A week in Tokyo 7

   (62)
      
日本語/Japanese
Tue 2008/02/19 05:37
Not so many external meetings for the past week and have been frantically working on the next major changes to dannychoo.com which I aim to release this week if all goes well.

Pic of the recently acquired bicycle parked on a cold n crisp morning on the way to get some Mc Donalds breakfast.
Never have been able to ride a bicycle for most of my life until I tried out my wifes new mini bicycle. I found I could actually ride it and then decided to get my own....hmmmm. I'm having a wave of Deja Vu - have I talked about this before? I forget so will continue anyway ^^;

The bicycle cost about 20,000 yen. Is light weight (about 3 Kg) and can fold up small enough to fit in my trouser pocket. Cone to think of it - thats lighter than my MacBook Pro ^^;
An ad for one of those stamina drinks aimed at the salary man. I hear that drinking too many of these is bad for you.
Mc Donalds has these video chat terminals where you can chat to people who are at other Mc Donalds - never seen anybody using these.
Fancy a nurse, maid, cheerleader or sailor fuku costumes for cheap? If so then give this UFO catcher a whirl.
The yummy Miho Tanaka [田中美保] - video of her below.
Meeting lunch in Shibuya - some Thai food.
Picking up some side dishes. Side dishes are called "Okazu" [おかず] but Okazu is also the term used for "material-that-one-looks-at-while-dolphin-waxing."
4 side dishes for 630 yen.
Nothing better than a walk on a cold n crisp sunny morning listening to the birds chirp.
On the move by car. This road was blocked of yesterday for the Tokyo Marathon.
Sorting out through a load of mags to get rid of and bring to Book Off. Mostly Pasokon Paradise, BugBug, Dengeki Hime, Megami Magazine, NewType, some doujinshi and previous brochures from Wonfes etc.

I generally try to get rid of mags and keep if most of the mag has info that I want to refer to later of if its full of nice 2D girls - some of the Dengeki Hime and Megami issues are hit n miss. If there only a few pages then I will rip them out, scan or photo them and keep electronically to save space.

Been round to some comrades houses where I would see issues of mags (stacks of them) which are over ten years old ^^; What do you do with your old mags? Do you keep them in sight, stock them out of sight or trash/give them away?
Folks on the way to work in the morning.
Sunny Shibuya - bus terminal exit. Amazon offices is the tall building on the left of the pic.
Folks lining up for lunch at a Chinese restaurant.
This weeks room.
Currently going through rehabilitation for my back - this is my rehab plan. Why cant the illustration style look like this instead ^^;
Some Kaisen Yakisoba over dinner meeting.
Devil May Cry 4 is utterly awesome. I do try to get in at least one stage per day. A new weapon called the Death Bringer makes DMC 4 so much more enjoyable. Use the Death Bringer to hurl yourself across the screen, grab enemies and smash them into the floor or fling them around the screen ^^;
See some of the gameplay footage below where you can see the Death Bringer in action.
Old rubbing along with the new.
Many small shopping streets are closed off in the afternoons for folks to do their grocery shopping. This road is closed off from 3 to 7pm.
Love the way folks like up their bicycles neatly in the middle.
Construction on a new shop.
Grabbing some vegetables n fruits.
The phone number has only 7 digits meaning that this shop has been here since the dawn of civilization.
Grabbing some meat for dinner.
Indoor local market selling all sorts of groceries.
More meetings in Shibuya.
Burger lunch just after getting the iPod Touch.
Is Tokyo the only city where mags full of cute girls are handed out for free?
Some curry for dinner - thanks to member Windbell for brining over the curry packs from Singapore ^^;
Asobit City is a chain of hobby related stores owned by the Laox group. There are three...(more)
Sun 02/17 04:54 comments (98)
Have heard of chocolates being given to idols but never expected to receive chocolates *...(more)
Fri 02/15 04:39 comments (113)
At the begging of yesterdays 4 hours in Aki...(more)
Thu 02/14 03:21 comments (81)
Today is another variation on the "A Week in Tokyo" where we take a look at what I got...(more)
Wed 02/13 06:06 comments (64)
Polls
ケヴィン in Sacramento California, USA (Registered on 2007/11/13 15:04)
High School student
that burger... down there... what kind of burger is that...? and those bikes... no one uses a lock?
(ID #72657) Posted on 2008/02/19 05:25
Henry in /usr/bin/ (Registered on 2006/12/25 19:17)
anime/cosplay events organizer
i get rid of most and keep some mags that are worth keeping ^^

it looks like you've got a less stressful week ^^

now why would McDo place such terminals when almost everyone has mobile phones O.o

Danny, does Book Off also buys those old free magazines that you got? XP
(ID #72658) Posted on 2008/02/19 05:36
skankywonders in California (Registered on 2007/08/09 05:36)
Student
You must have some adventures over at Tokyo, Danny! 

