Comments on: Akihabara Is Dead http://www.bill-cooney.com/2009/01/04/akihabara-is-dead/ not just an exceedingly handsome visiage Tue, 09 Mar 2010 05:06:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Bill http://www.bill-cooney.com/2009/01/04/akihabara-is-dead/comment-page-1/#comment-14 Bill Sun, 11 Jan 2009 07:08:18 +0000 http://www.bill-cooney.com/?p=39#comment-14 Ucchan>> What do you mean, "brave Ikebukero"? 池袋ウェストゲートパーク最高！There's still alright shopping in Akiba, but it's no better than Otome Dori, and Nakano Broadway is better in some cases. Mad Mage>> I still go too, but it is with a twinge of sadness... not really the same, is it. Shii>> True, but it's sold out. Now anyone with some capital will lease a room, pay plain looking girls with squeaky voices to wear a maid costume for ¥700 an hour and call it a "maid moe" experience. Garbage. The soul is gone. matt606>> Akihabara may no longer be the mecca for the culture it once was - the social aspects have now shifted to events like comic market and off-line meetups. It's still there, just underground I guess. Ucchan>>
What do you mean, “brave Ikebukero”? 池袋ウェストゲートパーク最高！There’s still alright shopping in Akiba, but it’s no better than Otome Dori, and Nakano Broadway is better in some cases.

Mad Mage>>
I still go too, but it is with a twinge of sadness… not really the same, is it.

Shii>>
True, but it’s sold out. Now anyone with some capital will lease a room, pay plain looking girls with squeaky voices to wear a maid costume for ¥700 an hour and call it a “maid moe” experience. Garbage. The soul is gone.

matt606>>
Akihabara may no longer be the mecca for the culture it once was – the social aspects have now shifted to events like comic market and off-line meetups. It’s still there, just underground I guess.

]]> By: matt606 http://www.bill-cooney.com/2009/01/04/akihabara-is-dead/comment-page-1/#comment-12 matt606 Sat, 10 Jan 2009 19:39:17 +0000 http://www.bill-cooney.com/?p=39#comment-12 One of the main reasons I wanted to visit/perhaps live, in Japan is now gone... perhaps something new and beautiful will sprout through and crack the glossy cement of new Akihabara. One of the main reasons I wanted to visit/perhaps live, in Japan is now gone… perhaps something new and beautiful will sprout through and crack the glossy cement of new Akihabara.

]]> By: Shii http://www.bill-cooney.com/2009/01/04/akihabara-is-dead/comment-page-1/#comment-11 Shii Sat, 10 Jan 2009 17:39:58 +0000 http://www.bill-cooney.com/?p=39#comment-11 Akihabara wasn't that terrible when I went there repeatedly in November. The second hand shops are quite entertaining and maid cafes continue to do good business. I agree that it has changed but I wouldn't call it "dead", just not the secret nerd mecca it used to be. Akihabara wasn’t that terrible when I went there repeatedly in November. The second hand shops are quite entertaining and maid cafes continue to do good business. I agree that it has changed but I wouldn’t call it “dead”, just not the secret nerd mecca it used to be.

]]> By: Mad Mage http://www.bill-cooney.com/2009/01/04/akihabara-is-dead/comment-page-1/#comment-10 Mad Mage Sat, 10 Jan 2009 03:56:38 +0000 http://www.bill-cooney.com/?p=39#comment-10 HEY arcade means Akihabara will always warrant a visit when I'm in the area. But I totally understand what you are saying. HEY arcade means Akihabara will always warrant a visit when I’m in the area. But I totally understand what you are saying.

]]> By: Ucchan http://www.bill-cooney.com/2009/01/04/akihabara-is-dead/comment-page-1/#comment-9 Ucchan Fri, 09 Jan 2009 16:28:22 +0000 http://www.bill-cooney.com/?p=39#comment-9 When I first lived in Japan, knowing almost no Japanese and being too damn scared to visit Denki town on my own, I missed out on the true Akihabara. When I returned, years later, it was already starting to change, and on my last visit, past July, it was all so different I actually lost my way. It was kind of sad, seeing that immense Yodobashi, and things so squeaky clean, and all the people who just weren't there before... Lucky for us girls, there's always Otome Road, huh? Even if you have to brave Ikebukuro to get there. When I first lived in Japan, knowing almost no Japanese and being too damn scared to visit Denki town on my own, I missed out on the true Akihabara. When I returned, years later, it was already starting to change, and on my last visit, past July, it was all so different I actually lost my way.

It was kind of sad, seeing that immense Yodobashi, and things so squeaky clean, and all the people who just weren’t there before…

Lucky for us girls, there’s always Otome Road, huh? Even if you have to brave Ikebukuro to get there.

]]> By: Shona http://www.bill-cooney.com/2009/01/04/akihabara-is-dead/comment-page-1/#comment-6 Shona Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:47:36 +0000 http://www.bill-cooney.com/?p=39#comment-6 Great piece! Mad video. Great piece! Mad video.

]]> By: Casey Broadwater http://www.bill-cooney.com/2009/01/04/akihabara-is-dead/comment-page-1/#comment-5 Casey Broadwater Mon, 05 Jan 2009 16:40:45 +0000 http://www.bill-cooney.com/?p=39#comment-5 The end of an era... What are you up to these days, Bill? The end of an era…

What are you up to these days, Bill?

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