27.06.2008 · by Patrick W. Galbraith
Anne Allison and Tomiko Yoda on Akiba Tour
The noted Japanese scholars from Duke University particpated in a brief Otaku2 tour in Akihabara. Professor Allison is even wearing our shirt! ^^
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24.06.2008 · by Patrick W. Galbraith
In defense of children
I was referred to this article on CNET, which covers the expanding tactics of the US crusade against child pornography and abuse:
news.cnet.com/88_3-9899151-38.html
I wonder if something similar is in the works in Japan, where "junior idols" are rather common...
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23.06.2008 · by Metropolis
MGS4 event cancelled
Metropolis magazine is reporting that Konami cancelled its special events in Akihabara for the release of Metal Gear Solid 4. The reason given: It is in poor taste to celebrate a military man who kills people with a knife in Akihabara so soon after Kato Tomohiro killed seven on June 8.
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22.06.2008 · by Patrick W. Galbraith
Yanagihara Hideya speaks on Akihabara Massacre
Otaku2 did a tour for 19 scholars from around the world, with a final guest lecture from Yanagihara Hideya, the chief editor of Akihabara Keizai Shimbun. In the facinating lecture, he aruged first that the visual and popular cultures in Akihabara are only possible because there is technology to support them, thus it is the evolution and existence of technology that must be understood as the history of Akihabara. He also suggested that the tragic Kato murders of June 8 will likely only chase away the casual tourists and leave Akihabara for the niche hobbyists who are willing to brave anything and those local fans without other places to go. In other words, a return to the otaku only days of the 1990s. Interesting thought...
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20.06.2008 · by Metropolis
Re-education proclaimation
Metropolis magazine reports the US Navy in Yokosuka will distribute 30,000 copies of a manga called "CVN-73," a story of the capability, professionalism and neighborliness of the USS George Washington, a nuclear powered aircraft carrier of the sort Japan has banned for decades. Officials hope it will assuage the fears of residents, implying heavily the indoctrinating power of Japanese graphic novels.
However, opposition leader Goto Masahiko said of this the first nuclear craft to be stationed in Japan since WWII: "It is very dangerous for a state to have a nuclear reactor out of its control on its soil."
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20.06.2008 · by Niwa News
Nico Nico Douga wins international award
At Ars Electronica, an international media arts held in Austria, Japan garnered its first award as Nico Nico Douga recieved honorable mention in the digital community category.
Source: Niwa News
Translator: Patrick W. Galbraith
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19.06.2008 · by Reuters
Girlfriend of Steel
Ostensibly moved by the number of lonely young men in arcades, Sega Toys announced it will release a 38 cm "girlfriend robot" named EMA (Eternal Maiden Actualization). She can sing, dance, pass out cards and even kiss in what engineers are calling "love mode." An onboard infrared sensor allows limited interaction. It is set for release in September and will cost 18900 yen, or about $150. Batteries not included.
Source: Reuters
Translator: Patrick W. Galbraith
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18.06.2008 · by Akiba Today
Revoltech: Ayanami Rei【Bandaged Version】
Revoltech announced that starting August 1st a new "bandaged" Ayanami Rei figurine will go on sale. Evangelion fans will remember the beginning of the series in which Ayanami Rei is badly injured just before Shinji first meets her. The figure is based on that scene but offers a slightly recolored version of the suit and the included "Lance of Longinus", as well as two exchangeable heads with either closed or open eyes. The face expression is gracefully cold and therefore is in the same vain as her anime counterpart meaning that its not a "moe-version" but rather one close to the original character.
The figures scale is 1/10 (150 mm in height) and will cost about 2200¥.
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08.06.2008 · by J-Cast
Aso Taro 'meets' Shima Kosaku
In an edition of Shukan Asahi, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and current Secretary General of the ruling LDP, Aso Taro "met" with Shima Kosaku to talk about the famous manga character's "company" and critique why Shima went from humble worker in 1983 to president last year. Aso spends four pages discussing the topic, near to him as the fictional Shima is near his own age.
Source: J-Cast
Translator: Patrick W. Galbraith
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05.06.2008 · by Eva
"Cheers" for American Maids
Though the actual occurrence of a foreign - let alone American - maid is quite rare, Maid Cafe and Dinning (sic) operation Honey Honey based in Yokohama is opening up a new style of theme venue in early July.
