Nerdvana

Akihabara, Land o the nerds.

Imagine, if you will, an area the size of Time Square, filled to the brim with Electronic stores, Used Computer Parts, Manga (Japanese comic) shops, classic video game retailers, arcades and anything else a self-respecting Nerd could want. Throw in some Maid Cafes (dont ask) and you have Akihabara. For me, its kind of like being a diabetic in a candy store. Everything Looks so good but its all in Japanese. Still, there are a million things I would love to have. On my way back through Tokyo I will have to go on a little bit of a shopping spree.

Lately, it has become a little over hyped, with tourists and ordinary Japanese coming to gawk at the crazy outfits and frolicking kids. Also, the fact that in early June a young troubled Japanese kid decided to go on a rampage and killed 6 people with a knife has killed the vibe somewhat. There is a memorial now, and it is covered in flowers and, fittingly, caffeinated beverages. However, the place was still hopping when I dropped by. Teens dressed as their favorite comic book charters, girls in their maid/lolita/goth outfits, crazy sales people screaming Japanese into the crowd.

One place I had to go first was Super Potato, land of all things retro and Nintendo. They blast old video game soundtracks out on the street, making it very easy to find in the back alleys. Three floors of almost everything ever made by Nintendo as well as several other Japanese video game manufacturers. It is impressive.

By now your thinking, "wow Noah, your a nerd." Dam Right.