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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 (8)
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 (6)
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 (80)
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 (55)
Natsumi Hinata
Have always wanted this resin kit figure of Natsumi by Bome and saw a link at Figure GK going to Yahoo Auction... ( more » )
Thu 07/24 16:37 comments (35)
日本語/Japanese  Fri 04/27 00:27 JST
We already know about the two otaku heavens - Akihabara and Nakano Broadway but there is another place which may become the 3rd Otaku heaven west of Tokyo in a city called Tachikawa.
The latest edition of Windows 100% had a wee article on what they called "the 3rd otaku city" and seeing that I was in the area anyway, I thought I'd check it out. Sure enough, I was greeted with a load of Gunpla when I arrived on the third floor of Daiichi Department store.
The 3rd Akihabara (click to enlarge)
Taken at the Kotobukiya store.
Yikes. I'm loosing track of my Gundams - cant remember this one! Freedom?
The 3rd Akihabara (click to enlarge)
Infinite Justice Gundam. The proportions look odd on this - I guess this is the 1/100 scale?
The 3rd Akihabara (click to enlarge)
Not sure about this one but looking at the blaster I guess its form the seed series.
The 3rd Akihabara (click to enlarge)
Shelf O goodies.
The 3rd Akihabara (click to enlarge)
Stack O figures.
The 3rd Akihabara (click to enlarge)
Wall O limited edition telephone cards.
The 3rd Akihabara (click to enlarge)
Many of them are Ero or Anime.
The 3rd Akihabara (click to enlarge)
Currently watching the current run of Nanoha - turned out better than I thought.
The 3rd Akihabara (click to enlarge)
Yum! The Mirei-san figure is taking its time to be released - supposed to be out this month. I've got the brunette on pre-order but if I see it while in Akihabara tomorrow, I'm going to get the blonde too ^^;
The 3rd Akihabara (click to enlarge)
The Kotobukiya store also has loads of equipment for model building.
The 3rd Akihabara (click to enlarge)
New Queens Blade item out this Saturday.
The 3rd Akihabara (click to enlarge)
More Queens Blade.

If you happen to be in the Tachikawa area, you may want to pop in but you may be dissapointed if you make the trip expecting to see a "3rd Akihabara." I do think that over time, more otaku shops may move into the department store but for now its Kotobukiya, some shop that sells idol stuff and a large bookshop with loadsa manga. I was at Showa Kinen park which is in the same area so poping in was not a bother.
The 3rd Akihabara (click to enlarge)
Categories
Polls
windbell in Singapore/シンガポール, Tokyo/東京
Web Developer/ウェブデベロッパー, Photographer/写真や
Registered on 2006/12/25 12:20
Still, The 3rd Akihabara has alot more stuff then what we have back here combined :/

Nice find Danny!
(ID #47074) Posted on 2007/04/27 01:11
Tall Baka in LA, California
HS and Basketball Student
Registered on 2007/01/08 07:52
Wow thats alot of Gundams =0
(ID #47075) Posted on 2007/04/27 01:17
V1lt R in US
Honda technician, baby.
Registered on 2007/01/05 13:22
We use to have an otaku shop. They went out of business.

I missed going there.
(ID #47076) Posted on 2007/04/27 01:22
Registered on 2006/12/24 23:42
I think the red Gundam is the ZGMF-X23S Saviour from the 2nd Seed series. ^^ man, seeing those images makes me wish that we chose Japan as for our honeymoon trip. lol oh well, there's always next year's vacation I guess. thank you Danny for that juicy bit of otaku info. ^^ 
(ID #47077) Posted on 2007/04/27 01:41
Henry in Makati, Philippines
anime/cosplay events organizer
Registered on 2006/12/25 19:17
*adds Tachikawa*

a 3rd Akiba after Nakano Broadway. all of the otaku stuff are in department stores, am i right?