The sister store, called "American Dinning Cheers" will pair "a bright, casual-American style atmosphere" with "cute, cheerleader-inspired uniforms." It will be located in a prime spot, right across from JR Kawasaki Station. Management is currently recruiting staff for the grand opening, but no more details have been released.
Since the invention of the maid cafe, many similar "spin-off" venues have come to the foreground, but this is perhaps the first American inspired moe diner. No word yet if Cheers will be filmed before a live studio audience.
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27.05.2008 · by Eva
It's Boxes for Cardboard Meat Buns
Back in 2007, a sensational story hit the press: due to a burgeoning food crisis and dwindling meat supplies, the Chinese were substituting ground cardboard for the ground pork generally found in meat buns. Add to this a growing food scare in Japan, where longtime household name manufactures were shut down one after another for food safety concerns. Mix in a dash of playful cynicism for most things Chinese, and pour into notorious otaku bulletin board community Ni-Channel. Let it sit for a few months, and you'll get an amazingly funny result that inspired corporate hand Shuman Shuman to open "Cardboard Meat Bun Shop Maririn" last December in Akihabara.
Instead of producing meat buns made with cardboard, Maririn instead serves their large gourmet-style steamed buns in cardboad, selling both "Mens' Salt Flavored" and "Ladies' Soy Sauce Flavored" varieties at 420 yen each. The filling includes a blend of oregano, ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg mixed into Ibaraki Prefecture natural-fed "Herb Pork," overseen by a Yokohama Chinatown Meat Bun Specialist to ensure juiciness and flavor balance. To make the experience complete, Maririn is staffed with "Red Chinese" in cute pink Mao-era costume mock-ups.
Of course no business would be complete without a spokes character, of which the shop has two, readily emblazoned on every promotional material. Spokes characters Maririn and Kourin went to kindergarten together and came to Akihabara with the intent of promoting food safety practices - or at least so says their debut single which released in March of this year. Entitled "," it tells the story of how the duo came to be called the "unit saving the world through meat buns."
In addition to the release of "Kowloon Baby," Maririn also announced a summer manju parfait to compliment the rising temperatures. While hearty meat-buns are more popular as a winter-time snack, small and sweet brown sugar flavored sweet-bean filled snack breads are eaten year round. Topped with a little bit of soft ice cream, and still served in their namesake packaging, Shuman Shuman seemed to keeping up with the times.
However, what started as a profitable and popular business spawned from playful internet rumors is now closing its doors for good as of June 9, 2008. The announcement came from Shuman Shuman on May 11, along with a statement that they had intended to close the business in May from the beginning. Maririn fans are advised to come for a last tasting every weekend until the 9th, where maids as opposed to traditionally costumed staff will be serving from 11am-6pm. Customers lingering for that long lost taste in years to come should stock up now, as Shuman Shuman is also offering national delivery of frozen product for this limited time.
A recent visit of the shop showed it filled with boxes and covered with notices. However, some fans are trying to keep the spirit alive by showing their support in the form of cash, conspicuously taped to windows. Whether or not this act of good will can save the cardboard meat bun is as of yet unknown (we counted only 4000 yen), but the cardboard meat bun has definitely left its mark on Akihabara history.
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26.05.2008 · by Patrick W. Galbraith
Cell phones are the devil: Japanese government
The Japanese media is widely reporting today that a government advisory board recommends banning the use of cell phones in in junior and senior high schools. The move comes among rising fears of the effects of the technology on impressionable teenage minds. There is still no confirmed reports of otaku, mania or hackers or cell phones, so the legislation is being positioned as a "prevenative measure."
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04.05.2008 · by AKS
100 Songs of Tsundere
DEARS, a company based in Kita-ku, will begin selling its "100 Songs of Tsundere" at Toranoana and other stores on May 9, 2008.
The move comes after DEARS released "Tsundere Calendar" late last year. "100 Songs of Tsundere" will be the second in the Tsundere Series. For the CD, Kuginomiya Rie, the seiyuu made famous by playing Sanzenin Nagi in "Hayate no Gotoku," reprises her role as narrator and reads aloud the 100 tsundere poems written in the traditional Japanese style. This comes as a set with a sheet of original "100 Songs of Tsundere" character drawings. The unique aspect of all this is that just like the "100 Songs" published in ancient Japan there are 100 separate lyrics sheets each with a famous line from tsundere character written on it. The tsundere line-up includes lines such as, "I just want to know that this is not a date, so no funny business!"
