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Sun Seto
Never got round to really watching the anime but do like this figure by Orchid Seed. This 1/7 scale figure of... ( more » )
Fri 07/25 23:16 comments (9)
Human Mage
Another one we've spoken about but the better pics are up at GoodSmile and Hobby Stock. Dont know much about ... ( more » )
Fri 07/25 20:44 comments (12)
Shakugan no Shana
Spoke about this earlier but decent pics are now up at GoodSmile and Hobby Stock. I remember when the Nendoro... ( more » )
Fri 07/25 20:36 comments (17)
Something Missing
There is something missing from this room. From your point of view, what would that missing thing/s be? Via V... ( more » )
Fri 07/25 12:30 comments (92)
PSP Idolmaster
Idolmaster coming out on the PSP this Winter. Could be a good time to buy a PSP for me. Have you purchased a g... ( more » )
Fri 07/25 08:58 comments (27)
Tifa Lockheart
Hijacked from Gorgo who discovers a nice Tifa Lockheart cosplayer who keep you company tonight. Original te... ( more » )
Thu 07/24 23:24 comments (56)
日本語/Japanese  Tue 11/28 21:48 JST
Soon after relocating to Japan, you'll want to get some essentials like figures and Gundams. After that you'll probably want some furniture.
For most of the years spent in Japan, I got a lot of my furniture from Tokyu Hands - the department store that sells just about everything under the (rising) sun. Tokyu Hands have many stores in Tokyo so its convenient to buy stuff. I think could be because they have a hefty rent bills to pay that they sell everything at retail price.

Muji and FrancFranc are other places that I get stuff from and the online store Rakuten is another good place to look.

It wasn't until recently however that Ikea decided to give Japan a try and enter the market. I didnt understand what all the fuss was about and heard many including Roy complaining about the service. My wife had driven down to Ikea in Yokohama many times and convinced me to make the trip.

Despite getting there early there were a ton of people lining up to get in!
Ikea Japan (click to enlarge)
If you are used to Ikea stuff then the new stores around Tokyo will come as a welcome relief. It was only when I made the trip when I realized why Ikea is so popular - the stuff is dirt cheap and quality is quite good - some of it is crap though.
Ikea Japan (click to enlarge)
This wall mountable shelf was 9,900 yen - dirt cheap! Great for HG or GFF figures. I suppose you can adjust the shelves and put in bigger figures though.
Ikea Japan (click to enlarge)
Did I mention that people in Japan love to form queues? Take something to fidget around with (NDS, PSP, Figure etc) when you are in Japan as queuing is a way of life.
Ikea Japan (click to enlarge)
Got fed up of the tables on the third floor and decided to get new shiny ones. Throwing together a leg - each leg cost about 3,000 yen.
Ikea Japan (click to enlarge)
Room with the previous tables removed. Dont you just love wires?
Ikea Japan (click to enlarge)
This is what the room currently looks like - for comparison, it used to look like this.
Ikea Japan (click to enlarge)
We got two sheets of glass - each costing 8,000 yen - total of 28,000 yen for the lot. Each measured about 150cm X 8cm. Kept one old table and decided to chuck the other.
In Japan, you cant just throw big stuff away and need to first contact your local ward office and let them know what you want to get rid of. They will tell you how much it costs and arrange for a time to come and pick up your unwanted stuff. You then get your booty along to your nearest convenient store, buy a Sodai Gomi(粗大ゴミ(そだいごみ)) (Bulky garbage) sticker to stick on the side of your trash and chuck it out on the day and time arranged between you and the ward office.

If you want, you can be a good citizen and stick out your unwanted table/TV etc nearby your house and leave a note saying "please take." If nobody takes it because your table has brown smelly skid marks on it, you should continue to be a good citizen, bring it back to your house and deal with it as described above.
This is the reason why some of your friends may tell you that they find free electronic goods and furniture lying around the streets.
Ikea Japan (click to enlarge)
Just thought I would show you what that shelf of figures currently looks like - I need another shelf somewhere.
Ikea Japan (click to enlarge)
Polls
Tim Ho in Los Angeles
Ikea stuff is pretty decent if you want small pieces of furniture ie. desks, chairs, lamps. Decent quality stuff for halfway decent prices, and there's usually only a few missing pieces in your purchase. 

