In a highly-respected Japanese economics newspaper, Japan Economic Times, they recently published a news column in which an otaku claimed that over a million men in Japan are obsessed with Rei Ayanami of Neon Genesis Evangelion. In the column it claimed that figurines of Rei Ayanami helped people (those generally in their 30's and 40's) with depression during the recession and that the figurines are a "subconscious religion". For more information: Comi Press.