Otaku-related shops are slowly expanding beyond the borders of Akiba ^^
(ID #47078) Posted on 2007/04/27 01:42
Subaruhess in Portsmouth, UK
Registered on 2006/12/24 22:37
Another reason why I want to visit japan, its fun ordering gunpla & figures online but I Really want to see what a 'real' gundam shop is like. Also the white gundam is a kit bash of the freedom, the one below is the original justice gundam not infinite justice. The red gundam is the Saviour gundam from seed destiny. I like those posters they have in figures shops. Do they give them away or are they binned when they are finished with them?
(ID #47079) Posted on 2007/04/27 01:52
Doc in Kansas
Student
Registered on 2007/01/05 13:32
wtf? it looks like freedom and impulse gundam got together and made some babies.
ooo, another place im looking forward to visiting when i study abroad to tokyo in two years. i hope i can meet with you then danny!
(ID #47080) Posted on 2007/04/27 03:02
belizeanvibes in Houston
Intern Architect
Registered on 2007/03/26 23:09
Looking at the photos I realized freedom gundam looks alot like x gundam. And that brings up the question how come bandai released the hideous g gundams and not x gundam, in MG format that is. 
(ID #47081) Posted on 2007/04/27 03:11
Rufus Shinra in 神羅HQ 60th floor, Midgar
Registered on 2007/01/20 01:05
The limited edition phone cards are nice (only in Japan can u find such things). If they're usable, I'd get a few. 
(ID #47082) Posted on 2007/04/27 03:25
super rats in Philadelphia, PA (USA)
Everything
Registered on 2007/01/15 11:33
There are shops that cater to American comics and the toys for that where I live, but not for anime stuffs.  The only time I get to see a wall of figures and anime goodies is at a convention.
(ID #47083) Posted on 2007/04/27 03:29
Jay Cee in São Paulo, Brazil
Registered on 2007/02/08 02:54
Back here in São Paulo, Brazil we have some otaku stores in the japanese district called Liberdade (freedom in english) Do you guys knew the Brazil is  country with more japanese peopple outside japan.
(ID #47084) Posted on 2007/04/27 03:42
Zer0 in Singapore
Keyboard Warrior
Registered on 2007/01/11 18:55
Hmm? I always thought Nakano Broadway is the second Akiba. If that's the case, where is the second Akiba then?
(ID #47085) Posted on 2007/04/27 04:40
Zer0 in Singapore
Keyboard Warrior
Registered on 2007/01/11 18:55
ごめん...めがねをかけないで、文をmisreadした。
(ID #47086) Posted on 2007/04/27 04:44
Subarunyon
Can't see the backpack too clearly, but that body minus the skirt is definitely freedom. The creator might have intended it to be Dreadnought though, which has similar backpack to that.
(ID #47087) Posted on 2007/04/27 05:06
AndyH in Birmingham, UK
3D artist
Registered on 2006/12/25 10:08
Dammit!
I JUST come back from a month in Tokyo, and the new shunya yamashita figure has just been released (the one with the sword round her back) and the latest and greatest queens blade book has just come out! Now youre saying that mirei-san is just about to be released?? AGH!

Wish i was back there :_(
(ID #47089) Posted on 2007/04/27 05:30
kyo171 in Singapore
student otaku
Registered on 2007/04/18 14:43
arghh the nanoha figure is chou kawaii. Love nanoha, the newest strikers series is gr8 too. thanks for the pics, wish there would be some place like akihabara in Singapore too
(ID #47091) Posted on 2007/04/27 05:52
BeLe in Davao, Philippines
.NET/Web Developer
Registered on 2007/01/03 16:36
No otaku shops anywhere near here...which is too bad really.  Maybe because not too otakus are present in the area. 
(ID #47092) Posted on 2007/04/27 05:52
Registered on 2007/01/14 21:51
Yep, the 3rd one is Saviour.. 
Dedicated Otaku stores -_- in Lisbon, I don't know any but if there's one I'll be quite happy.
(ID #47093) Posted on 2007/04/27 06:04
Lazy Fiend in Small dot on Earth
Part-time Slacker, Part-time Student
Registered on 2007/01/08 12:59
Looks more like modded model kits than the default ones...
(ID #47094) Posted on 2007/04/27 06:37
Tiny Red Man in Shingapooru..
eBay Packer.
Registered on 2007/04/11 16:51
sunshine plaza(in singapore) needs to have more such shops!! Phonecards from eroge and anime!!  and of cos, more erogeS!!!  XDXDXD  my otaku powa is gearing up!! 
(ID #47095) Posted on 2007/04/27 07:17
Linc_31 in Hong Kong/Beijing
Student
Registered on 2006/12/26 09:50
nice looking custom painted freedom...i thought it was GP-01 at first...and a decent saviour gundam too.
(ID #47096) Posted on 2007/04/27 08:40
Frost in Philippines
Project Team Lead
Registered on 2007/01/09 16:42
The first model kit is a Freedom Gundam converted into Gundam X. The next one is Justice Gundam but it's missing the tall white camera on its head. The red one is Saviour Gundam.
(ID #47097) Posted on 2007/04/27 08:45
Hayden in London, UK
Custom Pc Builder, Muppet, Pyromaniac, Demolitions Expert
Registered on 2007/01/06 05:53
*dibbles* look at all them gorgous gunplas.......now thats what i would class as pure gunpla heaven.