Seeing as most things in Japan are more expensive than their western counterparts, I wonder how Ikea Japan's prices match up with those in the States.

Hope you enjoy your large slabs of glass.
(ID #41653) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Leo in Vancouver, Canada
Wow, those are long lineups at the cashiers.  I work in cash at Ikea Coquitlam, so it's nice to see it's not just us that has long queues! :D
(ID #41654) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Leo in Vancouver, Canada
oh forgot to ask, what's the name of that shelf you suggested putting GFFs on?  It must be new...
(ID #41655) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Windbell in Singapore
That is some huge kickass Ikea store! 

I had some problems with my Ikea computer table though. The screws keeps going loose :/

Ikea still rocks as I can get lots of cheap good stuff there :)
(ID #41656) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Leo in San francisco
I can make out the Apache (which I already own. Hoorah for O'Reilly books) and Ajax Hacks books on your desk, but not the third one. Do ya mind telling us what it is? I need some new reading material. 

Is it sad that I was trying hard to look at the books on your table as opposed to looking at the figures? Maybe I've just become accustomed the awesome pictures you post. 
(ID #41657) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
NickC in Vancouver, SFU
Ikea is known for their cheap kosher hotdogs in its North American counterparts. I do agree that the quality of some of their products are top-notch, but the others aren't so good with defects like "knots" and poorly sanded parts in their wooden furniture.

However the best item they probably have is the "detolf" glass case for displaying figures or what have you.

=)

Cheers,
(ID #41658) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Brad in Perth, Western Australia
Ikea rocks for storage solutions..... over the past four weeks I've purchased three large glass cabinets for all my toys. (Still thinking that four would be better :P) GFF's and PG's fix so well in the DETOLF http://cebas.ikea.com.au/prod_template4.asp?product_id=17014&se_id=37&page_id=5200300251009&Cat=13&Scat=52 Sure I could have bought a couple of PG's but when your collection starts to grow out of control you just can't resist showing them off in nice lighted up glass cabinets. Oh and who could go pass an Ikea hotdog!?
(ID #41659) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Tristan in Tattoine
That's what we call the Ikea syndrome. 247 stores in 34 countries all over the  world. The same products everywhere.
For instance, we now have the same working table.


(ID #41660) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Gerbera04g in New York
Hey Danny, was wondering if it is possible to live in Japan while not knowing how to speak the language. A few days ago, I was looking into studying abroad programs for Japan and most of all of them required a basic understanding of Japanese. : /
(ID #41661) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Parker Ashbey Brown in Phoenix, Arizona, USA
I've got a bed frame and a night stand from IKEA. Had them both for about 1.5 years. They've been good to me, plus there weren't any missing parts. I also like that they're sensitive to the fact that not all people have huge rooms, unlike Crate and Barrel.
N3w_Typ3 in Little Dot in South East Asia
One word "HUGE" store compared to where I am living.

Haha I'm not too sure but I do own IKEA stuffs. So far so good but most people complain that the material is cheap and lousy since theirs spoil very fast.

(ID #41663) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Justin in Canada
My house is FULL, of Ikea stuff. Just are living room we have more than 20 items from Ikea. ..It's crazy.......
(ID #41664) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Victoria Smith in London,England, UK
Ikea is pretty good objects. I think Ikea come from Germany, I used some objects from it and I saw most Ikea huge shopping in London anywhere. Most them have modern cos I love modern! (^__^)
(ID #41665) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Josef in Singapore
Ah.. IKEA from Smaland, Sweden. They got their formula right. My wife just love IKEA. Even though some stuff are way too flimsy, like the shoerack that kept breaking in places, we still buy more stuff. Half the stuff in my house are from IKEA, like a new glass cabinet for S$99 to put my son and my own Gundams.
(ID #41667) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Wildarmsheero in Spaaaaace
My entire apartment is furnished with used Ikea goods. All of it together probably cost a little over 100USD.
(ID #41668) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Red October in Elk Grove, CA USA
I always like Ikea furnitures. If I have a house, I will use nothing but Ikea furnitures. BTW Danny do you know Bandai and Pocky join force to release Gundam Pocky. This is the link http://www.bandai.co.jp/releases/J2006112401.html
(ID #41670) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
ricky in providence, ri, usa
for working at a apple retail store you get 10% of anything in the store, 25% of a complete system a year, and if the store makes the quota for that quarter we get $500, if u work full time you get $1000.

