Tokyo Real Time: Akihabara


For Japan-focused journo-types, writing about Akihabara is like making
smart-ass jokes on Facebook: we all do it, and we often fall flat.
Nevertheless, writing about the experience of visiting this digital
smörgåsbord is a MUST for anybody hoping to relate information about
modern geek culture to the world at large, and a daunting must at
that. The word “mecca” is thrown around in a fairly liberal fashion
with regard to it’s “techno wonderland” status. While some would argue
that this is a cliché, it’s true: you need to experience it at least
once just to feel Electric Town’s pulsing energy and effervescent yet
oddly calming environs. However, even with first-hand experience the
act of capturing the unique essence of this area in print is
exceedingly difficult.


The Akihabara we know today is not the Akihabara of 50 or even 5 years
ago. Massive infrastructural, architectural, governmental, and social
renovations have taken place recently. I remember when Akihabara was a
dirty section of the Northeast part of the Tokyo with a railway
station that was surrounded by disused playgrounds and empty
basketball courts, a landscape which wouldn’t be out-of-place in a
city like New York during the ’70s. Now in the same place stands a
commuter courtyard surrounded by the upscale Tsukaba express rail line
and two massive high-rises.


That’s the power of Moe, y’all. And when you need info on moe, you
holler at the pros:



















Patrick W. Galbraith is a Tokyo University doctoral candidate and a
self-described “otaku of otaku.” Patrick’s dedication and interest in
the area is keen… I first met him when I stumbled upon him and 60 of
his friends doing the dance from Suzumiya Haruhi in Yoyogi Park and it
scared the hell out of me/fascinated me to no end. Galbraith has also
authored The Otaku Encyclopedia and will be teaching a class during
the summer at Temple University’s Tokyo Campus centered around
Japanese pop culture and comics. He also leads Akiba tours for us at
Intermixi.


(HINT: BUY ONE.)


His newest endeavor? Teaming with White Rabbit Press to present an
mp3-based real-time tour of Akihabara, combining history, humor,
interviews, and enough background information to turn an hour-long
sojourn through the area into a bouncy, well-researched lecture.


As you can probably tell, I spent a lot of time in Akihabara shopping
for people via Tokyogetter, and I have very deep fondness for the
neighborhood. When the awful murder rampage occurred a few years ago I
received numerous phone calls and text messages asking if I was OK,
since people knew I was a regular visitor. Enter: the boss’ idea.


We at Intermixi are big fans and supporters of Patrick’s work, but my
challenge from Aka-san is clear: compare his nifty audio tour with my
impressions of my geeky spiritual home. Seeing as how I don’t pay the
server bills at the office I have no choice: so let’s get our peer
review on.


Jumping right in, my biggest concern was the practicality of this
product. Akihabara on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon can easily get
ridiculous in terms of people, Ipod or no. The disclaimer to the 57
minute track states flatly that “If you’re listening to this tour and
you’re feet are not actually on the ground in Akihabara, please turn
it off now”, which makes sense in that you would deprive yourself of
the total gestalt of the tour. Still, I personally wouldn’t start out
until I had the accompanying map in my hand and a semi-clear idea of
where I was going in my noggin. You can’t really slack on your mack in
a place this bustling with pedestrian foot traffic.


The production values are fairly handsome, although the background
music and interstitial bits seem to display a strong willingness to
entertain the listener at ALL times. Music and background noise shifts
and sways, although not in a jarring fashion, much like Akihabara
itself. A part of me wonders if this is needed due to the fear that it
would take away from the already fascinating ambient soundtrack that
floats through the streets. On the bright side, I can finally marry
the concepts of walking around inside a video game and going shopping
at an ambient music fair together into one tour!


As far as Galbraith’s narration, it’s a mixed bag. The general
logistical and historical background information is informative,
interesting, and in-depth without being overwhelming. Galbraith’s tone
is measured, pleasant, and very easy to listen to, and the occasional
“goof” repeats in the script do make it seem more conversational than
pedantic. He presents a load of research on both the usual go-to
anime/manga/video game subjects as well as more unique and recent
developments such as governmental involvement in the area, maid cafes,
and dolls, all of which are often given the short-shrift on a lot of
websites and travel guides. There’s even a shout-out to the beloved
(and defunct) Tsukamo robot shop, which was a great store.


The problem? The more humorous “bits” that weave the piece together
are a bit more reminiscent of dubbed anime voice acting than a guided
travel tour, and the shift between the two styles seems oddly
mis-placed at times, if not downright confusing. There were two or so
segues that lost me, sparking a quick flick of the rewind button.


I’m of two minds on the subject: while it’s cool that Otaku USA editor
Patrick Macias shows up and drops some science about video game
collecting in the city, did his appearance suddenly need to turn into
a skit? Again, I’m trying to imagine listening to this while I walk
around Akiba, and a part of me thinks I would tune it out the instant
I got confused. Even though the straight historical info is very
striking, countenancing this while walking through the various
locations could become a small challenge.


