22.01.2010 · by Patrick W. Galbraith
Intriguing transformable interior object
I am super impressed with this design, which I just received from Yamaji Tomo. He is an independent creator, and this is all made in Japan, an increasingly rare combination that I'd like to support. It is called the HENGE h010101, and it sells for around US$1,100, but it has been discounted to US$577. Check out the .
07.11.2009 · by Adrian A. Lozano
K-Books Akihabara Renewal Ikebukuro Style
K-Books Akiba in the Radio Kaikan recently went under the re-grand opening knife and was closed from Oct. 27th and re-opened on this past Tuesday's National holiday Culture Day Nov. 3rd. I checked out the new K-Books and man was it a major improvement. There is more of an organized Ikebukuro Otome Road shop feel to it, the only thing missing is the BL stuff. The old set up was a mess, now it is well lit and the big cashier island is gone. If you are heading to Akiba this weekend make sure to stop by, just don't buy anything I have my eye on.
Tags: Doujinshi Figure Akihabara 0 Comments
16.08.2009 · by Patrick W. Galbraith
Otaku2 in the pages of doujinshi!
Coming off of Comike 76, we have some very happy news. First, John Hathway, who provides the art for the site, released his new book and science mystery game. Next, Adrian Lozano had some of his artwork displayed in a doujinshi celebrating "Megazone 23."
Last, our tour made it into a doujinshi exploring Akihabara. I wonder if anyone bought these!?
Tags: Doujinshi Comike Otaku 0 Comments
23.05.2009 · by Patrick W. Galbraith
John Hathway gets his props!
JohnHathway, the doujinshi artist behind Otaku2's imagery, has been featured by HASTAC. American academics rave about his creativity and dedication. Way to go, man! No one deserves it more.
Tags: Doujinshi Otaku Tour 0 Comments
17.08.2008 · by Patrick W. Galbraith
Comike 74: Getting hotter in more ways than one
1) After experiencing hours and hours of demos on doujin software in West Hall 1 and 2, it became clear that more and more talented people are getting better at making these games and also that their themes are rather erotic. After seeing the tons of software and the energy of the men and women after them, a mysterious overblown sign in the industry section above reading “I H8 You, Pornogame Players” was made even more esoteric. A whole new use of “H” straight from Japan.
2) Likewise, the sheer volume and diversity of Vocaloids – i.e., Hatsune Miku, Kagami Rin and Ren, Leon, Kaito, etc – in articulations from doujinshi to products to software and CDs cutting across concerns of genre, gender or even taste made one particular creative circle name sum up the day: Vocaloid Masturbation Smile. Something for everyone in vocal synthesizing software, apparently.
3) A sign reading "Girlish Comics for Boys and Girls." All right, I was aware things in the otaku world are getting a bit confused, but to make it explicit kind of just hurts deep down...
4) Hellish passages with temperatures approaching 40 degrees Celsius and hoards of people that stagnated frequently. The walkway between West and East halls was unventilated and already limited escalators were closed or slowed (the militant message was “Please leave one step on the escalator between you,” a response to the Wonderfest incident). Worse, the escalator to the fourth floor industry booths and cosplay area was down, meaning people had to go outside and climb the stairs. While this unleashed havoc on pedestrian traffic, the staff closed the cosplay balcony and suddenly moved it to the courtyard outside the path to East Hall, further confusing the flow of hot, irritable people now trying to get to the cosplay exit or push on to the East Hall. To add insult to injury, at this the hottest intersection in Big Sight, there was a UNCEF photo essay on global climate change.
5) The Global ‘Otaku’ Corner was opened in the industry section, the culmination of years of smaller efforts by the Comike Preparation Committee to make the event more international. It consisted of photographs of events held in and doujinshi bought in India, China, Taiwan, France, Russia, Thailand, Brazil, the United States, Korea and so on. The collection represents the private journey of a sponsoring company chairman who hoped his contribution to Comike will increase inter cultural communication. Seeing "Chobits" in Arabic was a nice wake up call.
Runner up: Police were out in force because of a bomb threat posted on 2channel. The man had been kind of enough to specify his full name and that he would attack Comike on August 16 (the girls’ day) at 13:00. He was apprehended on day one of the event, but day two still had the men and women in blue making sure there wasn’t a copycat.
Runner up: Pinafore’s maids were out performing idol songs in front of the Mainichi Shimbun booth, meaning the industry area was subject to spontaneous otagei attacks that kept the sweat flowing.
Tags: Comiket Doujinshi Manga 0 Comments
11.07.2008 · by Eva
Sekirei Event at Cafe with Cat
Akihabara anime, manga and doujinshi retailer Toranoana will be having an event commemorating the broadcast of anime Sekireiat its resident eatery Cafe with Cat. In addition to cosplaying staff, the cafe will be featuring special menu items the weekend of July 19 - 20. Though no special purchase is required, tickets must be obtained prior to seatings, which will be held hourly from 11am until close.
The special menu for the event will feature three items. The first, "Musubi's Special Curry Feast," will consist of curry and rice topped with large pieces of beef and potatoes. At "Musubi's request," it will be available in regular, large, and huge portions, all priced at 1000 yen. "Ku-chan's Fresh Sweets" will be a fruits and ice cream dessert for 600 yen. Lastly, "Tsukimi's Cafe au Lait" may seem like iced coffee topped with whipped cream, but was apparently made with the character's "two-sided" personality in mind, represented in the layers of black and white. Served straight, with gum syrup on the side, at 500 yen.
Though selection from the special menu is not mandatory, one food or beverage purchase per customer is required. Also, other rules of the cafe including no photography will remain in effect. Tickets will be available at the door of Cafe with Cat, situated on the second floor of Toranoana's Main Store in Akihabara.
Tags: Sekirei Akihabara Anime Manga Doujinshi 0 Comments