we also get deals on the old stuff we don't sell anymore, like floor models and such

microsoft is probably better but i hate pc's
(ID #41671) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Gordon Pekeur in south africa -cape town-
south africa -cape town- is weak, I dont think we have IKEA around here! Anime is already hard enough to come by....
(ID #41672) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
いつも綺麗でカッコイイ部屋ですね。
いつか撮影しに行きたい!!(・∀・)b
(ID #41674) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Ikea, what a great success story !
Where ever you go you can find an Ikea store... as a Mc Donald, Coca-Cola... !
(ID #41675) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Jinoopan in Seoul
I'm using Ikea desks and shelfs. The design itself is pretty good, but the finishing is humble. I know that they are relatively cheap. 
(ID #41676) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Alafista in Singapore
the shelf where i keep all my figurines  is from IKEA too ... i kinda like going to IKEA .. cheap and acceptable quality  ...

unlike u ... i dun really dare to keep my figurines all over my room ... else dust would start gathering on them after a while
(ID #41677) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
David -M- in France, Strasbourg
I have a lot of furniture from Ikea, i like simple and modern design and not pay a lot of money for this. But for some products, the quality is realy poor... but it's not a problem when you like to change often your house's interior. :)
(ID #41679) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
I love what you did with your office and you computer screen saver looks great you must give it to me next time we meet ;)
(ID #41680) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
that wall mountable shelf looks sweet. ^^ btw I like your new table. it kicks seven shades of moldy wood on the old one. ^^ 
on a side note, I use to think my college professor was pulling my leg when he told me he would just pick up appliances out in the streets back in Japan. lol I wonder if anybody has ever thought of picking all those stuff up and sell them off in other countries as surplus appliance/furniture.
(ID #41681) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Biz in Paris plage
Ikea paris, it s same, queued for long long on WE. 
(ID #41682) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
p7m13 in Singapore
Almost all the furniture in my room is from Ikea. In fact, I live just opposite Ikea in Singapore lol! I love their stuff!

I steer very clear from Ikea on weekends though... there's currently only ONE branch in Singapore which caters to 4 million people... so be very afraid of the Ikea crowd on weekends lol.

I mean of course, Ikea Japan's crowd beats us hands down.
(ID #41683) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Scavenger in The Netherlands
It is well known that Ikea products sometimes misses the necessary screws. A couple of years there were explosives found in two IKEA stores in the Netherlands and 2 cops got injured. I guess they were mad at Ikea because maybe there was something missing in the product they bought. 

Lot's of things at home are from Ikea. Their products are good (if they don't miss screws). 
(ID #41684) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
xxchrno in Toronto, Canada
XD. its exactly like ikea toronto.. tho its all the way at markham i think... its pretty crowded.. tho i dislike that u have to build it your self... and then the codes.. u have to look and pick it up..

but then its cheap and sturdy :)
(ID #41685) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Jacky in Singapore
Ikea good, Interm of the choices and design.. and perhaps it is the only brand that making big in the our tiny island. Infact most of my furnitures were from there. However, I've visited Tokyu Hands in Osaka and really like it. Brought some small fixtures for hanging my figures of gundams (Similar to what u've posted here before Danny.. :} ). Hmm.. their branding is good and sure creates an impact if they ever open up brenches in Singapore or Malaysia but creates competitions thu... 
(ID #41687) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Arekusu in The Lost Woods
Oooh, IKEA ^_^

I like going there, i honestly don't know why, but it seems like a cool place to go from time to time, plus the beds are comfy ^_^

My friend thinks Ikea is evil, but i honestly don't know how, i mean cheap furniature has to be a good thing ^_^
(ID #41688) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Seven7 in Sydney
i love IKEA i think it's one of the best place that sell furniture with an afforable price ... so is that the first ikea in japan ??
(ID #41689) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Jokyng in Toronto, Canada
The Ikea north of Toronto is actually in Vaughn.  I was just there this past weekend.  My whole livingroom, bedroom, computer room, and gundam display cases are all from Ikea.  It's not that expensive and it's cheap enough that after a few years, I can pretty much refresh everything with new stuff.  
(ID #41691) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Danny in Tokyo
Seven7,
I think the first one opened in Chiba this year - so yes - its the first time we are getting Ikea.

