags Are Only One Way to Express Your Otaku Love<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Ita Nails<\/h3>\n
\"ita
Photo by losthompsons on Flickr<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you can\u2019t afford to travel to Akihabara to get your favorite character hand-painted onto your nails by a professional nail artist<\/a><\/strong><\/span>, consider purchasing a set of anime nail seals to create your own unique combination of nail art. With several popular series to choose from, including Sailor Moon, Naruto, One Piece, and more, you can mix and match your favorite characters with your fashion sense.<\/p>\n

Itasha<\/h3>\n
\"itasha\"
Photo by Danny Choo on Flickr<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Want to drive your fandom to even greater heights? An itasha<\/em> is like an ita bag\u2026 only in tricked-out car mode! Otaku who take the art form seriously often apply life-size decals to their hood and fenders, place figurines and magazines in the dashboard, and wrap the seats in dakimakura<\/em> pillow cases. And that\u2019s only the beginning! The possibilities for creativity are endless. As a bonus, you\u2019ll instantly become a \u201csafer\u201d driver. You wouldn\u2019t want to leave an ugly scratch across your husbando or waifu\u2019s face, after all!<\/p>\n

Take Your Otaku Bag to the Next Level<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Ready to build the ultimate otaku labor-of-love, but not sure where to get your supplies? FROM JAPAN can help you find the perfect pieces for your project. Search our listings\u00a0of anime button badges, keychains, plushies, bags, and more!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Admit it: you\u2019re an otaku and you want to show it! You take your fandoms seriously\u2014and why shouldn\u2019t you? They\u2019re a huge part of who you are. But what\u2019s the best way to flaunt your favorite fictional friends? You can\u2019t exactly take your room full of wall scrolls, figurines, and merch everywhere you go. How […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":10605,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ocean_post_layout":"","ocean_both_sidebars_style":"","ocean_both_sidebars_content_width":0,"ocean_both_sidebars_sidebars_width":0,"ocean_sidebar":"","ocean_second_sidebar":"","ocean_disable_margins":"enable","ocean_add_body_class":"","ocean_shortcode_before_top_bar":"","ocean_shortcode_after_top_bar":"","ocean_shortcode_before_header":"","ocean_shortcode_after_header":"","ocean_has_shortcode":"","ocean_shortcode_after_title":"","ocean_shortcode_before_footer_widgets":"","ocean_shortcode_after_footer_widgets":"","ocean_shortcode_before_footer_bottom":"","ocean_shortcode_after_footer_bottom":"","ocean_display_top_bar":"default","ocean_display_header":"default","ocean_header_style":"","ocean_center_header_left_menu":"","ocean_custom_header_template":"","ocean_custom_logo":0,"ocean_custom_retina_logo":0,"ocean_custom_logo_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_tablet_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_mobile_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_max_height":0,"ocean_custom_logo_tablet_max_height":0,"ocean_custom_logo_mobile_max_height":0,"ocean_header_custom_menu":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_family":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_subset":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_size":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_unit":"px","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight_tablet":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight_mobile":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform_tablet":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform_mobile":"","ocean_menu_typo_line_height":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_unit":"","ocean_menu_typo_spacing":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_unit":"","ocean_menu_link_color":"","ocean_menu_link_color_hover":"","ocean_menu_link_color_active":"","ocean_menu_link_background":"","ocean_menu_link_hover_background":"","ocean_menu_link_active_background":"","ocean_menu_social_links_bg":"","ocean_menu_social_hover_links_bg":"","ocean_menu_social_links_color":"","ocean_menu_social_hover_links_color":"","ocean_disable_title":"default","ocean_disable_heading":"default","ocean_post_title":"","ocean_post_subheading":"","ocean_post_title_style":"","ocean_post_title_background_color":"","ocean_post_title_background":0,"ocean_post_title_bg_image_position":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_attachment":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_repeat":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_size":"","ocean_post_title_height":0,"ocean_post_title_bg_overlay":0.5,"ocean_post_title_bg_overlay_color":"","ocean_disable_breadcrumbs":"default","ocean_breadcrumbs_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_separator_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_links_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_links_hover_color":"","ocean_display_footer_widgets":"default","ocean_display_footer_bottom":"default","ocean_custom_footer_template":"","omw_enable_modal_window":"enable","ocean_post_oembed":"","ocean_post_self_hosted_media":"","ocean_post_video_embed":"","ocean_link_format":"","ocean_link_format_target":"self","ocean_quote_format":"","ocean_quote_format_link":"post","ocean_gallery_link_images":"on","ocean_gallery_id":[]},"categories":[2],"tags":[42,47],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.fromjapan.co.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4720"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.fromjapan.co.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.fromjapan.co.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.fromjapan.co.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.fromjapan.co.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4720"}],"version-history":[{"count":56,"href":"https:\/\/blog.fromjapan.co.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4720\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11037,"href":"https:\/\/blog.fromjapan.co.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4720\/revisions\/11037"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.fromjapan.co.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10605"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.fromjapan.co.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4720"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.fromjapan.co.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4720"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.fromjapan.co.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4720"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}