Densha Vader
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36)
Sat 2007/06/09 22:26
Was out n about with Hector who runs Japan blog Kirainet (he was also on blog tv) and here are a handful of pictures we took on the trains. Vader is a bummer to snap due to the blackness - the SLR thinks there is nothing there when you aim ^^; The complete opposite of a Stormtrooper ^^;
Hector will be uploading more pics to his blog (his blog is in English too) after he has finished fixing Technorati. Speaking of Technorati, their catch phrase is "Zillions of blogs (some of them have to be good)" which makes it sound like most of them are crap. hmmm.
Update: Hector has the pics up now.
Hector will be uploading more pics to his blog (his blog is in English too) after he has finished fixing Technorati. Speaking of Technorati, their catch phrase is "Zillions of blogs (some of them have to be good)" which makes it sound like most of them are crap. hmmm.
Update: Hector has the pics up now.
For those who don't know, Densha (電車(でんしゃ)) means "train".
Having lived for most of my life in London, it was a welcome relief to come to a place where the trains are so spot on that you can set your watch by them (which I always do). I guess I'd rather be crushed on the train than having no train at all as was the case of London.
Back then, I would head for the underground station not knowing whether the trains were running or not. Occasionally I would get the "The Circle Line is closed today. Please find an alternative method of travel".
The best bit about the underground trains is when they change drivers. This process takes 10 mins where the previous driver gathers his newspaper (the Sun), packed lunch and tea flask. The new driver then sets his newspaper, tea and lunch in position, adjusts his seat....
The driver change process in Tokyo is instant and you can normally watch it happen at Shinagawa station on the Yamanote line - done within 15 seconds.
Having lived for most of my life in London, it was a welcome relief to come to a place where the trains are so spot on that you can set your watch by them (which I always do). I guess I'd rather be crushed on the train than having no train at all as was the case of London.
Back then, I would head for the underground station not knowing whether the trains were running or not. Occasionally I would get the "The Circle Line is closed today. Please find an alternative method of travel".
The best bit about the underground trains is when they change drivers. This process takes 10 mins where the previous driver gathers his newspaper (the Sun), packed lunch and tea flask. The new driver then sets his newspaper, tea and lunch in position, adjusts his seat....
The driver change process in Tokyo is instant and you can normally watch it happen at Shinagawa station on the Yamanote line - done within 15 seconds.
A few more pics of the armor at IT Media. Was at the Sblog Dinner where Japans top bloggers (including Kogure-san who runs Netaful - Alexa rank 10,124) and folks from the IT industry gather together to network/share ideas etc. IT Media had the MacBook Pro on the day of release and brought it along to get the opinions of the bloggers.
If you are new here, you may want to keep up with more of the same via RSS or Danny's other networks. (dont show again)
Got the armor to a wearable state and went out to give it a test drive....(more)
Sun 06/03 01:34 comments (99)
Vader: Its time for my haircut.
Planet Staff: But my lord, you dont ha...(more)
Thu 05/31 00:11 comments (30)
Vader : koooshhh!! ishhhhhh !!!! koooossshhh!! Passenger : hey man you konw you could take some Ventoline for your asthma Vader : You fool, it's not asthma, it's my air conditioner, how do you think i can bear this mask in the tube? Passenger :...
(ID #49404) Posted on 2007/06/10 00:14
Otaku Programmer/Gamer/Artist/Photographer
AHAHA! LOL
(ID #547895) Posted on 2009/04/03 19:50
Heh nice work danny, funny how people around you look as if your not even standing there. Are the buttons on the chest panel lit or is that some photoshop trick? ^^;
(ID #49405) Posted on 2007/06/10 00:14
CEO MIrai Inc
Subaruhess, Only the lightsaber was photoshopped a bit. Angelo, Took a pic of Vader with myashtma inhaler but it turned out crap ^^;
(ID #49406) Posted on 2007/06/10 00:29
John in Canada
Danny!! I found this SWEEEET mod on how to make a lighting Darth Vade Belt!!! I wonder if you will try make it look like that, it's pretty damn sweet. ;D Link: http://www.darthblade.com/belt.htm
(ID #49407) Posted on 2007/06/10 00:37
haha, dark ruler of space hiding in tokyo subway :-)
(ID #49408) Posted on 2007/06/10 00:43
Plamo Addict
you need to get someone to wear the stormtrooper armour with you! that would be sweet!
(ID #49409) Posted on 2007/06/10 01:45
Mandalorian in training + Otaku...
Ugh, must be a pain to capture those pic's. Nice pic's, as usual danny :D .