Galbraith and co. did not hesitate to go the extra mile and pull out
the stops on some of the more intriguing recent developments in the
area. Attacks on otaku are covered, as well as both sides of the
“walker’s paradise” debate, complete with the opinions of a ward
councilman and a fan. Copyright issues surrounding doujinshi (fan
comics) are mentioned as well, although it should be noted that one
example cited by Macias (a Pokemon fan comic creator never being
prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law) is possibly contradicted
by Galbraith’s own research in his recently published Otaku
Encyclopedia, which did discuss the issue in brief. These are welcome
additions, and add in some of Akiba’s cultural ambivalence and
complexity that is often glossed over in favor of reportage that
screams ‘hey, look at these gaudy lights!’


In short, I think this is a noble effort that, while not 100 percent
MIND-BLOWING, is a very good alternative to an in-person guided tour.
Galbraith bravely and rightfully doesn’t polish the rough edges off,
which is a big part of the Akiba vibe. The research team also does not
pass up the oft-maligned back street stores for generic super-boxes or
transitory hype pieces which will probably be gone by the time you
land at Narita airport in 5 months. On the downside, the Super Potato
and Toranoana sections do drag a bit, and the overall construction of
the piece leaves a bit to be desired in terms of fully linear
cohesion. Still, I’ve got to say that this would be a good purchase if
you find yourself in Akiba on a slow Tuesday and you don’t have an
Intermixi tour guide like myself handy.


If you want to know more about Tokyo Realtime check out their virtual tours here!

REAL TIME AKIHABARA TOUR


I have never been to Japan, but I always dreamt of going ever since I was a little boy. I had a convenient connection to its many imports, living near Japantown -San Francisco. It was there and then on, my love for its history, films and culture grew on me. But the Akihabara district captured my fascination most as my passions in science fiction, eclectic art, and action toys will never die. With Japan, this is excitement destination.


The Akihabara walking tour definitely gave me a feel of being there. The guide helped give me a virtual sense of landing in this strange world. To truly know a place, you have to know its history and people, and the tour delivers well with the interviews and amusing footnotes. Also important with any visit, are its destination spots. For me it was all about Super Potato, Don Quixote, weapon stores, and most of all - the gashapon vending machines. I personally don’t care as much for the maid café’s, doujinshi outlets, sources for the perverse, but that is also an exciting part of Akihabara for visitors to appreciate.. It is important to understand that the area is a haven to hobbies and interests not meant to be understand by many.


Overall, the tour was very colorful, honest, and informative. I felt quite invited not only in its nostalgic tones and light humor, but by its linear approach as well. I suppose the next step is to one day fully experience Akihabara in person, hopefully someday soon.


-Orion


Tomorrow we get the one and only Tokyogetter's opinions...


If you want to know more about Tokyo Realtime check out their virtual tours here!



Hey guys Akasan here,


The adventure of a weekend has just ended for Akasan and the Intermixers. We have finally gotten back from our Las Vegas trip to see Utada Hikaru’s “In The Flesh” tour.


Believe me when I say this…


It wasn’t everything we thought it would be… it was MUCH MORE!!!


Like something out of storybook pages we came, we saw, we feel in love with Hikki all over again.


Stay tuned for more details from our amazing trip, my own present I wanted to give to Utada and Kobe’s game winning shot. xP


All my strength… For you,


Aka


PS: Utada updated her blog as well… “I just came back to my room after my Las Vegas House Of Blues Show. The crowd was so intensely loud” The reason Hikki? Aka-san, Intermixi and the rest of Los Angelenos!

Hey there!

You might have noticed on the far right hand side of our page, but Intermixi continues to explore the great world of social networking. From now until the year 2010 Intermixi will be giving away tshirts just for becoming a fan of our facebook page!

From random anime videos to bubbly reporters falling 5 stories straight down, The Intermixi facebook fan page tends to post all sorts of “off the wall” articles that have to do with Japan. Consider it your daily Japanese quickie!

So if your haven’t done so already, become a fan of Intermixi and we’ll randomly be giving away some swag.

“Riches do not exhilarate us so much with their possession as they torment us with their loss.”
- Epicurus, a long-dead guy with a neat name.

I found you during a harsh time in my life. I was 25 years old, living in the south of Japan, fresh from a breakup with both my band and a woman whom I adored, and looking for meaning as I attempted to gain even a perfunctory knowledge of a language that to this day seems hell-bent on being completely incomprehensible to me.

And there you were.

You were relegated to a place far beneath you, some cast-off alley where you’d be ignored forever, but you stood there proudly. You were all confidence and sleek lines, bright yet slightly melancholic, and as enticing as any oasis. We fixed our eyes upon each other. All time stood still, all existence but ours meaningless. We didn’t need the words “yes” or “please.”