On another note:

Danny have you been having trouble with your site recently? for some reason either live bookmarks or a few pages refuse to load now & again & I have to load into an older post before I can move onto the post which 'doesnt load up' but then it loads up but I have to be on the website already for the whole thing to work properly...

Im using the most upto date version of firefox if that helps
(ID #47098) Posted on 2007/04/27 10:42
bob-san in Madison WI
Administrative Assistant
Registered on 2007/02/22 23:27
I only wish there was something half as big near where I live.  The closest thing I know of is a small shop about 2 1/2 hours away which we refer to as The Bootleg Store.  Only because of the guy trying to sell me a FF Advent children DVD that had not been released yet with labels he most likely made on his computer.

Besides that, the next store is about 4 hours in the other direction.

:(
(ID #47099) Posted on 2007/04/27 10:45
Trent in Minnesota
Otaku
Registered on 2007/02/10 15:13
Sadly, I don't have a store like this near me...About 30 minutes away there is this store in a mall that sells a ton of Anime stuff like keychains, figures, books, dvds, etc.. but it is all way over priced and you never know when the stuff you want is going to dissepear...One of my dreams is to open Otaku World, a department store that just sells Otaku stuff! Like a whole Gunpla floor, a Manga store, an Anime store, a whole floor of Vending Machines, and everything else! WOOOO-HOOOOO!
(ID #47100) Posted on 2007/04/27 11:11
Trent in Minnesota
Otaku
Registered on 2007/02/10 15:13
Oh, and by the way...That pic of Freedom Gundam looks strange. Freedom is my favorite gundam, so I own all of the Model Kits of him, and None of them are like that...Do you think it could possibly be a G-System or some other third-party gundam?
(ID #47101) Posted on 2007/04/27 11:14
X-Gear in his room
College student
Registered on 2007/01/18 17:00
I know that place after watching Genshiken.  Wow, looks freaking sweet.  Too bad i only have horses and cows around my area
(ID #47102) Posted on 2007/04/27 12:30
-XYZPDQ in Pennsylvania, United States
Student Engineer
Registered on 2007/01/01 14:12
No its a shame- there is no store that even imports anything otaku related for about 75 to 100 miles. Like I said before, the largest Gunpla around here is at a local hobbystore, and the schtuff is only 1/144. I sadly have to go thru Ebay to get anything otaku.


Thankfully stores like Borders and "Barnes and Nobles" have stocked the motherload on manga. I pop into Waldenbooks (sister branch of Borders) when I need to feed a manga addiction. Suncoast is usually the best place to pick up anime, but be forwarned- it gets expensive and they like to solicit you out the door. Suncoast is the only place I have ever seen figures imported, and there wernt very many (maybe about 5). It really is an honest shame, if there was an otaku heaven nearby, they would be getting A LOT of my money.
(ID #47103) Posted on 2007/04/27 13:04
nodle in America
Computer Tech.
Registered on 2007/03/14 07:26
Thats a sweet store. Wish we had stuff like that around here. :(
(ID #47104) Posted on 2007/04/27 14:02
JuN in Singapore
Thats a freedom alright. I think the modeller painted it in the colour scheme of RX-78-2.

We do have a few otaku shops in Singapore. One is at sunshine plaza, with 2 shops that sells mainly gundams. And other shops dealing few figurines of all kinds.

