Diversity and inclusion at OtakuOshi
At OtakuOshi, diversity and inclusion are house rules, not a slogan. This policy explains how we treat creators, fans and partners, what behavior we won’t accept, and what you can do if something goes wrong, no matter who you are, where you’re from or how you express yourself.
Our commitment to diversity and inclusion
OtakuOshi was built so otaku art and Japanese pop culture could travel without borders. Any adult can publish their work here, and fans can follow it from wherever they are. A global mission like that takes more than tolerating diversity. We see it as one of the community’s biggest strengths, and we actively protect it.
Otaku culture has always been diverse. Cosplay doesn’t care about gender or passports, manga and illustration are read in countless languages, and doujinshi started out as a space for free expression. The fandom brings together people of every background, identity, orientation, ability and circumstance, and the platform aims to reflect that.
This policy covers the whole ecosystem: the blog (otakuoshi.com), the social network and content platform (fans.otakuoshi.com), our official social media accounts, company communications, and our dealings with partners and brands. It isn’t window dressing. It’s the framework we use to moderate and make decisions, alongside our ethics policy and acceptable use policy.
Core principles
Six principles guide every OtakuOshi decision on diversity and inclusion.
Universal access
Any adult can use OtakuOshi as a fan or a creator, whatever their country of origin, nationality, language, ethnicity, skin color or cultural background. The platform operates globally and payments are processed internationally.
Non-discrimination
We prohibit discrimination of any kind based on gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, beliefs, disability, socioeconomic status, marital status, physical appearance or any other personal characteristic.
LGBTQ+ inclusion
LGBTQ+ people have always been part of otaku culture, and OtakuOshi is an LGBTQ+-friendly space that welcomes every sexual orientation and gender identity. LGBTQ+ content (cosplay, illustration, manga, fanfic or voice work) is published, promoted and moderated under the same standards as everything else.
Accessibility
We work to make the platform accessible to people with disabilities. That includes screen reader support, keyboard navigation, adequate color contrast and alt text on interface images, and we’re committed to improving over time.
Language diversity
Every creator publishes in the language they prefer. Profiles, product listings and messages with fans have no language limits, so it’s common to see several languages side by side in the same community. Otaku fandom has always been multilingual, and so is OtakuOshi.
Mutual respect
Creators, fans, partners and the OtakuOshi team treat each other with respect. Differences in opinion, style, technique or taste are normal in a creative community. Disagreeing politely is fine. Harassment, hate and humiliation are not.
Diversity in content creation
OtakuOshi is a creator platform, so diversity doesn’t stop at who gets in. It shows in what gets published, too. We want the range of voices, styles, themes and perspectives to come from the community itself, without filters imposed from the top.
Representation. You can portray characters, stories and situations that reflect the diversity of the real world and of fictional ones. Crossplay, genderbent characters, LGBTQ+ characters and stories with leads of different ethnicities, cultures, abilities and body types have the same place in the catalog as any other work.
Open themes. Works that explore identity, gender, sexual orientation, culture, migration, disability or other dimensions of human diversity are published and moderated under the same standards as everything else. There’s no editorial bias that rewards or punishes a particular perspective.
Style and technique. We love a wide range of styles, from classic manga to modern digital illustration, from screen-accurate builds to closet cosplay, from studio shoots to indie content filmed on a phone. What matters is the intent and care you put into your work, not your budget or your gear.
Publishing language. You can publish in whatever language you like, and product listings, descriptions and messages with fans have no restrictions either. Posting in a minority language, or in several at once, doesn’t affect your content’s visibility or how it’s treated.
Community guidelines and code of conduct
Diversity only works when it goes hand in hand with respect. These rules apply to every interaction on the platform, whether that’s messages between users, comments, posts, profile bios, published content or any other form of communication.
No hate speech. We don’t allow any content, message or behavior that incites hatred, violence, discrimination or exclusion against people or groups based on gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, disability, physical appearance or any other personal characteristic. That includes slurs, demeaning stereotypes, hate memes, dehumanizing language and any form of supremacism.
No harassment. Harassment is prohibited, whether or not it targets someone’s identity. That covers repeated unwanted messages, threats, intimidation, doxxing (posting someone’s personal information without consent), brigading (coordinated attacks) and any behavior that makes someone feel unsafe or unwelcome on the platform. If you want to tighten up your privacy, check out our security page.
No exclusion. No one can refuse service, interaction or equal treatment to someone because of who they are. A creator can’t turn down a subscription because of who the fan is, and a fan can’t harass a creator because of who they are. The platform gives every user the same level of service and protection.
Respect for names and pronouns. Everyone has the right to be addressed by the name and pronouns they chose for their profile. Intentional misgendering, meaning deliberately referring to someone with a gender or pronouns that aren’t theirs, counts as harassment and is handled as such.
How we put this policy into practice
Our diversity and inclusion principles show up in the platform’s day-to-day work. They don’t stay on paper.
Consistent moderation
Our moderation team applies the community guidelines the same way, regardless of who’s involved. Every decision is based on the facts and on our published policies, never on who’s reporting or who’s being reported.
Accessible reporting
Any user can report discrimination, harassment or hate speech through the complaints and reports page. Discrimination complaints get priority under our active response policy, and the reporter’s identity stays confidential.
Ongoing review
We regularly review our policies, moderation processes and accessibility tools to catch bias, improve everyone’s experience and adapt to what the community needs at any given time. It’s work we never consider finished.