I took you home.

I made you mine.

Then you left.

Much like Ahab chased a whale, his life a torrid maelstrom of frustration and obsession, I chased you. Sure, others came and went. Wedding Cake tried to entice me, but it’s bland sweetness and over-exuberance annoyed my sensibilities. Bitter Chocolate’s studied indifference was much too “2^nd year art school Velvet Underground fan” for me. Choco Almond was a cluster hump of cloying appeal mixed with the kind of need for approval that strikes us when we’re lonely and desperate but too proud to admit it. Strawberry went from passionate lover to caring cohort, knowing that she could only placate my pain and never engage me in the way that you had. I valued her friendship, but I knew that a love affair would only end in disappointment for the both of us. We stayed with each other like two wounded animals in the snow, trying to keep conscious and avoid drifting off into the dark, but we both knew it was a losing battle.

I tried. I tried as hard as I could. I couldn’t forget you, Choco Banana pocky.

Your return last Saturday was unexpected. Am I wrong to feel conflicted by it? Sure, your parents, Glico, are as disinterested and over-funded as any Euro blueblood family out there, but that doesn’t mean you can waltz in and out of my life like a character from some trashy libertine’s bedside reading material. I’m not a whore, trading in cold comfort. I am a man. I have heart, I have pride, and I have needs.

Regardless, if you are truly a “limited time offer,” as if such crass labels could be applied to affairs of the heart, then I will indulge in your presence no matter how much I know that I will come to regret it. But let’s not be dishonest: the reason that you’re back is because you need me as much as I need you. One day we will tire of such games.

But for now, let’s forget about it and just be.

I got you, babe.

Glico’s Choco Banana Pocky flavor has returned after what I believe is a 3 year absence. It is available at Japanese grocery stores and various other outlets. It is also, in my experience, strewn about the floor in bedrooms where Gustav Mahler plays softly in the background on a gray Sunday afternoon while I contemplate what the hell I’m doing with my life.

In an effort to keep an update everyday this week, here’s a look at how the world (as we see it) is changing is less than 4 days.

Sunday August 30 2009 – After 54 years of rule the conservative Liberal Democratic Party of Japan was defeated in a making of “change”. Sounds familiar? What this certainly does mean is that everyone favorite political otaku Taro Aso is out of his Prime Minister job. How the people of Akihabara will cope I don’t know. (Source UK)

Monday August 31 2009 - Disney announced it bought out Marvel for 4 billion dollars. Let the worlds collide.(Source Yahoo/AP)

Monday August 31 2009 – What was overshadowed by the Disney/Marvel news. Tokyopop announced that publisher Kodansha Japan has ripped the lifeline of Tokyopop titles  (Love Hina, Chobits, RaveMaster) “That means Tokyopop will not be allowed to complete any ongoing manga series from Kodansha or reprint its back catalog of Kodansha titles once the existing stock runs out. According to Tokyopop, the company does not know Kodansha’s reasons for the decision” For years we have seen Tokyopop attempt to sway the audience to mainly sub-par OEL mangas. Now that the lifeline has been kicked, the true test of the Original English Manga begins. (Source ANN)

Tuesday September 1 2009 – ADV has just announced it’s shutting down completely. Rumored to have been troubled for years. The once titan of anime video releases is finally shutting down spreading it’s titles to different companies (Source ANN)

Today it was announced that Marvel Entertainment (Spiderman,Ironman, X-men, etc) is being bought out by Disney Inc. (Mouse, ESPN, God)

So instead of rehashing what you’ve already probaly heard by now, we’d thought it be clever to show you what the Internet is saying.

“I knew it. Disney is already messing with the Marvel characters”(via Kotaku forums)

Horacio De Vicenzo: (regarding Ultimate Alliance 2) what? now Sora will be on the game? can you summon Bambi? Thor will have a Keyblade?

theJohnChihak: 1. Archie meets the Punisher 2. Punisher meets Eminem 3. Punisher Kills the Disney Universe

stephenbobbett: Now that Disney owns Marvel, the Hulk can only turn back into Banner–if he finds true love before the stroke of midnight.

BrianReed(writer for Marvel): there is a cricket just outside my office window. I hate him with all my heart.

theJohnChihak: Darkwing Duck vs. Hong Kong Phooey! “Let’s get redonkulous!”

rogerogeroger:Welcome to the X-Men, Hannah Montana. Hope you survive the X-perience!

CaptainHavok Tinkerbell: The future ex-Mrs. Pym.

And now my personal joke that came to mind this morning:

“BREAKING NEWS: The Fairy godmother destroys Mephisto with love and Peter Parker is married to Mary Jane once again! It’s really is a fairly tale ending! Thanks Disney!”