hontou ni sou omou?

…was what I would have liked to say about yesterday’s expedition to the Holy Land. Instead it was more appropriate to describe it as Akiba raids Zaku wallet. I would orz but I also saw this marvellous sign in a basement shop with a big red circle around and line across OTL - orz is forbidden! Photography was also forbidden in most places; I had to sneak most of my shots from just outside the shops or in the corridors and stairways.

The first stop was to the Grand Shrine of Gamers. I came via the Metro rather than the JR station and there’s been so much redevelopment since my last visit (two and a half years ago) that I nearly got lost. But if in doubt, follow the otaku: Young, male, casual dress, very large backpack, usually in groups of three or four discussing some anime or goods issue. Gamers is, of course, on the right once from the JR station’s Akibahara Electric Town exit. [This is a very useful map.]

The store clerk on the ground floor was actually rather scary. In very polite Japanese delivered with a very loud voice and slightly irritated air, he constantly sherperded his customers with entreates of: “Please line up!” “Please keep to the side!” “Please make way for your fellow customers!” When I asked for the ComiKet 72 catalogue (JPY 2,285), he snapped: “Is Disc Only ok!?” They were out of Megami 88 too, but still used the poster of the cover to lure in customers like meself. But I managed to pick up the Nanoha A’s (JPY 524) and StrikerS (JPY 552) manga. For some reason, I haven’t seen any Nora comics at Kinokuniya at Taka or Liang Court - it wasn’t even on the release schedule on the noticeboards.

Managed to find the hard copy of the ComiKet 72 catalogue (JPY 2,400) at Messesanoo doujin shop (TEL 03-3255-4038). Exit Gamers, turn right, cross the road under the rail bridge, between the electronics shop and Club SEGA, about halfway down the road, it’s a walkup on the right.

Took an additional JPY 4,199 worth of damage here with several doujin titles, Haru Star, Haru Star Fumoffu, Le Chevalier Au Lion VI, Quarter Ice Shop’s Deviant Girl Seriously!? Hunter Nanoha-san Phase 3, Little Knights, Today and Tomorrow Is Also Curry Day, Universe Kyon 2, Life Regarded as a Jigsaw Puzzle of Highly Lustrous Cats.

Mindful of moyism’s warning about breaking the bank, I resisted the temptation to just grab everything in sight. Not buying pr0n stuff did cut down the range of potential purchases considerably though I enjoyed browsing the covers and the one page of sample art provided on the back of the (sealed) display copies. ;)

Other natural limiters included the capacity of my bag, the capacity of my back and legs to carry it and, lastly, having enough cash to take the train back. It’s probably a good thing that quite a lot of the smaller shops don’t take credit cards because seeing and counting one’s diminishing monetary ammo is a good reality check to change the dynamic from having both the Nagato and Churuya doujin to deciding between a Nagato or Churuya doujin. Another important limiter for me is that if I haven’t watched a series, I won’t buy the related goods. Despite being an anime blogger, I don’t actually watch much stuff.

Actually that wasn’t much help (that inclination didn’t apply to Gurren Lagaan’s Yoko because most of her doujins were H anyway) because there was a huge range of goods for Lucky Star and StrikerS. And, of course, Haruhi. Strangely I didn’t see any Claymore doujins or goods though. But Lucky Star is really really popular. At one Aso Bit City store, they were cycling through those scenes when Kagami, Tsukasa and Miyuki go to visit Konata at her cosplay cafe. I think one of the reasons why L*S is so popular is that KyoAni seems to be positively enjoying its production and that the audience can feel the love and reciprocate. This is rather different from Hideaki Anno’s tortured relationship with the fanbase. Speaking of which, there was also a lot of Evangelion stuff, particularly in the arcades.

Of course I also visited Tora no Ana and Animate - turn right from Gamers exit, stay on the same side of the street and just head down the next block (one traffic crossing). I found it quite interesting how the two rivals actually have quite different emphasis. For example, Tora no Ana has two whole floors dedicated to ‘Comics for women’ i.e. yaoi. And those floors were FULL of ladies as the male otaku scamper past as quickly as if Yutaka-chan herself had walked up, innocent sparkles and all, to ask them: ‘What is yaoi?’ (Thanks, moyism, for the raw! :D)

Being such a huge market for anime goods, one would expect its dynamics to display characteristics of perfect competition. But there can be wide price discrepancies. For example, I saw my favourite Lunamaria figurine at Tora no Ana retailing at JPY 3,591. Later I saw the very same figurine retailing for JPY 1,974 just a few doors down from the Club SEGA and JPY 1,980 at Aso Bit City. I suppose the general rule is to grab good limited edition stuff NOW and, if you can wait, to wait for hysteria to subside before diving into the bargain bins. Have to hand it to TnA’s little tag (complete with Lucky Star style Luna) which said: ‘It’s ok that Kira is the main character. But I’m still a heroine! I’m still a heroine!’ T_T

Speaking of figurine stocks, there was plenty of stock for the KONAMI Haruhi figurines which I saw and criticized in my Comp H Vol.5 post. The photographs are indeed a good likeness to the figurine now that I’ve seen the actual thing. Pity the figurines aren’t a good likeness for the character. Right now, Max Factory Yuki can’t be bought in Akiba for love or money. And if I paraded around with her in the open, I’d be fearing for my life. No dark alley muggings here, you’ll probably be torn to pieces in broad daylight by hordes of rabid Yuki fans.