Diversity on the OtakuOshi team
It starts with us. We want a diverse team that looks like the community it serves, so hiring, collaboration and internal promotion decisions are based on skills, experience and what each person brings to the table, never on their identity, background or personal circumstances.
We also look for collaborators, partners and brands that share these values. Every partnership with OtakuOshi requires respecting the principles in this policy, and we don’t work with companies, organizations or individuals that actively promote discrimination or the exclusion of any group.
Platform accessibility
We want OtakuOshi to be accessible to as many people as possible, including people with visual, hearing, motor or cognitive disabilities.
Web design. We use the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) as our reference. In practice, that means semantic HTML, ARIA labels where needed, full keyboard navigation, good text-to-background contrast and scalable font sizes. The design is responsive and adapts to desktops, tablets and phones.
Creator content. We recommend adding alt text to your images, captions to your videos when possible and clear descriptions to your product listings. They’re small steps that help people who use screen readers, and they also boost your SEO and the experience for everyone.
User support. Our support team handles accessibility questions through the contact page, and the help center answers the most common ones. If you run into an accessibility barrier, let us know so we can fix it.
Continuous improvement. Accessibility has no finish line. We keep improving the platform step by step, starting with the barriers that most affect everyday use, and we roll out improvements regularly.
Consequences for violations
Violations of this policy are handled through a proportionate, transparent system of consequences.
Warning
For a minor or first-time violation, the user receives a formal warning that explains which rule they broke, why their behavior is a problem and what’s expected of them going forward. The warning is logged in their internal record.
Temporary restriction
For repeated or moderately serious violations, we may limit account features for a set period, for example by muting messaging, limiting content posting or temporarily suspending access to certain areas of the platform.
Suspension or deactivation
For serious violations, such as hate speech, sustained harassment or active discrimination, the account may be suspended temporarily or permanently. Permanent suspensions for breaking this policy can be appealed through the complaints page.
Diversity on the OtakuOshi blog
The OtakuOshi blog (otakuoshi.com) is the public face of the platform. Its articles, guides, news, interviews and features are written under the same diversity principles that govern the content platform.
Editorial representation. On the blog we aim to spotlight creators from different backgrounds, styles, identities and career paths. Interviews, featured profiles and recommendations aren’t reserved for whoever has the most followers. There’s also room for emerging voices, creators from underrepresented communities and projects that bring a fresh perspective to the otaku scene.
Inclusive language. We write in respectful, inclusive language, without stereotypes or generalizations that could exclude or belittle any group. When it makes sense, we use gender-neutral language or phrasing that includes every gender identity.
Images and visual representation. The images we choose for the blog show the real variety of the otaku community, with diverse bodies and ethnicities, different cosplay styles, art techniques and cultural contexts. A good image signals inclusion before you read a single line.
Diversity and inclusion FAQ
Answers to the most common questions about our diversity, inclusion and respect policy.
Yes, as long as you’re an adult. Creators and fans can sign up and access the platform wherever they live, with no geographic restrictions. Payments are processed using the methods described on our payouts page.
Yes, under the same rules as any other content. LGBTQ+ cosplay, illustration, manga, fanfic, voice work and photography are published, promoted and moderated exactly like everything else. There are no filters, penalties or different treatment based on the sexual orientation or gender identity of characters, creators or fans.
Report it through the complaints page and choose the matching category. Discrimination and harassment complaints get priority, and your identity as the reporter stays confidential. If it’s urgent, you can also email us directly at hello@otakuoshi.com.
No. No creator may deny services, interactions or equal treatment to a fan because of their identity, and no fan may harass a creator because of theirs. The non-discrimination policy protects the whole community equally.
We design the platform with the WCAG guidelines as our reference, which includes semantic HTML, keyboard navigation, good color contrast, alt text and responsive design. It’s an ongoing process. If you run into an accessibility barrier, tell us through the contact page so we can fix it.
We remove the content and apply a penalty that matches how serious it is. That can be a warning for minor or first-time cases, a temporary restriction for repeat offenses, or permanent suspension or deactivation for serious violations. Decisions are based on our published rules and can be appealed through the complaints page.
Yes. The diversity policy covers the blog (otakuoshi.com), the social network and content platform (fans.otakuoshi.com), our official social media accounts and all company communications. Blog content follows the same principles of representation, inclusive language and visual diversity.
Whichever you want. There are no language restrictions on posts, product listings, profiles or messages between users. You can publish in a less common language, or in several at once, without reducing your content’s visibility or changing how it’s treated.
Reach out through the contact page and choose the “Suggestion or feedback” option. We read every suggestion and take it into account as we build the platform. Ideas that improve accessibility or inclusion get special attention on our product roadmap.
Related policies and documents
Our diversity policy is part of a set of documents that, together, define how the OtakuOshi community works.
Ethics policy. The general ethical rules for content and conduct on the platform, with a special focus on protecting minors, consent and the hard lines that are never crossed.
Terms of Service. The general terms for using the platform, including the rules of conduct and the consequences of breaking them.
Publishing principles. What content can be published and how to classify it. These principles don’t discriminate based on the creator’s identity or on the representation in the work.
Privacy policy. How personal data is collected, stored and used. Users’ identity data is handled confidentially and is never used to discriminate against or profile anyone.
Complaints and reports. The formal channel for reporting discrimination, harassment or violations of this policy.
A community for the whole fandom
At OtakuOshi you can create, share and enjoy otaku culture no matter who you are or how you express yourself. If that sounds like your kind of community, there’s a place for you here.