Another place is China Square Central. Lots of shops selling toys ranging from 1/6 actions dolls, pvc figures,kamen rider to stuff like Marvel, mcfarlane. Usually otakus or rather toy collectors will go there on sunday, cos theres a flea market going on and sometimes u can find really good bargains.

That said, Singapore has quite a few toy shops, so we are considered quite lucky.
(ID #47107) Posted on 2007/04/27 18:27
Trent in Minnesota
Otaku
Registered on 2007/02/10 15:13
Stores like Target and Toys 'r' us used to sell gundam model kits, but not for very long. At Target you could buy non-grades and then 1 or 2 HG's every so often. Toys 'r' Us would sell even Master Grades, but that was only when Gundam Wing was out, when Gundam was really popular.
(ID #47108) Posted on 2007/04/27 20:02
kakit in Toronto, Canada
Student
Registered on 2007/04/24 07:45
I got Pacific Mall and other Chinese malls near me to get my anime fix or I pick them up when I go to HK once a year :)
(ID #47109) Posted on 2007/04/27 20:05
Kazuya-kun in Canada
Rogu!!
Registered on 2008/06/24 11:34
The one in Pacific Mall sells bootleg figurines ~_~... I'd never go there to shop again. 

I got a Saber holiday ver. there... the bootleg one :(
(ID #175879) Posted on 2008/04/27 08:20
lu in Toronto, Canada
Medical Lab Researcher
Registered on 2008/04/20 12:26
I hardly go to pacific mall and other anime store in GTA except accessories and supplies. Altough I haven't encountered a fake product, the selection is usually limited and the price is, ridiculous. I order my gundam models exclusively from Hobby Wave and buy figurines on Ebay, or from online retailers in North America. 
(ID #175969) Posted on 2008/04/27 11:56
Shasui in Norwich
I hardly get much time to go out but when I do I normaly get one or to DVDs there are a few comic shops hidden up in Norwich but nothing much for the Otaku inside
(ID #47110) Posted on 2007/04/27 20:38
shi in 604
Registered on 2007/01/18 05:22
got a toy store quite near my office, they carry figures/gunpla, pretty everything i want, but obviously the price is a bit higher, but it saves me the trouble of ordering online and picking my stuff from the courier office (which close oh so early).
(ID #47111) Posted on 2007/04/27 20:59
Danny Choo in Tokyo
Director/代表取締役
Registered on 2006/12/11 11:06
X-Gear,
Horses and Cows!

Trent,
Probably a kit bash.

Hayden,
Been getting quite a bit of traffic lately and the server went down twice. I added the feed to my live bookmarks in FF and it seems to work. Can you give it another try?
(ID #47113) Posted on 2007/04/28 00:25
Gordon Pekeur in south africa -cape town-
I would lose it in a store like that .... Id probably leave with an empty wallet 2 .... wickD store, Id like to visit it one day!!
(ID #47136) Posted on 2007/04/28 08:15
pulpotomy
Hi Danny, 

I'm going to be in TOkyo for about 3-4 days in June of '07. 

Could you recommend any shops that carries rare or lots of selection of Gunpla in the three areas you mentioned? 

Would be a plus if you can name some fun Maid cafe to visit.  Thanks a bunch...

I'm definitely going to Nakano Broadway.  

BTW, we're staying at Shinjuku.  Woohoo  SOAP land!!!
(ID #47147) Posted on 2007/04/28 18:21
Danny Choo in Tokyo
Director/代表取締役
Registered on 2006/12/11 11:06
pulpotomy,
Bring yourself to Asobit in Akiba and you should be covered for all stuff Gundam. Not sure about the maid cafes as I have not been to one ^^;
(ID #47152) Posted on 2007/04/29 01:49
Astrana in Calgary, Canada
Student
Registered on 2007/08/15 11:20
"Not sure about the maid cafes as I have not been to one ^^;"