(ID #49410) Posted on 2007/06/10 01:52
Web Developer/ウェブデベロッパー, Photographer/写真や
Pretty cool that the trains in Tokyo are so spot on. Over here, we don't have timetables for trains but we do have a large LCD display screen at each platform which informs you of when the next train's arriving. (usually within 3 ~ 8 mins) I wonder if cosplaying as Stormtrooper or Vader and going to the train station would get me stopped by train security ^^; SOme force mind-control would be really handy ^^
(ID #49411) Posted on 2007/06/10 01:59
Troubleshooter, Universal Exports
Oh yes, I bet Hector was having fun trying to keep both yours and the backgrounds exposures correct. @_@ You look good Danny! Although, I see what you mean about the helmet. It looks a little bit large in comparison to your body. You will get to that in time... Did you use a low gloss polish on the boots? Maybe it's just the pictures, but they blend better with the other parts now. ^^; Maybe at some point you can redo the chest and belt control panels so the lights go off and on at intervals. When you get all the mods. finish you will need two or three troopers with you to complete the look. Maybe I will get Storm Trooper armor and join you. ^_- Need to get some of the photos Hector took of you before. Would really make great wallpaper.
(ID #49412) Posted on 2007/06/10 02:12
in the last picture it seems there is a white saber that is gonna cut your head :P
(ID #49413) Posted on 2007/06/10 02:36
Policy & Research Officer
Interestingly, alot of the passengers on the train seem to be asleep. I wonder whether they are truly zzzzz-ing . While you were walking around in vadar mode, were there many other people trying to take a snapshot of you?
(ID #49414) Posted on 2007/06/10 02:43
Waiting for Chikan Densha Vader...
(ID #49415) Posted on 2007/06/10 02:48
bakagundamzero in Manila, Philippines
Regarding trains and subways here in the Philippines are relatively efficient. However, ever heard of the phrase "packed like sardines"? Well the phrase "packed like corned beef" is more suitable for he number of people in the train during rush hour. Anyway Danny, nice Darth Vader costume.
(ID #49416) Posted on 2007/06/10 03:19
marvin (Registered on 2006/12/25 00:54)
I always found the london underground confusing, ^^ I wonder if you ever got lost during you old UK days Danny. ^^ Bakagundamzero, Packing yourselves like a can of sadrines is okay, however sometimes being next to a guy who hasn't showered for a few days even with manila's humid weather is bad, but managable. but the worst type of commuters in manila are the ones who stay right in front of the train doors until the last possible second, then while the doors are closing would suddenly make a mad dash squeezing himself against an unsuspecting lady, squishing her into the train. people like that should be tied up and thrown out onto the tracks
(ID #49417) Posted on 2007/06/10 04:38
the train in here suck! they got rusty floor, rusty door, some people standing in the train ceiling, and slow as hell(a car are 2 times faster from it) and the station filled with bum,thieves,and some/lot gang or some useless, violent ppl i never took a train in my own country, as it's not efficient and risky. only ever took a train in singapore and on japan in 2004
(ID #49418) Posted on 2007/06/10 04:57
in hk the trains are very clean and ders a first class and economy class to choose from both are very clean because of the very strict rules of eating in de train
(ID #49419) Posted on 2007/06/10 05:03
Woodcrafter/3D Modeler
You missed an option Danny: *No train/subway at all The only remains of a train line here in Trelew are a (really) rusty steam locomotive outside the old train station (which is now a museum), and 100m of narrow track rails in front of a school. But talking about Buenos Aires subway, it sucks, is dirty, dark, damp. And cars get really packed at certain times. BTW, the cars (in BsAs subway) are japanese, the interior looks much like the one in the pictures, just that dirty and with bad bad maintenance.
(ID #49420) Posted on 2007/06/10 05:44
Castigator of Students
The light rail systems in Manila vary greatly between the three lines. The original LRT-1 is hot, old, and last I checked, reeks of urine. The second system, MRT-3, is fast and on time, but is often packed full and is very uncomfortable. Thankfully the air conditioning is cold. The newest line, LRT-2, is spacious, fast and clean. Stations accurately predict when the next train is coming.
(ID #49421) Posted on 2007/06/10 08:10
Designer & Animator
First Densha Trooper Now Densha Vader. The dark side conquers the JR lines ^^ I like the photos of you reading the idol book guess vader needs some relaxing moments LOL Was it hot in the suit? Was it easy to take out the helmet like the stormtrooper one?
(ID #49423) Posted on 2007/06/10 11:00
Nice one again. Darth Vader is even more impressiv than a storm trooper. I hope BlogTV invites you again, but this time with your Vader suit on. Oh and please, if they do, talk to them through your speaker...if it has one. That would be hilarious =D
(ID #49428) Posted on 2007/06/10 12:03
Hobby Store clerk guy thing...