Animate, on the other hand, has got some awesome displays. Even though I’m still waiting for Gurren Lagaan to finish before marathoning it, I have to say Yoko has great character design (except she’s 14 X_X). Memories of being Charlie Company MG gunner. Augh. How I wish we could have one of those things without needing to carry around the wretched base plate.

Animate’s display for Motekke! Sailor Fuku was quite OTT. It dominated the whole entrance and were blasting the tracks. It looks like there’s going to be PS (?) game as well. Will be interesting to see who voices Kanata (Konata’s mom) and what her personality is like.

Would have loved it even more if it were Konata’s non-existent chest that Kagamin was pressing her cheek into. (*´Д`)ﾊｧﾊｧ

In contrast to TnA’s Two Floors of Yaoi, Animate had a Stripey floor in the basement. That is, the Bishoujo Floor. My good bro would so break his bank there where I saw bishoujo visual fanbooks and goods like big towels that sell out almost instantly back home.

I don’t recall this Aso Bit City branch from my previous visit. It certainly feels new and fresh. It’s organized a bit differently. Escalators going up and lift to go down to exit, instead of the other way round for most other places.

Of course, one good way to get bargains in Akiba is to get second hand goods, especially DVDs and music. The Ishimaru empire has expanded to set up one store just to cater to this (and where some MariMite Season 3 OVA DVDs in their big long boxes retail at JPY 4,900). But my favourite is still the Furuhon Ichiba at Akiba Place, down the road from Club SEGA. I got Every Little Thing’s Crispy Park album for JPY 1,344 (RRP JPY 3,059) and which is retailing for SGD 70 at HMV Heeren!

Discovered at Melon Books (TEL 03-5295-7060) that it might not be necessary to go to ComiKet on Sunday to get the latest StrikerS Nano! doujin. I couldn’t read the adverts probably but it implies that the doujin will go on sale in Melon Books Akiba on the same day. Do correct me if I’m mistaken. Also picked up a Rein-chan doujin for JPY 578.

Buying back anime DVDs and doujin softs? The secondary market seems to have expanded a bit since last time.

Total haul for the day. Megami 88 from Ishimaru at JPY 780. The blue package is Stripey’s Mystery Package. Freebies included a paper shopping bag, a pen, two posters, lots of bookmarks. A meido cafe and Club SEGA had an interesting tie up where one meido was giving out both their flyers at the same time. That’s synergy for you!

Slices of life:

You know it’s summer because of the racket from the cicadas. / Yet to visit a meido cafe yet. Quite honestly though they seem so friendly, I haven’t seen a meido I think is really pretty or a meido fuku that isn’t too shimmery (too much polyester).

A ramen place to feed hungry shoppers right across from this cute little house of ero which is literally crammed to the rafters with the H stuff. Basic bowl for JPY 650, pay first at a vending machine for a ticket. Asked how I wanted my ramen but I had no idea what ‘kata’ meant so I asked for ‘ordinary’ (futsu). The ramen place sits 12, six on either side of the bar. And it was only when I was leaving that I noticed that kitchen door was flanked by many Evangelion figurines. Rei on the left wing and Asuka on the right. Needless to say, I had instinctly sat myself down on the left.

Had planned to go for lunch at this tempura place towards the end of Akiba (quite a bit after Animate) but it was under renovation. Luckily I had a hearty breakfast of meat croquette sandwich (JPY 370) and milk (JPY 110) from the exquisite Kobeya bakery in the morning.

While I dislike tabacco, smokers have got it really tough - even smoking while walking is forbidden!

Dinner was nearer back to my forward basing area. A little yakitori place along Roppongi-dori and Gaien-nishi-dori near the Nishi-Azabu crossing. A free starter of fried battered chicken (tori karaage), simmered radish (oden daikon), chicken and leek (tori negima) x3, chicken skin (kawa), pork and chicken minced meat bar (tsukune) and chicken liver for JPY 2,300. Two beers (JPY 500 ea) for carbo and extra refreshment. Green tea ice cream, regular and in a cone (JPY 330), from Hobson’s across the road for dessert and the walk back to sleeping quarters.

An internet joke becomes Citibank advertisement. Dog x cat - even more wrong than blood-related siscon!? And someone’s obviously disgruntled with the All Female trains, enough to tear out the (English language) timings from the poster.

Well, that’s a wrap for Day One!