Great coverage! Looks like you had a blast! Scary, those cross-dressing maids. They draw you in from a distance, but then you see their face! GAH! VENDING MACHINE ZERO! I saw the vids for those on japanprobe just the other day - theyre excellent! Those chaps in the suits with the vader masks on are great. Love the bit about the police cosplay ^_^
People looks very happy and in a good mood. This kind of event must be very funny !
That looks fun! I wish I were there to see it. I feel so bad for those stores closed cus of yodobashi camera. They should just remain at Yodobashi.
Whoa. The power of the otakus! Truly respect them for sticking with their ideals! Akiba needs to import foreign otakus over to help ^^; Go Go Otaku Power! (Power Rangers reference)
I thought i saw Zero!! I wanna see his helmet. Man this looks fun ^^
wow, otaku unite ! i wonder how they organize themself together. good job!
The orange girl on the right looks very cute. The girl in the kimono looks cute too! The girl in the made costume facing a different direction would have looked a lot cuter if she was facing the camera. All that cuteness can get to you!!!
i just got to post again. men dressing up as haruhi is simply hilarious. roflmao !
I believe the character in the third picture is プレネール from artist 原田たけひと, best know for his work on the Disgaea series. His HP: http://members3.jcom.home.ne.jp/u1h/ There's also a figure available of the character: http://www.amiami.com/shop/ProductInfo/product_id/41171
Looks like this was a well-organized and successful demonstration. I really hope it will accomplish something, for better awareness for otaku. People who just want to have fun and enjoy themselves doing the stuff they like. I also hope this will bring a bit more attention to the otaku-hunting problem. it's cool they even got permission to play music. and Suzumiya Haruhi,SOS-dan and Hare Hare Yukai is really becoming a statement of otaku ;p But I like it, I would have joined the demonstration if I could. I'm proud being an otaku.
I don't think I could blend in there, I mean I like Anime, games, Figures and Gunpla and I don't consider myself an Otaku, maybe a little but not at that level
Im not sure why they were protesting. Akiba is a lot more liberal than most parts of Tokyo - they dont have used schoolgirl panties, hentai, girly figures and maiko cafes in Asakusa! On the Otaku thing - i probably wouldnt consider myself a hardcore otaku. There are loads of anime series i havent heard of or seen, and i dont read much manga. I just like japanese society, the figures, artwork and some series.
Although my occupation disagrees, I would not label myself an otaku...put thats mostly becuase people around me give otakus BAD names. Like there all gross and stupid. They say they arre otaku but they don't know what 日本 means, they say they like anime, but have never heard of Akira, and they say they LOVE J-Pop but have never heard of Ayumi Hamasaki! So I guess you could call me an otaku because i'm OBSESSED but I also love alot of other things, like sports. And one more thing, my pride and love for Japan goes so much depper than anime, I love their culture, I have more pride in Japan then most Samurai... XD
Put it in your case, you're a Japanophile.
Otaku Pride! It looks like you had a brilliant time Danny, I really really wish I was their! Also, brilliant police cosplay!
You sure look like a StormZ'Gok with the Vending Machine Zero manipulators. Btw, it appears that all Stormtrooper armour comes with a mokkori guard.
I think the one on the left is cuter, Danny.
Long live Otaku! Looked like a fun event. I like the video and photo coverage a lot . The picture I like the most is the "Maid by the station".
I love those maid uniform designs. Even if they are male, dresses are cute.
I too think that the girl on your left (right when you look at the picture) is cuter. heheh! And also the girl in the kimono. ^^ Btw, are those guys in the Tamaki twins costume? heheh!
Looks like you had losta fun. In fact I think everyone seem to be having so much fun in the video that it doesn't seem to be like a demonstration. =P The mob of otaku should just gather every week like this, form a secret organization or something so that there will be less otaku hunting incidents. P.S. I think the one on the left is cuter.
We are OTAKUS!!! We are ONE!!! that's great that you and Kirei.net covered the demo. i'm quite curious and interested at the akiba liberation demo when i've 1st learned it circulating around the internets ^^ wow! the 3 organizing groups really pulled off a very organized demo and legally (w/ the local police assistance) i wish i was there to witness as otaku/akiba history unfolds ^^ btw, lol @ police cosplayers XDDD
It looks like there was a good turnout for this event, and that makes me happy. Wish i could have been part of it all.Thanks for the coverage and same goes to hector as well. Rejoice in whatever your passion is people, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Mine is Neon Genesis Evangelion, and may it last forever!!!!
There's a strong tradition, especially for politicians to hide things that's considered not fit to the mainstream. So Akiba may turn slowly into something that they consider more "presentable" to the world. The tactics most likely used are raising cost (rent) for small stores and giving attractive offers to selected major retailers. Considering the flow of population in that area most newly migrated computer business should do well, it may be a inevitable direction.
ZOMG! Meido no tameni! Wish I was there.
I'm not an otaku. I spend more time thinking about cars than I do thinking about anime and such. In fact, I should be working on my car at this moment. Procrastination strikes again.
That looks like a lot of fun. I would have gone if I lived there, definitely.
