While waiting for my train, I spotted the next evolution in Japanese vending machine technology. A vending machine that accepts prepaid cards, displays the weather, and embraces touch screen tech. If you really want to know how many calories are in that can of Coke, all that information is merely a touch away. Or if you are just curious about a new product you can find the information without needing your cell or iPad.
It was a quick ride on a local JR train and then I was at Akihabara Station and I followed the exit for Electric Town where geek paradise awaited. Akihabara is called Electric Town due to the fact that lots of electronic stores are all clustered in this one area. Yodobashi Camera, which puts Best Buy to shame, has a megastore here with 8 floors, basement shops, and even a variety of restaurants on the 8th floor. You can buy yourself a brand new PC or build your own, just take the escalator up and have a great lunch. I don't envision Best Buy or even Apple ever being this grand.
So how did Akihabara get started? That is a fascinating story. Join me on a brief trip back to 1945.
When World War II ended Japan was devastated. The capitol city of Tokyo had been bombed to ruin. Food was scarce. The US Occupation was in full force. Slowly black markets began to develop to help people begin their lives again. Akihabara started selling appliances and soon the area became a major shopping district. Three main appliances, TV, refrigerator, and a washing machine signified success in Japan during this time.
As electronics and appliance stores started popping up in local neighborhoods, there was no longer a need to take a special trip to Akihabara. So in the 80's, Akihabara became the center for PCs and computer geeks flocked to check out the latest models and to buy parts to enhance their existing systems. However by the end of the 80's, the economic bubble had burst and Akihabara's future was once again in doubt.
Suddenly in the early 90's, a great miracle occurred. With the success of the movie, Akira, overseas, particularly in America, where it played at art house theaters, anime started to grow into what would eventually become an international phenomenon. Not since Walt Disney was still living and directing has an animated movie touched so many moviegoers with something that seemed so fresh and new. It didn't matter that anime had been in the US since the 60's, the indies and alt crowd became fans for this niche market.
With anime you could get away from the safe, clean, and G rated world of Disney animation and step into a world that was dirty, dangerous, and delightful. Most importantly, you didn't have to be a kid watching the goofy Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, you could enjoy animated shows and movies aimed at adults.
Akihabara became successful because it reinvented itself and catered to hardcore niche fans who were called otaku and had disposable income to spend on anime, manga, video games, figures, dolls, the latest gadgets and even parts to build your very own robot. Akiba, for short, was a place were nerds and outcasts could come together and interact with other otaku and find some sort of social acceptance.
Ok, let's return to the present. Anime is loved worldwide and Akiba is the mecca tourists destination.
This was my second time here and I knew I would have a great time after seeing this.
Behold the glory of Sonic, Genesis, and the almighty Saturn. Actually Akiba is the greatest place for new video games and my own personal favorite, retro games.
Growing up in the pre-Internet 80's, it was extremely difficult finding anything anime related at all, so here in Akiba, it is right in front of you. I didn't have to try so hard, the struggle was over. Dude, forget the Dell and say hello to the hot anime girl.
Since Akiba started out with appliances there are still clusters of shops, right next to each other that reminded me of those long ago, post WWII origins. Here, I saw scientists developing robots. In the spirit of Pinky and the Brain, I too have always wanted to take over the world and I know that I need a robot army to begin to even attempt such a task. I want one that shoot lasers.
Don't forget to pick up a unique sushi USB drive.
Instead of taking the escalator, I chose to take the stairs on the side of the building and found cool stuff like this.
Now I did buy one nice hardcover book with a dust jacket with no tears that I had to buy. Yes, it was an impulse purchase but I would be living in unbearable regret without it.
Behold!! The Tsuburaya Productions Complete Monster Encyclopedia. Big special thanks to August Ragone for providing an accurate translation of the title.
Every monster that was on TV from Tsuburaya Productions beginning with Ultra Q to the present is included. Over 500 pages of monster goodness. Thousands I have never seen before because they weren't on US TV. This is a must have item for Japanese monster fans.
It was time to be kind to my wallet and leave Mandarake. I picked up another volume of Maison Ikkoku and a soundtrack CD. Together with my purchases from Mandarake in Nakano Broadway, here is what I got.
Leaving Mandarake I saw more gaming goodness and Sofmap.
Hungry for lunch and wearing my Gundam Wing shirt, I went to the only restaurant for me.
Tampa really needs one.
I can't recall the last time I was this happy to eat lunch.
This is what happened minutes later. Delicious!! I will definitely be back.
One of the cool things about the Gundam Café is that the Japanese menus are themed so each day is dedicated to a different series. Thursday happened to be Gundam Seed.
Cool artwork on the wall.
Yes, I was a weirdo and didn't use this coaster so I could take it home.