I have really old videogames magazines from like 2004/2005. I was looking through them and found one that mentioned the Wii for the first time! 

Great pictures by the way, and now I'm hungry...
(ID #72661) Posted on 2008/02/19 05:48
サメル in Seattle, WA, USA (Registered on 2008/02/04 05:48)
Student
"Is Tokyo the only city where mags full of cute girls are handed out for free?"

Yes, Yes it is.
I am sooo moving to Tokyo
(ID #72662) Posted on 2008/02/19 05:48
Tragic comedy in Singapore (Registered on 2007/04/10 22:55)
Animator/ graphic designer
thats a really nice burger...
try dunking it in the curry next time!
(ID #72663) Posted on 2008/02/19 05:49
Tetsumonkai in Finland (Registered on 2008/02/08 16:41)
Screenwriter, 3D Model Builder
I want to see Tokyo and the rest of Japan too, but it´s too damn expensive.. :/
(ID #72664) Posted on 2008/02/19 05:52
Vincent in Paris (Registered on 2006/12/26 16:36)
Research Engineer
I'm completly keen of "Week in Tokyo" series.
Please Danny, keep on writing. It's so a pleasure to read.
Cheers.
(ID #72665) Posted on 2008/02/19 06:00
wcloudx in Singapore (Registered on 2008/01/12 03:00)
Artist
I tried to keep all of my magazines, since I'll probably need them for cut outs for some of my projects. If I'm starting to run out of space, then I'll sort them and throw away the not-so interesting ones ^^;

I heard it's true that Japan is one of the most money-spent country to go to for holiday...is it? ^^;

Heard it from my cousin who's been there before.
(ID #72666) Posted on 2008/02/19 06:04
FatBastard in active space monkey (Registered on 2007/11/04 18:16)
Professional Speech Writer
We just take mags for recycling when they start to stack, no biggie. No wonder that TiaraGirl mag is free; it's from Dec'07!

Never tried those ginsing stamina drinks, but I do down a Tab energy drink now and then to wake me up. Guy on the poster looks like he's had one too many.

That bacon burger looks okay, but they sure to skimp on fries there. What's that like 10 sticks?




(ID #72667) Posted on 2008/02/19 06:10
numega in Seattle, WA (Registered on 2007/08/13 15:13)
Programmer
Hey Danny,
Speaking of the Ipod Touch.  Could you please make is so that your wallpaper tool is compatible!  It says that the with needs to be greater than the height, but that's not the case with the Ipod Touch.
(ID #72668) Posted on 2008/02/19 06:13
Asch in England (Registered on 2008/01/01 21:31)
Lifeguard
I thought it was called the Devil Bringer in DMC4.

McDonalds for breakfast tsk tsk. That's got to be worse for you than drinking too many of those stamina drinks.
(ID #72669) Posted on 2008/02/19 06:26
SonderKommando ELBE Staffel in Valhalla (Registered on 2008/02/09 16:07)
Student-History
i keep all my mags i just can't get rid of them 
ohh a lot of memories....
 Hey Danny sama Which console do you prefer the XBOX360 Or The PS3?
Please answer¡¡¡¡
Martin Wandering in The Wild West (Registered on 2008/02/04 10:01)
Student, Spiral Warrior
Glad to see the less hectic side of our hero's adventurous life in this post.
(ID #72671) Posted on 2008/02/19 06:33
Chong Mizunaga in an Afro (Registered on 2007/12/15 09:57)
Afro-ed Student
"Is Tokyo the only city where mags full of cute girls are handed out for free?"

