PROSES KOMUNIKASI INTERPERSONAL DALAM MEMBANGUN COMMITTED ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP (STUDI PADA OTAKU DI PROGRAM STUDI SASTRA JEPANG UNIVERSITAS BRAWIJAYA MALANG)

OTAKU has become a nickname for die-hard Japanese game and anime (animation) fans. An OTAKU is often ostracized and considered a strange person by society, because they are fanatical about anime figures to the point of imitating the style to the anime lifestyle they like. Just like people in general, OTAKU is also involved in romantic relationships with the opposite sex. Romantic relationships themselves include interpersonal relationships, therefore an effective interpersonal communication process is something that OTAKU needs to pay attention to in building a committed romantic relationship. In addition to the effective interpersonal communication process, which contains aspects of openness, empathy, support, positivity and equality, in building a committed romantic relationship, one must also apply aspects of the communication romantic relationship, namely self-acceptance, mutual interaction, attention, trust, affection and having fun together. The purpose of this study was to find out how the interpersonal communication process in building committed romantic relationships between OTAKU and non-OTAKU partners. The methodology in this research is descriptive qualitative, using data collection techniques in the form of observation, interviews, and documentation. The data analysis technique in this study uses the Miles and Huberman model. The results of this study indicate that the interpersonal communication process between fellow OTAKU partners is running well and effectively, namely the achievement of common understanding, this happens because fellow OTAKU partners apply aspects of interpersonal communication, namely openness, empathy, support, positivity and equality, as well as implementing interpersonal communication. aspects of communication romantic relationship so that a committed romantic relationship is built. Meanwhile, the interpersonal communication process between OTAKU and non-OTAKU couples is not going well and has many obstacles due to the lack of application of aspects of interpersonal communication, namely openness, empathy, support, positivity and equality, and the lack of application of aspects of romantic relationship communication so that a committed romantic relationship has not been built