"We thought with the original that we wanted to make a calendar that was just a little off," said DEAR's publicity officer. "It was introduced by a lot of people and suddenly became a big hit. This time around we've already started taking preorders. If things continue this way and the CD brings in some good reviews we're thinking of going for a third installment."
The cost per set is 2,625 yen.
Source: Akiba Keizai Shimbun
Translator: Patrick W. Galbraith
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21.04.2008 · by AKS
Guiding Your Friends Around Akihabara in English Hits the Shelves
On April 23, linguistic publication company Go-ken (Chiyoda Ward) released a language study story book and guide for Tokyo and Akihabara entitled Guiding Your Friends Around Akihabara in English.
Using the concept of “I want I express what I like in English,” the story features a slightly otaku parent-child team of tourists from America being led around by a rather normal parent-child pair of Japanese, and presents the conversations they have in side by side Japanese - English. It starts off meeting the foreigners at the airport, and includes episodes of buying figures and appliances in Akihabara and visiting a maid cafe. Columns introducing the finer points of Akihabara history and other information relevant to Japan are also presented in the same side by side format.
Concerning the selection of Akihabara as the book's theme, a promotional representative from Go-ken comments, “It's not just because foreigners in Akihabara are on the rise. There's also a big discrepancy between the image of Akiba in Japan, as a place most people don't know much about, and the image of Akiba to foreigners, that of Akihabara = Cool. We wanted to teach people some interesting points about this gap in perception.” He also states, “With the refreshing twist of presenting foreigners' viewpoints to those unfamiliar with Akiba, it's also possible to rediscover Japanese popular culture.”
The book will go on sale for 1,680 yen. Go-ken's second installation in the series will be a collaboration with Pot Publications (Shibuya Ward) entitled Guiding Your Friends Around Shinjuku Ni-chome in English, scheduled for release in late May.
Source: Akiba Keizai Shimbun
Translator: Evelyn Emery
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18.04.2008 · by AKS
Circuit Bar KYOSHO AKIHABRA Opens in Akiba
On April 17, Kyosho (Atsugi City, Kanagawa Prefecture) opened KYOSHO AKIHABRA (Chiyoda-ku Kanda Sakumachou 1) in the new AKIBA TOLIM building. KYOSHO AKIHABRA opened as a “space where you can fall into a daze, interacting with RC cars,” though it is actually the company's second opening of their official shop. In the white walled “laboratory,” the concept employed for the shop's approximate 250 square meter area, a special 28 meter circuit has been constructed for Kyosho's new radio controlled car series dNaNo, in addition to the construction of an “Instructional Course” stationed with floor staff and aimed at beginners. Liquid crystal screens have been installed on walls to display lap time as well as live footage of the cars. Race spectators can also make use of the counter bar and lounge as they watch, which serves food, soft drinks, and alcoholic beverages.
Circuit charges start at 300 yen. Qualifying entrants include the Kyosho Original Die-cast Car, J Collection, Kyosho Die-cat Ferrari Collection, Radio Controlled Model dNana, Mini-Z, Radio Controlled Bus, Trailer, Minium, and the 1/5 scale Humanoid Athelete Series Manoi. The bar menu offers beer (from 500 yen), soft drinks (from 300 yen), and snacks (from 200 yen). In Akihabara, a town that takes hobbies seriously, I'd be happy to think this could be a sort of personal utopia for customers, the majority of whom come alone,' said Kyosho Company President Masayuki Suzuki. In the future, KYOSHO AKIHABRA will also offer original goods and hold dNaNo Circuit special events, in addition to Circuit Parties.
Hours of operation are 11am 9pm.
Source: Akiba Keizai Shimbun
Translator: Evelyn Emery
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18.04.2008 · by AKS
Cardboard Meat Bun Shop Maririn Releases Cardboard Parfait
From April 12, Akihabara's Chuo Dori cardboard meat bun shop Maririn (Chiyoda-ku Sotokanda 4) will be offering a Mari Parfait made of mini manju. The parfait will feature a bed of steamed mini brown-sugar manju topped off with soft-serve ice cream, and will come in the same notorious packaging as their namesake Cardboard Meat Bun. The two flavors include Mari Parfait Tropical, which comes covered in a varicolored chocolate spray, and Mari Parfait Nadeshiko, topped with soy flour and molasses. They are both priced at 280 yen each.
