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Reading manga is a perfectly normal thing to do even for "mainstream" adults in Japan. Whether Taro Aso collects plastic is a whole different game so I wouldn't exactly call him an "otaku" with the information we have.
I have to concede there is truth in Aso's comments that Japan has indeed been relatively secluded culturally and even today, the assimilation-nature of "mainstream" culture in Japan continues this. He just seems to have a Japanese superiority attitude which is actually rather common in the world but having one as assertive as him is not very nice. But then, I don't believe in superior/inferior, the concept of nations and the whole deal about dying for your country, which explains my qualms.
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