Kanji Sasahara is a shy college student seeking for a place to belong. One day, he stumbles into the Society for the Study of Modern Visual Culture, often known as Genshiken, a society that brings together the whole range of otaku culture. His first visit to the club, however, does not go well, as his senior, Harunobu Madarame, crushes Sasahara's pride, and he departs the meeting in full denial of his otaku nature. However, after becoming friends with club member Makoto Kousaka, who turns out to be a diehard otaku despite his appearance, Sasahara becomes increasingly involved with club activities such as obsessing over their favorite anime, reading doujinshi, and visiting conventions. He meets other intriguing individuals there, including as Kousaka's vehemently non-otaku girlfriend Saki Kasukabe, who strives to turn her boyfriend into a "normal guy."