[1] Japanese journalist Akihiro Ōtani coined the term, claiming that this group was composed of potential criminals.
Figures based on anime, manga and bishōjo game characters are often sold as dolls in Japan.
Japanese journalist Akihiro Ōtani coined the term "figure moe zoku",[2] and, although he said, "I don't intend to blame Otaku",[3] he claimed that "Otakus who collect figurines" were potential criminals and that one of them had killed a 7-year-old girl in November 2004.
[1] As Ōtani's idea of the "figure moe zoku" seemed illogical at best, fans of the anime genre began using it ironically and humorously.
[4] Although Kobayashi was not an otaku, as of January 2005, Japanese local governments continued targeting otakus, expecting similar cases from them.