Totoro,
That screensaver is a default one with OSX ^^

よしむさん、
今度東京に来るとき教えてください!

Ricky,
I know how you feel about Dells...

Red October,
I'l look out for them next time I'm in Seven Eleven ^^

Gerbera04g,
have a look at
http://www.dannychoo.com/all/eng/japan_tips/

Leo in San Fran,
Its "Building Scalable Websites" ^^

Leo in Vancouver,
Its called BERTBY.
(ID #41692) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Loads of my furniture was bought from Ikea (the Chiba one), the rest from Actus. They had a shop in Japan donkey's years ago, but it closed due to poor sales (that was the bubble period and rich people didn't want 'cheap' furniture). I'd also advise anybody going there to drive - the furniture is heavy, therefore a nightmare to get on a train, and delivery is expensive. 
(ID #41698) Posted on 2007/01/02 01:23
Kaj in Somewhere between NL and JP
Sysadmin
Registered on 2007/09/22 21:25
The majority of my house is furnished through IKEA; I love the concept, and they are indeed very cheap.

The display case you show in the article is even cheaper there compared to here, thanks to the cheap yen; €60 in Japan, while €79 over here.

Perhaps I'll go and have a look for myself when I'm in Japan in December.
(ID #63071) Posted on 2007/11/10 20:40
Tim Ho in Los Angeles
Ikea stuff is pretty decent if you want small pieces of furniture ie. desks, chairs, lamps. Decent quality stuff for halfway decent prices, and there's usually only a few missing pieces in your purchase. 

Seeing as most things in Japan are more expensive than their western counterparts, I wonder how Ikea Japan's prices match up with those in the States.

Hope you enjoy your large slabs of glass.
(ID #83657) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
Leo in Vancouver, Canada
Wow, those are long lineups at the cashiers.  I work in cash at Ikea Coquitlam, so it's nice to see it's not just us that has long queues! :D
(ID #83658) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
Leo in Vancouver, Canada
oh forgot to ask, what's the name of that shelf you suggested putting GFFs on?  It must be new...
(ID #83659) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
Windbell in Singapore
That is some huge kickass Ikea store! 

I had some problems with my Ikea computer table though. The screws keeps going loose :/

Ikea still rocks as I can get lots of cheap good stuff there :)
(ID #83660) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
Leo in San francisco
I can make out the Apache (which I already own. Hoorah for O'Reilly books) and Ajax Hacks books on your desk, but not the third one. Do ya mind telling us what it is? I need some new reading material. 

Is it sad that I was trying hard to look at the books on your table as opposed to looking at the figures? Maybe I've just become accustomed the awesome pictures you post. 
(ID #83661) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
NickC in Vancouver, SFU
Ikea is known for their cheap kosher hotdogs in its North American counterparts. I do agree that the quality of some of their products are top-notch, but the others aren't so good with defects like "knots" and poorly sanded parts in their wooden furniture.

However the best item they probably have is the "detolf" glass case for displaying figures or what have you.

=)

Cheers,
(ID #83662) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
Brad in Perth, Western Australia
Ikea rocks for storage solutions..... over the past four weeks I've purchased three large glass cabinets for all my toys. (Still thinking that four would be better :P) GFF's and PG's fix so well in the DETOLF http://cebas.ikea.com.au/prod_template4.asp?product_id=17014&se_id=37&page_id=5200300251009&Cat=13&Scat=52 Sure I could have bought a couple of PG's but when your collection starts to grow out of control you just can't resist showing them off in nice lighted up glass cabinets. Oh and who could go pass an Ikea hotdog!?
(ID #83663) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
Tristan in Tattoine
That's what we call the Ikea syndrome. 247 stores in 34 countries all over the  world. The same products everywhere.
For instance, we now have the same working table.


