A few quick notes from the trenches.
Just back from a post-work Akiba binge, a couple of notes before I hit the sack:
Thanks to everyone who commented on the ero-scheme post. I’ll post a reply to the thread (probably tomorrow morning) but I’m thinking I’ll stick with what I did for the previous post for now, as seems to be the consensus recommendation.
The word from Akihabara:
- Toranoana is expanding its main Akiba store to nearly twice its current size. Apparently they’re doing a bit of capital reinvestment with the stinking wads of cash they’ve been pulling in for the past several years… pictures taken, will post tomorrow. The addition opens on August 5th.
- I found a copy of the limited edition of Moegaku, the English-learning renai game, in the bargain bin at Gamers for 1050 yen. That’s 90% off the cover price. Dating sims never get that cheap unless they are a) printed in quantities way over reasonable expectations of demand (as happened with Yami to Boushi to Hon no Tabibito, a popular game but one that dropped to ~1,000 yen due to mass production), or b) they are crap. From the demo material available on its official site I’d say Moegaku is the latter. It should make for an amusing review, however.
- The phantom G.J? artbook is FINALLY OUT!!!! I don’t know when this happened or why I was not informed but it is now in my possession and can be in yours as well, presumably. Pictures tomorrow… Also pictures of the two most recent Queen’s Blade volume releases, which are looking as delicious as the previews.
- Sunshine Creation 32 is an “all-genre” doujin convention that will be held on June 18th in Tokyo (Ikebukuro’s Sunshine City, as usual). I picked up the con catalogue, which is notable for the insane quantity of Haruhi material already present: we’re talking dozens of circle cuts featuring her, Mikuru and Nagato, along with advertisements for THREE (count them) HARUHI ONLY doujin events happening this fall. Absolutely insane.
- My initial pretext for heading into Akiba tonight was to meet up with VanRaily (no quick link to his album reviews, but he’s posted some quite insightful stuff to comments here over the past several months) and his brother who were in town on vacation. It was great to meet you guys! Have a safe trip home.
It’s way past my bedtime right now and I’m not sure I’ll be able to drag myself from sleep mode in the morning with enough time to complete the kind of update I’d like, but caffeine can work wonders…
Oh, and a final note: maid cosplay is officially dead to me. There’s a rant brewing on the topic, but it may take some time to muster enough vulgar invective to pull it off.
sweet. thanks for the G.J? artbook shingo. i just ordered that from AJ.
I could never get into the maid thing, I thought it was a tacky American fetish (the ditzy French maid whose ass is always popping out as she bends over to dust) and it is a tacky, overblown Japanese fetish now. Moreover, it just never stops, especially with every Ta-kun who is looking to make a buck throwing girls in outfits and copying the guy next door. It’s hollow, man!!!
You should review Moe Burger.
Can we link to the GJ order site please?
Ohhh, I’d love to read your maid rant. Last two times I went to Tokyo there were maids all over the teevee calling out “moemoe!”… It was vexing. >:\
>>R8
Glad to be of assistance, sir. A bit vexed I didn’t notice it earlier myself…
>>Randall Fitzgerald
So true. The Japanese aesthetic differed slightly from the “French maid” at first, I think, though I may have been deluding myself all along… I’ll be tackling the issue from a slightly different angle in the rant, but my conclusion is the same as yours.
>>MVB
I was in a rush last night to make the rounds before stores closed, but I was keeping an eye out for it – didn’t manage to spot it. Next time I’m down there I’ll come better prepared (assuming there aren’t two weeks of reservations for the place or a line a block long).
>>T
Check today’s post for a link to it at Amazon.co.jp, you should be able to get it from there with no problems (other than the unwholesome shipping charges).
>>fet
Maids on TV? I guess I’m not watching the right shows, or purchasing the right equipment. Set-top maids, hmm…
I very much agree with the maid thing – was in Akiba last week (blessed be work-related conventions and all-expense-paid shinkansen travel) and there are 900 000 000 maid cafes, leaflet handouts, etc.
Just overkill thanks to fucking Densha Otoko.
Oh man.
I just checked out the Moegaku website, and tried their demo.
Jesus H. Balding Christ on a pogo stick.
As a former teacher, as a translator, and as a person who speaks Japanese and English, I have but this to say:
なんでやねん！？