Explaining how the idea for the product got started, a Maririn parent company Shuman Shuman (Chiyoda-ku Sotokanda 4) advertising representative said, Comparatively speaking, the meat bun is a food more suited for winter, and we'd been considering a product more appropriate for the coming season. Since we'd received requests from customers for sweet red bean filled buns, we decided on the product change.
Hours of operation are 11am 8pm.
Source: Akiba Keizai Shimbun
Translator: Evelyn Emery
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18.04.2008 · by AKS
Public Demo of Sega's Valkyria Chronicles in Akiba
On April 19, Sega (Ota Ward) will hold a public demonstration of Valkyria Chronicles for the PlayStation 3 at four Akihabara game shops. Valkyria Chronicles is set in an alternate reality 1930s Europe, the stage for a continuous battle between the Empire and Federation forces over the neutral territory of Gallia, situated between the two factions. Drama unfolds between volunteer soldiers caught up in the war in this simulation RPG, depicted in vivid watercolor-like graphics thanks to the new CANVAS engine. The game also features BliTZ, a unique battle system fusing both tactical and action elements.
Scheduled to release April 24, the game will retail for 7,980 yen, the limited box edition 9,980 yen. Stores exhibiting public demonstrations will include: Sofmap Akihabara Amusement Hall (Chiyoda-ku Sotokanda 1), Ishimaru Denki Game (Sotokanda 1), Messe Sanoh Main Store (Sotokanda 3), and Laox Asobit Game City (Sotokanda 1). Participants will be presented with an illustration in a clear file folder.
The exhibition will be held from 12pm to 6pm.
Source: Akiba Keizai Shimbun
Translator: Evelyn Emery
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11.04.2008 · by AKS
Yamato Release of Minmay Doll Commemorating 25th Anniversary of Macross
Character toy designer, seller, and manufacturer Yamato (based in Chiyoda-ku Sotokanda 2) will be taking pre-orders for the vmf50 Lin Minmay 50cm figure until May 9.Commemorating Macross's 25th Anniversary and putting into practice Yamato's philosophy of "molding+movement+composite materials", this is the first in the company's vmf50 series. The figure's motif is Lynn Minmay passionately singing -Do You Remember Love? -, inspired by a scene in the Macross movie of the same name. Yamato has adopted a policy limiting the sale of all figures to pre-order customers.
The doll's base will utilize Obitsu's 50cm body, and her clothing will be made of fabric. A Lynn Minay original wig will be launched for her hair. In addition to the body and wig, gloves, boots, stage costume, microphone, earrings, and other accessories will also be included.
Retailing at 59,800 yen, the vmf50 Lynn Minmay 50cm figure is scheduled to launch at the end of September.
Source: Akiba Keizai Shimbun
Translator: Evelyn Emery
Tags: Macross 0 Comments
11.04.2008 · by Patrick W. Galbraith
The Japan that can say no to fansubs
The Tokyo Anime Center in Akihabara hosted a conference on Internet piracy and took an extremely negative stance toward overseas fansubs, or Japanese anime subtitled and distibuted by fans prior to the official release. The Committee for Consideration of 21st Century Copyrights for Comics, the Association of Japanese Animation, the Japan Video Software Association, METI, MOFA and the Agency of Cultural Affairs were all represented. A counter measure for rights abuse in file sharing is expected in the coming months.
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10.04.2008 · by AKS
No 1 in Tokyo Area: Akiba Visitors Spend 8000 Yen a Trip
On April 4, marketing research body Yahoo! Value Insight (Nakano Ward) published data regarding Town Merits, differentiating areas in the Tokyo Metropolitian area, on its administrative reporting site C-NEWS. Labeling areas such as Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, and Marunouchi as towns, dividing Tokyo into a total of 10 areas, the results were based on surveys completed by 1,298 C-NEWS and Yahoo! JAPAN users.
According to the report, Akihabara ranked number one in personal expenditure, individuals averaging 7,935 yen per visit. However, Shinjuku ranked number one in average yearly visits at 20.5. In comparison, Akihabara ranked fifth at 8.1 average annual visits.
Source: Akiba Keizai Shimbun
Translator: Evelyn Emery
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