As with many things that were deemed unfashionable or geeky in the past, there have been a growing number of people who are interested, instantly making the Otaku culture more popular.

With popularity comes acceptance hence the change in mindset.

The Japanese culture is beautiful and cool. But if one is not a native and wants to fit in, they tend to try to survive the culture shock.

One of the interesting ways to cope that came to notice on Twitter was the unofficial “warning” to speak in Japanese when talking to a fellow Otaku or dealing with anime and manga in a store or public place.

色んな国のフォロワーがいる外国人が何故か日本語で注意喚起書いてて、「注意喚起はオタクにとってのラテン語である日本語で書きました」って言ってて笑っちゃった。ユニバーサルオタク語学・日本語。

— すあま (@suama13) September 22, 2021

According to the above tweet, user @suama noticed that foreigner otakus with a decent following has put up warning tweets for Otakus on their profile in Japanese. They have deemed the “Latin” language of Otakus has to be the national language of Japan.

The trend is: “Universal Otaku Language= Japanese”.

海外のジャパンエキスポでも多国籍での会話になると、マジで共通言語が日本語になるっていう事案は小耳に挟んだことがあるな… https://t.co/VMrtp9SMsJ

— 湯ノ沢 悠 (@yunosawa) September 22, 2021

Furthermore, it has become a known fact that when it comes to multinational conversations at Japan Expo overseas, the common language they prefer is really Japanese.

This intriguing Japanese subculture penetrated so much overseas, that even manga and anime merchandise store clerks have also picked up the involuntary signs of an Otaku.

Some stores have also made it a rule to speak only in basic Japanese with the customers, using “yen” instead of “euros” and referring to the English-translated materials as “references” to the original.

だいぶ昔タイにいたころ、日本漫画のレンタル本屋で外から入ってきた白人系のおじさまが、タイ人の店員さんに「〇〇はどこですか？」「出て右の道をまっすぐです」「ありがとう」「いいえ」と、どっちも日本語でしゃべってたのは面白かったです。そこはタイ語じゃねーんかｗって。 https://t.co/dyUdWVxrUC

— 魅唖 (@nekonomia) September 23, 2021

ローマのとあるアニメショップではお客とのやり取りを基本日本語で行うのがルールです。売買はユーロなのにわざと日本円の値段で言うよく分からん凝り方。

— daruma@fully_moderna (@darumaz) September 23, 2021

Source: HachimaKiko