Oh, definitely. Can't wait to get my share of them. Tokyo! I'll come for you one day!
(ID #72673) Posted on 2008/02/19 06:56
lovethedove in Arizona, USA (Registered on 2008/02/18 15:29)
poor student
I've always wondered what does danny look like? and is he ever in any of his pictures? also anyone have any tips for finding a hot otaku to be my boyfriend?
(ID #72674) Posted on 2008/02/19 07:07
Aaronime in Mars, Canada (Registered on 2007/07/27 10:28)
Human
mags of cuties is tokyo, mags of sexies in Las Vegas. Mags of... wow, kazakhstan.
(ID #72675) Posted on 2008/02/19 07:09
radical anime fan in Singapore; starting to freeze up. Mmm, end-of-year weather. (Registered on 2007/01/25 21:20)
Polytechnic Freshman. Mmm... fresh.
Lol, I guess a doctor and manga artist have radically different drawing styles... It be easy for a manga artist to change jobs to a doc, but not for a doc to change into a manga artist? 
(ID #72676) Posted on 2008/02/19 07:11
Kyle in Seattle, Washington (Registered on 2007/10/08 05:20)
Student
Whoa, they actually close streets just to let the people do their grocery shopping?! That's pretty nifty. I learn something new everyday. =D
(ID #72677) Posted on 2008/02/19 07:13
tibul in Sheffield, UK (Registered on 2008/01/28 07:18)
Network Technician
As always another great week in Tokyo, keep on writing the series :D
(ID #72678) Posted on 2008/02/19 07:13
Azz-jr in LONDON (Registered on 2007/12/15 06:41)
Student
once again love your week in tokyo^_^
(ID #72679) Posted on 2008/02/19 07:27
Krim in need of hug. (Registered on 2007/10/28 14:55)
Failure
I don't get enough magazines to worry about space consumption. I only get Newtype and Game Informer for the most part, I pick out a Robot Magazine randomly every season as well. If these topics were more mainstream and had a greater following than they do here in the states then I may consider getting rid of a few old mags, after I carefully extract vital "information" from them worth saving, that is. I think the only magazine I have ever done that with is the codebook magazine, or something like that, I cut out its armored core III section which contained AC designs and tourney info. I still use it from time to time on AC4 and, aside from some of the vastly different parts, it has been rather useful.
I think I would be overwhelmed by the amount of magazines available in Japan for just about any subject...

     ~Krim
(ID #72680) Posted on 2008/02/19 07:48
Doctor Fugue in Various Zones of Canada (Registered on 2008/01/14 17:44)
Pianist, Writer, Teacher
I love these articles...I'm seeing the _real_ city instead of the Hollywood version.
(ID #72681) Posted on 2008/02/19 08:10
suki in Cape Town, South Africa (Registered on 2007/08/22 22:03)
Receptionist/ Accountant/ Junior Designer
I'm actually getting rid of my old magazines right now. I clean up a little bit everyday..since there's just too much...well, I get them for free so.. they tend to pile up ^^;
(ID #72682) Posted on 2008/02/19 08:23
Ashper in Birmingham, U.K (Registered on 2007/11/24 06:07)
Student
Nice work Danny, love seeing the real Tokyo :D
(ID #72683) Posted on 2008/02/19 08:29
Neil Duckett in Yoyogi, Tokyo (Registered on 2007/11/06 13:37)
Software Engineer
Love the bike Danny, i can see me getting one of them.
(ID #72684) Posted on 2008/02/19 08:43
Benjamin Takeyo in Lieu de la batille decisive (Registered on 2007/12/04 23:16)
ひきこもり/Hikikomori. Suits my current state more than a 大学生/University Student. ^^
I like your lifestyle Danny! 
(ID #72688) Posted on 2008/02/19 09:33
Choo in Singapore (Registered on 2007/10/31 21:28)
Student
very interesting week indeed. Looks fun . I wanna go to japan! =(
(ID #72689) Posted on 2008/02/19 09:39
Hirito in The Little Red Dot - Singapore (Registered on 2007/09/01 18:24)
University Student.
Nice bike you have there, though I don't really like foldable bikes. Always thinking one day while riding it, it'll just "fold" up and clamp areas which is so precious to you lol.

Have you tried one of those stamina drinks? I wonder how it taste. Had missed the opportunity the last time, maybe on the next I'll give it a go.

As for magazines, my collection still isn't much. my MEGAMI only dates back to Dec 2003 and Dengeki Hime dates back to Nov 2007 (I blame your post on the magazine ^^). Am still keeping them all, and no intention to sell/give them away.
(ID #72690) Posted on 2008/02/19 09:40
lostandfound in a place where you'll never find... (Registered on 2007/10/22 02:10)
Part human, part student, 100% loser
You lie! Your bike can fit in your trouser pocket?! I need proof!

Anyway, what happens if you're in Akihabara and you shout "I want some okazu"? Have you tried that before Danny?

