[AI Utilization Survey] Vol. 23: A Bird's-Eye View of Common 'Oshi-katsu' Experiences | Idol | Meaning | What to do | Otaku | Merchandise | Annual Income | Oshi-men | ChatGPT

Having an 'oshi' (a favorite idol or character) should inherently be a very enjoyable experience.

And yet, before you know it, you find yourself chasing information, checking event schedules, and struggling to manage your money and time.

Even though you started it because you loved it, there are moments when you feel a sense of fatigue.

That feeling is by no means rare.

In this article, I will organize this sense of discomfort from a bird's-eye perspective, using observations made by AI.

First, let's look at just one common 'oshi-katsu' experience.

In 'oshi-katsu', there is a common experience where moments arise when actions you are supposed to love start to feel like obligations before you realize it.

This is not because you lack passion, but because the environment and systems surrounding 'oshi-katsu' make it easy to feel that way.

What is happening?

This common experience does not stem from a single cause.

Multiple factors, such as information, events, social media, and relationships between fans, overlap, causing the feeling of 'love' to gradually change into something closer to an obligation.

Other common 'oshi-katsu' experiences observed

From here, I will list a few relatively common 'oshi-katsu' experiences that are often observed around the main ones.

Time disappears just by following information

Streams, social media, announcements, clips, and new content keep appearing one after another.

Trying to keep track of everything consumes a lot of time on its own.

Sometimes, activities that are supposed to be fun turn into a chore of constant tracking.

Feeling left behind if you don't participate

Missing events or streams creates anxiety about not being able to keep up with the conversation.

Sometimes, not following along makes you feel like you've drifted away a little.

This feeling links the act of liking something with the need to be constantly involved.

Feelings of affection are easily linked to spending money

Merchandise, tickets, and in-app purchases can feel like proof of support.

It is a structure where spending money and liking someone are strongly connected.

As a result, you may feel as though your affection is being measured by numbers or monetary amounts.

Feeling that the evaluation of your favorite is your own evaluation

When your favorite is praised, you feel happy; when they are criticized, you feel as if you are being blamed.

There are moments when the existence of your favorite feels like a part of yourself.

In this state, continuing to follow your favorite becomes close to an act of continuing to affirm yourself.

What becomes visible when you take a bird's-eye view

What these common experiences have in common is that the emotion of 'liking' is structured to be measured by actions, consumption, and participation.

Even though 'Oshi-katsu' (supporting one's favorite) should be free, before you know it, it feels as if continuing to follow and participate is a prerequisite.

As a result, moments arise where the feeling of 'liking' transforms into something like an obligation.

Conclusion: The structure where 'liking' feels like an obligation

These common 'Oshi-katsu' experiences are not intended to deny the act of liking your favorite itself.

Rather, they are a structural organization of why actions that should be driven by affection can sometimes feel burdensome.

As elements like information, participation, consumption, and evaluation overlap, 'Oshi-katsu' gradually changes its form from spontaneous enjoyment into an action that one feels they must continue.

Noticing that change is also a way to re-evaluate your distance from your favorite.

I hope these common experiences serve as a perspective to help you continue enjoying your affection at your own pace.