I'm glad it went well. Hope to see results in the near future. If only something like that would happen in the UK but there arnt many Otaku in the UK. It's mostly just manga/anime fans. Not enough hardcore Otaku so an event like that is unlikley to happen :(
great coverage danny ^_^ I think the girl on your left is cuter..hehe...but did u mean our right or your right? i'm confused...lol
They better not shut down Akiba, I haven't even visited yet lol. I wish I could have been there to be a part of the otaku march ^-^. I prefer girls cosplaying as maids and Haruhi too lol.
i saw this in the papers... oh man, would it suck big time if they "convert" akiba into some tourist-y place... and i have yet to visit this famed epicentre of otakuness! AGH, FUZAKERUNA!!! i tink the orange girl on your left is nicer and that maid hiding behind you with the hand pistol is so cute... oh, and lets not forget the complimentary japanese uber cuteness in the kimono, last pic... omg major heart palpitations! lol!
pls answer the following questions: "how did u felt when taking photos with the 2 girls?" 1) moe!~ 2) near to nose bleed 3) MORE!! 4) I'm in heaven.. 5) others? pls write: thx :P
Tiny Red Man, 5) "いい写真になりそう！" BeLe, They are indeed men. Zer0, Mokkori in armor is dangerous. Dan, Thanks for the info!
is that really a demonstration?? looks like awesome fun to me...
oh wow I didn't realise yotobashi camera is a threat! :O but if that means small shops closing that's not good at all =_=; Thanks for sharing pix, it does look like a lot of fun! :3
I think the bunny girl is dressed as Pleinair, an original character by Takehito Harada (the artist who made the character designs for the videogame Makai Senki Disgaea). His website is here: http://members3.jcom.home.ne.jp/u1h/cg/cg.htm And the pic related is here: http://members3.jcom.home.ne.jp/u1h/cg/ple/ni/u1050304.jpg The girl maybe wanted to represent all the moe icons in one dress.
That's so harsh! A company who tries to change the face of Akihabara is wrong. I want to retain Akihabara as a otaku city.
Recently read a book about tabloid in Japan. From what I've read, mainstream people reckon otaku are the bane of society. As such, they treated with contempt. It doesn't help that criminal that show otaku tendencies is giving all otaku bad reputation. Oh well, I wholly support the Demo, though I'm thousand of kilometre away...
OTAKU rules! OTAKU tourist rules too! tourist sucks! why the hell japan government want to change akiba to tourist spot anyway? its already a tourist spot because of maids and doujins ^^
The police cosplay was fantastic - couldn't tell the difference from real police. OMG I started laughing so much when I saw this that my boss came to see if I were slacking. Of course I wasn't!
Even if it looked like a fight for rights, it looks like it was a great way to have fun! Ah, if only things would be like that everywhere, life would be so much more peaceful...!
I think the girl on your left (our right) is more gorgeous, Danny. Her smile melts my heart. :3
Viva le Otaku!!! The main reason i visited Tokyo was to go to Akibahara. And so, proving that Akibahara is a tourist attraction as a Otaku Mecca. Viva Otaku!!! Viva Akiba!!
Long lives otaku ! Man i always want to visit Otaku Mecca :Akihabara ! And now they turn it into something else ,arghh.
Oh no! Akihabara as otaku know it might not be there in the near future. I hope it doesn't completely disappear.
lol.. i thought we gaijins go to akiba because anime n gunpla n computer stuff r the main attractions there.. so if it turn to an only IT stuff then its gonna be just like any other shopping places.. maybe the developer should read our comments here cause we r the tourist n we want akiba to stay as otaku/gunota heaven! yeay
Man, I guess I have to make a pilgrimage to Akihabara before it's gone!
Haha, looks like you had fun... BTW, the maid in the second last pic is camera shy?
I wish I had been at that demonstration! Viva la OTAKU!
at the demonstration of the past year there was also a Comunist Group that go in the streets with otaku, in this demo there was again that group?
wow wish i was there to see that
....High spirits!!!.....but guy dressed as a girl!?, I ll bleach my eyes after seeing those horror....
So they're basically protesting big business taking over everything? I hope it helps. It happens here a lot. NYC especially has been suffering for years; its charm is slowly fading away and being replaced by Trump towers. My college town had a very charming little area right next to the university full of mom and pop type places, lots of awesome local stuff. McD's and Starbucks (I think) bought off a sector of it and lots of places were demolished or had to move. The area is what made Denton, Denton, and they wanted to destroy it. :(
I hope akihabara keeps being the otaku paradise it is now.
That vending machine cosplay is making me think. I could make one of thsoe, and actually have it vend pop just like a real pop machine. I would just need to take a trip down to radio shack, and maybe some custom parts online. I could probably do that costume as a fully functional pop machine for under $1000 easy.
Haha that Songoku cosplayer i hear about a lot.. apparently he sings that "cha la, head cha la" song with a lot of passion. lol Akiba rules!
love the shot of the girl in orange jumpsuit giving u a hug. beat u can't feel a thing. sadly. ^^;
Old post FTW! XD Fun times huh Danny? That pic of yours with the Vending Machine arms is hilarious!
police cosplay, now thats dedication
Lolx..The bunny lady so funny. Luckily im not eating now... If not, sure vomit.
The day when Japan falls start with Japan overcrowded with idiotic otakus and I can see it coming. Taking fetish indulgences to extremism only means signing an early death warrant to the ACG industry, is this how Japan supposed to be? Such otaku movements are no different than those Taiwanese "Desperate Houseboys" who went on a protest against Valentines day and harassed couples in the streets earlier this year. Personal fetishes are nothing worthy of celeb publicity but only stay as major public concerns over their young falling to such low-life habits and developed problems mixing among society. So one Kato psychopath is not enough huh? People should promote the brighter and friendlier sides of anime-manga instead of showing off pride at crossdressing and pedophile attitudes, only losers make bad images for ACG industry and we don't need more fags...
Kato is nothing compared to Miyazaki Tsutomu. Despite your moralistic scaremongering, otaku culture has survived even worse things, and that was when otaku culture was even weaker than it is now. All your complaints have been made before, and have been proven by history to be meaningless.
@codename:v - you are referring to me and a lot of other folks here right? Please read some of these. It may help you. http://www.dannychoo.com/all/eng/motivational/
