By: Kent McCarty
Of the many clubs available at Oak Grove, perhaps none are more involved in their subject matter than Club Otaku. According to club president Kristin Zumbro, the club is all about the celebration of the Japanese entertainment industry and all things related to it. The club is separated into three divisions, Anime, Manga, and Video Games, all of which are led by a captain and discuss the latest news pertaining to each of the three divisions.
A highlight of the club is the special weekly themed days where club members participate in activities geared toward a central theme. Most recently the club took part in a Pokemon themed day where members watched episodes of the t.v show, played the card game, and battled it out on “Super Smash Brothers Brawl,” using only Pokemon characters to play.
The club, which is in its first year at Oak Grove this year, was started by President Kristin Zumbro. Zumbro had a great experience at an Anime convention and decided the students at Oak Grove deserved to have their own version of that at school. “I founded the club after I went to Anime convention and saw that many high schools had anime and video game clubs. I knew that Oak Grove had a large fanbase for anime and things related, so it only made sense to bring it here. It’s really just a way to bring people with common interests together,” Zumbro said.
The club also has its sights set on future growth, including the development of a mini-library where students will be able check out manga, magazines, and games. The club also plans to attend an Anime convention this summer, where they will participate in many Anime-themed activities including “cosplaying,” which is made up of participants dressing up as the character they are depicting.
The club meets on Friday afternoons and Tuesday mornings in Mrs. Donohue’s room (F-104), though Tuesday morning meetings have been put on hold for this nine weeks and will resume weekly after Spring Break. Friday the 5th after school, the club will host a special showing of Castle in the Sky on the Promethean board in Mrs. Donohue’s room. On Friday, February 12th the club plans to hold a Zelda themed meeting in which members will participate in numerous Zelda-themed activities.
Club Otaku is open to anyone who is interested in any of the three subject areas. There are no dues required, though donations are always welcome and will be used for developing the clubs’ library of manga, magazines, and games. For additional information, contact President Kristin Zumbro, Evan Prehn, Ashley
