Final answer:
Otaku culture varies between Japan and the U.S. due to specific historical, social, and economic conditions, influenced by each country's differing societal values, political cultures, and forms of cultural capital, as well as the effects of globalization.
Step-by-step explanation:
Variations in otaku culture between Japan and the U.S. stem not from differences in national culture but from specific historical, social, and economic conditions. In Japan, otaku culture has evolved within a society that values collective community and often produces content that reflects shared cultural narratives. In contrast, the U.S. has a more individualistic society that can influence the way otaku culture is expressed, such as through the emphasis on personal fan creations and interpretations.
Subcultures in different societies develop for a variety of reasons, including shared language and customs in ethnic and racial groups or shared experiences and interests, like in biker or body modification communities. Additionally, sociocultural factors such as political cultures, which vary across geographical regions, as well as various forms of cultural capital, also play a significant role in how subcultures evolve.
Globalization has allowed for the cross-pollination of subcultures and for regional expressions of a culture to gain international influence, further diversifying otaku culture expressions in the U.S. in comparison to those in Japan.