The biggest surprise was in the men's room. Looking on the wall I saw a bright red button that said Press Me. As soon as I did the lights went off. I turned around and saw this. 
I finally left the café.
Now it was time to leave.
Walking back to the main street I saw this.
Ok if you only have time to visit one anime store in Akiba, then go see Animate! I have previously been to Animate locations in Kyoto and Osaka and each time was fun. Animate has several floors devoted to different products that will soften the heart of even the most jaded collector. The Akiba location has a 7th floor for Events.
Stepping inside you will find magazines and books. My favorite mag is Newtype that I paid higher prices for at comic shops back home, just because it was an import item.
Check out Newtype here. Lots of good pictures and posters inside.
Just browsing I saw neck pillows, key chains, CDs, Blu-rays, figures, all kind of snacks and sweets. In the Blu-ray section I saw something you won't find in the US and that is Seiyuu, voice actors, singing in concert. Also, idol singers and Jpop groups that sing the opening and closing theme songs will have videos for sell. Two of my favorite Seiyuu singers are Hayashibara Megumi for female singers and the unstoppable Mizuki Ichirou for males. Ichirou has recorded over 1200 songs.
Hayashibara Megumi
Mizuki Ichirou
Toys are everywhere inside. However it is the little things that make a huge difference when immersing yourself in this much anime. Check out this elevator.
Idol Master!!
How could you be unhappy in this place?
I didn't take photos of any merchandise because this is frown on in Japan. Here is the site for a glimpse of what Animate has to offer. Some locations even have restaurants.
http://www.animate-world.com/ for English.
http://www.animate.co.jp/ Official site with better pictures.
Next stop was Don Quijote that has stuff stacked everywhere and most items are cheap. Just look for this guy. Bargain shopping should never be this much fun.
This next place should be a must see for all fans of classic video games and those for have a soft spot for vintage home consoles. You really need to shop at Super Potato.
I went inside to see the Dreamcast collection and be the envy of Sega fans back home. I got Virtual On, the robot fighting game.
One of the coolest and quietest floors is the top where you find lots of classic arcade machines. I stopped for a brief break after so much walking to play Super Mario World and it was exactly as I remembered it from Nintendo.
Last but not least was a visit to a maid café. I like @Home Café.
Some of the pretty maids that are waiting inside.
I got in and just followed the guy in front of me because I had no idea what floor was the best. I was seated near the stage and that was fun. This is where the maids take pictures of you and clown around to entertain.
I ordered a photo and a big girly sundae.
The white chocolate heart was delicious.
While just hanging out, one of the hosts for TV Asahi talked with me and I was interviewed about Jpop for their popular show, Music Station. The host wanted me to sing and so I sang Linda Linda by the 80's fun punk band, The Blue Hearts.
After that, one of the maids said that it was someone's birthday. A stool was brought to the middle of the stage and he sat down as all the maids gathered around him for one cool photo. I reminded myself to say it is my birthday for my next visit.
Finally my name was called and I put on the bunny ears again.
The maid came by to speak with me and asked me how I liked our picture. I replied that I thought it was great and that I would treasure it always by keeping it on my desk at work.
It would soon be evening so I headed back to Tokyo Station and took the shinkansen back.
I really wanted onomiyaki. I found one in Utsunomiya and the chef came out from the back to make it. I have seen it made a dozen times but I wasn't sure how long to cook it. I'm glad the chef did the cooking.
America needs more restaurants with grills like this.
Anyway, onomiyaki is a very popular dish in the Kansai area, (Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe,) much like pizza is back home. It is mainly batter, cabbage, and what meat you want and for me that was squid.
Here is the chef in action and it shows you how you can make it at home.
Now at the table across from me, two elderly men had too much to drink and started fighting. This is so rare in Japan. First they started yelling and then one guy grabbed the other and pinned his arm behind him. Some customers screamed, the waitress ran to the back, and the chef positioned himself near their tablet in case he needed to throw them out. I wanted to sing Kung Fu Fighting. Whaooooo!!
I felt bad for the wives who were shocked. A third elderly man smacked the one who started the fight and yelled at him to shut up and to stop drinking so much whiskey. He finally calmed down.
After that my onomiyaki was ready. It had a sweet BBQ sauce and mayo on top.
I wanted to take video but at the time I thought it was in bad taste. When they were leaving, they both approached my table and apologized. I wished them well and said good night.
Outside, on the street they formed a train with the wives in front and sang a song. It reminded me of the Soul Train line.
After eating a very good meal, I thanked the chef for cooking and paid the check.
On the street several drunk businessmen were leaving bars and restaurants.
One guy walked up to a vending machine and I thought he was going to buy a drink when he collided with the recycle bin and fell over.
Walking back to the hotel I saw my favorite Disney character, Communist Mickey.
With that so ends Day 4 with more crazy stories on Day 5.
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