Unbelievable, this is madness!! Was your wife behind you when you were typing this... j/k  =P
(ID #175846) Posted on 2008/04/27 04:25
Digger
Hey...anyone heard of the Bandai Asobi store in rinku outlet? heard the gunpla there is cheap?
(ID #47162) Posted on 2007/04/29 05:05
bolt in Tampa Fl.
security/student
Registered on 2007/04/17 14:53
there is one in tampa, but its so far in BFE that its near imposible for me to go to, totally out of my way from school,work, home.. owell  I've got danny's site..i'm happy
(ID #47163) Posted on 2007/04/29 05:10
CMWilly in Los Angeles, CA
Animation
Registered on 2007/04/19 10:59
I got a couple stores here and there. But I love the "hunt" of the figures since they are harder to come by in the states if they aren't through a local distributor!
(ID #47180) Posted on 2007/04/30 01:50
D_Blade in Montreal
Non-profit org. volunteering work addict
Registered on 2006/12/31 22:48
Just found one this week-end (!), but it's really a small one. 
Quite a stack of Gundam figures, anime DVDs and figures (liked the Saber one there).
(ID #47233) Posted on 2007/05/01 13:32
syrix in U.S.
student
Registered on 2007/03/21 09:30
Not much stores over here but there are more opening up, including a few that moved from Japan
(ID #47242) Posted on 2007/05/01 21:59
Kousaka in US in South Carolina USA
There are no otaku shops any where near hear, however there are a few shops at Columbia, Dutch [] mall, and Richland Fashion Mall that sell some anime merchandise.  
(ID #47286) Posted on 2007/05/02 16:52
philo in Rosarito, Mexico.
Computer Technician, Otaku.
Registered on 2007/06/23 10:32
Well there's small places where you can get Anime, but its all Mainstream anime like DBZ or Naruto or Robotech, maybe you can find some Gundam, but its all very expensive, like 40 US Dlls for Just one DVD.

Im saving money so i can start a small store, but its hard to get the Merchandise, most of the Merchandise here is from China, so it Sucks...
(ID #50280) Posted on 2007/06/24 03:24
thefrikking in Spain
Imperial Guard
Registered on 2007/08/18 06:30
I know many otaku shops, in fact I even work sometimes in one, but... This is a megastore!!! Is paradise!! All the shops around here are small shops, but with maaaany things, don`t complain.

P.D. In shops, you usually see tons of figure, not only japanese(otaku), but no gundams, not even one.
(ID #56851) Posted on 2007/09/14 07:21
lin-da-kenobi in Long Beach
college student
Registered on 2007/08/16 02:56
i live in Long Beach,CA and well there's NO Otaku store around where i live if i wanna buy a Gundam model i have 2 go all the way 2 Chinatown 2 buy 'em (actually it's really expensive) but i rather wait until the expo (Anime-Expo) comes that means i have 2 wait every July to buy 'em & it's really CHEAP >.< n.n (i buy a lot!!!)
(ID #58340) Posted on 2007/10/03 00:47
kakit in Toronto, Canada
Student
Registered on 2007/04/24 07:45
Well I'm right next to Pacific Mall, if anyone has ever watched Russell Peter's video you'll know its a giant Chinese mall. But err yea the Gunpla stores they have in there are over priced etc, ever since going back to HK, I buy all my stuff there and bring it back or ask relatives to, saves me much more money.
(ID #175699) Posted on 2008/04/26 19:48
Timotei in Sweden
NEET
Registered on 2008/02/17 09:28
The closest to a otakushop in Lund is probably a small bookstoor that sells some manga, and that's not much. 

I pretty much hate this place, but thank god for Internet and online shops.
(ID #175725) Posted on 2008/04/26 20:55
Astrana in Calgary, Canada
Student
Registered on 2007/08/15 11:20
heavan... btw danny have u watched Kanokon yet?
(ID #175729) Posted on 2008/04/26 21:33
tick tock in Tokyo
Full-time student へへ
Registered on 2008/05/21 23:18
aren't those custom models? the first looks like strike freedom gundam with parts from other gundams. infinity looks a little pinkish though. saviour looks good. i like the shade of red. Seems like i've got to check out tachikawa for myself. that place looks interesting. 

by the way, if you're into modeling and don't have much space at home, plus you live along the toyoko line, i found an interesting place. <a href="http://kenleewrites.com/2008/04/tamiya-plamodel-factory.html">Tamiya Plamodel Factory</a>. Gotta decide on a car or ship before i go next. ^^
(ID #175732) Posted on 2008/04/26 22:01