I'm really diggin that Vader suit now lol, looks great ont he train with the lights. The trains in my city are HORRIBLE. They're ALWAYS late or cancelled when you need them most >.< Plus they're expensive~
(ID #49431) Posted on 2007/06/10 12:49
Hangmen13 in Sabah, Malaysia, but now studying in KL (still the same country) (Registered on 2007/04/21 22:31)
Aimless Traveler
Those passengers in the second pic looks like they've been force choked.
(ID #49434) Posted on 2007/06/10 15:56
Taking the metro in different countries is quite an interesting experience. In Paris (where lived most of my life in), the metro is rather clean now. It is rather silent, especially the suburbs network and the newest lines. Just don't stare at people (^_^;). The design of the sitting places are quite... particular, different from what you can see elsewhere, cars usually differ depending on the line. In N.Y.C., very noisy subway (you do know when it arrives) and quite dark stations, but fine otherwise. In Boston, nice, old looking cars on the outside but reliable. quiet and comfy too. In London, lots of free journals nicely and randomly placed in the cars. Rather quiet and clean too. Very long stairways with random musicians. In H.K., clean cars, quiet and so on. Been a while though. In Singapore, very modern, ultra-clean (Love the ultra-strict laws there -no bubblegum allowed for exemple-. My favorite. In Montreal, nice metro that can be littered with free journals on the floor (what a pity) but really quiet (their cars have tires!) and it has even electronic media on some of the lines! What I like the most in the metro nowadays? Forbidden smoking! That's all I can say I guess.
(ID #49440) Posted on 2007/06/10 19:06
Please don't mind my syntax errors... "Spent my life in" would be more correct for example but I had so much to talk about... Anyway. It's amusing how the metro/subway/tube can tell us about the culture of each country. ^^
(ID #49441) Posted on 2007/06/10 19:12
Student
The only proper trains we've got here are three lines, shaped in an H form, which leaves a lot to be desired in terms of getting anywhere. Poor air conditioning; they don't work on an actual timetable (they come and go as they please) and just really bad overall. I wish we have better mass transport :(
(ID #49466) Posted on 2007/06/11 09:33
CEO MIrai Inc
Zeroblade, Sounds like a nightmare! D_Blade, You've been around! Hangmen13, Nice one ^^; Akiraman, Its an oven in there ^^; Marvin, Happens here too ^^; Alafista, Many ^^; Kirai, Ouch! John, Thanks for the link.
(ID #49469) Posted on 2007/06/11 11:32
The closest train station in my area is 10-15 miles away. While they are reliable i wouldn't say they were efficient.
(ID #49472) Posted on 2007/06/11 13:12
http://blog.tokidoki.it/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/d1.jpg ☆★☆★☆
(ID #49505) Posted on 2007/06/12 03:23
TK-4541
Lord vader, the rail transit system in my sector (part of the world) of the galaxy is not the most reliable nor the mosr efficient. You can get mugged in the station or even on the train. Good thing the Empire arms the Stormtrooper Corps with the E-11s to wrad off thieves and their ilk.
(ID #49567) Posted on 2007/06/13 02:56
Procurement officer / Teacher
Subway here in nagoya is very muh on time all the time :) I love it. Good change from the shit system in australia
(ID #49598) Posted on 2007/06/13 15:54
After recently visiting London, the Tube was a lot more efficient than i expected - at least they are frequent! Love watching the driver change at shinagawa/ tokyo station though - whats with that pointing thing they do to the clock when they depart stations? They do it every time! Cant believe they keep their gloves so clean as well - surely there are dirty surfaces somewhere on a train?? Vader looks great - you GOTTA go to Yoyogi park/ Harajuku with it on! I love the bit in the kirainet vid when you use the 'force' in your hand to get through the train gate ^^
(ID #49653) Posted on 2007/06/14 07:31
Also, i dont know where this pic originally came from, but i love it: http://photos23.flickr.com/27806831_a128ec5553.jpg Hope you can recreate it some day!
(ID #49654) Posted on 2007/06/14 07:33
Great looking pics, Hector is a great photographer ^-^. When I went to Hong Kong I never knew the schedule of the trains but there was always one that came in about three minutes if I just missed a ride so it wasn't so bad, they even tell you the amount of minutes before the train arrived which was great to know.
(ID #49692) Posted on 2007/06/15 00:39
Derek
Okay, If the vader suit will fit my 184.5 cm frame, I am all for being your dark leader one Sunday afternoon in Akihabara. Feel free to contact me via email
(ID #51462) Posted on 2007/07/12 03:14
to answer your poll honestly subways and trains are no existant here in the houstion area
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