(ID #83664) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
Gerbera04g in New York
Hey Danny, was wondering if it is possible to live in Japan while not knowing how to speak the language. A few days ago, I was looking into studying abroad programs for Japan and most of all of them required a basic understanding of Japanese. : /
(ID #83665) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
Parker Ashbey Brown in Phoenix, Arizona, USA
I've got a bed frame and a night stand from IKEA. Had them both for about 1.5 years. They've been good to me, plus there weren't any missing parts. I also like that they're sensitive to the fact that not all people have huge rooms, unlike Crate and Barrel.
N3w_Typ3 in Little Dot in South East Asia
One word "HUGE" store compared to where I am living.

Haha I'm not too sure but I do own IKEA stuffs. So far so good but most people complain that the material is cheap and lousy since theirs spoil very fast.

(ID #83667) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
Justin in Canada
My house is FULL, of Ikea stuff. Just are living room we have more than 20 items from Ikea. ..It's crazy.......
(ID #83668) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
Victoria Smith in London,England, UK
Ikea is pretty good objects. I think Ikea come from Germany, I used some objects from it and I saw most Ikea huge shopping in London anywhere. Most them have modern cos I love modern! (^__^)
(ID #83669) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
Josef in Singapore
Ah.. IKEA from Smaland, Sweden. They got their formula right. My wife just love IKEA. Even though some stuff are way too flimsy, like the shoerack that kept breaking in places, we still buy more stuff. Half the stuff in my house are from IKEA, like a new glass cabinet for S$99 to put my son and my own Gundams.
(ID #83671) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
Wildarmsheero in Spaaaaace
My entire apartment is furnished with used Ikea goods. All of it together probably cost a little over 100USD.
(ID #83672) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
Red October in Elk Grove, CA USA
I always like Ikea furnitures. If I have a house, I will use nothing but Ikea furnitures. BTW Danny do you know Bandai and Pocky join force to release Gundam Pocky. This is the link http://www.bandai.co.jp/releases/J2006112401.html
(ID #83674) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
ricky in providence, ri, usa
for working at a apple retail store you get 10% of anything in the store, 25% of a complete system a year, and if the store makes the quota for that quarter we get $500, if u work full time you get $1000.

we also get deals on the old stuff we don't sell anymore, like floor models and such

microsoft is probably better but i hate pc's
(ID #83675) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
Gordon Pekeur in south africa -cape town-
south africa -cape town- is weak, I dont think we have IKEA around here! Anime is already hard enough to come by....
(ID #83676) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
いつも綺麗でカッコイイ部屋ですね。
いつか撮影しに行きたい!!(・∀・)b
(ID #83678) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
Ikea, what a great success story !
Where ever you go you can find an Ikea store... as a Mc Donald, Coca-Cola... !
(ID #83679) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
Jinoopan in Seoul
I'm using Ikea desks and shelfs. The design itself is pretty good, but the finishing is humble. I know that they are relatively cheap. 
(ID #83680) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
Alafista in Singapore
the shelf where i keep all my figurines  is from IKEA too ... i kinda like going to IKEA .. cheap and acceptable quality  ...

unlike u ... i dun really dare to keep my figurines all over my room ... else dust would start gathering on them after a while
(ID #83681) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
David -M- in France, Strasbourg
I have a lot of furniture from Ikea, i like simple and modern design and not pay a lot of money for this. But for some products, the quality is realy poor... but it's not a problem when you like to change often your house's interior. :)
(ID #83683) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
I love what you did with your office and you computer screen saver looks great you must give it to me next time we meet ;)
(ID #83684) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
that wall mountable shelf looks sweet. ^^ btw I like your new table. it kicks seven shades of moldy wood on the old one. ^^ 
on a side note, I use to think my college professor was pulling my leg when he told me he would just pick up appliances out in the streets back in Japan. lol I wonder if anybody has ever thought of picking all those stuff up and sell them off in other countries as surplus appliance/furniture.
(ID #83685) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
Biz in Paris plage
Ikea paris, it s same, queued for long long on WE. 
(ID #83686) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12
p7m13 in Singapore
Almost all the furniture in my room is from Ikea. In fact, I live just opposite Ikea in Singapore lol! I love their stuff!

I steer very clear from Ikea on weekends though... there's currently only ONE branch in Singapore which caters to 4 million people... so be very afraid of the Ikea crowd on weekends lol.

I mean of course, Ikea Japan's crowd beats us hands down.
(ID #83687) Posted on 1999/11/30 14:12