Oh and I remembered you writing about your wife riding her bike from the station and got back safely without the use of a map, maybe that's the cause of youu Deja vu?
(ID #72691) Posted on 2008/02/19 10:28
blauereiter in Tokyo, Japan (Registered on 2007/07/07 22:02)
CG artist, Sunrise Emotion
"The yummy Miho Tanaka"

Much agreed. 
(ID #72693) Posted on 2008/02/19 11:33
Akiba-Kid in California, USA (Registered on 2008/01/17 11:35)
Online Shop
While walking down the narrow sidewalk, most of time I had to wince in fear whenever I hear chime from passing bicycle in Japan -_-  So many people ride bicycle in Japan and it amazes me how well they can manuever between people on the street.

I keep most of my old magazines under my bed and closet but I should get rid of them since they take up too much spaces and I don't really read them anymore -_-
(ID #72694) Posted on 2008/02/19 11:38
Alfisti in Brisbane, Australia (Registered on 2008/01/08 19:07)
Wannabe Designer
Hooray for back problems.  I'm off to the chiropractor tomorrow after taking a full 40-50kg in the upper neck.  Probably serves me right for putting someone on my shoulders during a concert and annoying the folks behind... it was, however her fault for overbalancing forward.  No where near as serious as a slipped disk however.

As for mags: I keep them all, but not all out on the shelf.  Usually keep about 12 months worth of EVO, Per Sempre Alfa and Classic and Sports Car out. 6 months worth of BPN and infolink (both free architectural mags) and all copies of Sanctuary (as it only comes out twice a year).
(ID #72696) Posted on 2008/02/19 11:57
gordon in 新加坡 Singapore (Registered on 2007/06/11 14:57)
宅男 Otaku/ 工程师 Engineer
fauna is everywhere in your house danny, did she like the curry? ^^;
(ID #72698) Posted on 2008/02/19 12:50
fredrin in Ann Arbor, Michigan (Registered on 2008/02/18 21:41)
pathetic excuse for a manga-ka
I was digging through old magazines just the other day at teh warehouse... its sort of like traveling back in time (for example, paging through old magazines filled with that pink haired girl from Macross 7... Mylene Jenius, that's it.  VA was Sakurai Tomo, one of her first big rolls i think.)

So, um, yeah.  I don't throw anything away.  Having a warehouse is bad if you have this kinda habit.
(ID #72700) Posted on 2008/02/19 13:29
marvin (Registered on 2006/12/24 23:42)
this post reminds me that I have to tidy up and throw away my old mags. lol. anyway hope your back feels better soon Danny,also, hope the rehab goes well 
(ID #72701) Posted on 2008/02/19 13:53
gregory_gdp in Boise, ID (Registered on 2007/07/16 21:56)
Photographer
Thanks Danny for reminding me that I need to go through the old mags from last year and do some recycling.  What a pain.  Maybe I'll toss them up on Craigslist to see if I can sell some of them instead.  
(ID #72702) Posted on 2008/02/19 14:15
terry in Singapore (Registered on 2007/08/02 23:32)
=.=!
that curry looks damn spicy lol..
regarding the 无料 magazine.. it's really a very good experience to be handed over for free lol..
(ID #72703) Posted on 2008/02/19 14:15
OtakuFuel in The Local Group (Registered on 2007/10/21 13:21)
Anime Retailer
There is something to be said of the charm of the open market like that. The only things really close to me are chain super markets.

A word on energy drinks... yummie! However, I seriously jacked up my plumbing when going through 3 or 4 a day for a couple of months. A slow start but I am learning the hard way the long term side affects of an unbalanced lifestyle! ^_^ 
(ID #72706) Posted on 2008/02/19 15:50
syrix in U.S. (Registered on 2007/03/21 09:30)
student
DMC4 looks sweet, but I don't have a PS3 to play it on lol.  Wish I did have one though, but I don't know if I should be playing with all the school work I've been given ;p.
(ID #72711) Posted on 2008/02/19 18:13
thefrikking in Spain (Registered on 2007/08/18 06:30)
Imperial Guard
Later, I buy lots of mag, most of games, but these days, I prefer the net. the most magazines I have are for figures( Figure Maniacs and other), and the only way I get to get it is import, so I never get rid of them!!

I need a PS3, playing DMC4 on XBOX 360 sure isn`t the same for the controller
(ID #72713) Posted on 2008/02/19 19:34
Odisea in Mecsicou (Registered on 2007/11/23 10:08)
I think I do work
Danny, for a smaller bike look for the a-bike, I´m planning on getting one.
(ID #72715) Posted on 2008/02/19 20:17
Tempest in New Zealand (Registered on 2007/11/07 06:56)
Exchange Student
I think riding my bicycle through Tokyo would be quite an experience, I need to remember to do that if I come to Tokyo in the future!

Love how they close the roads for people doing their shopping at small stores.

I just threw out a bunch of old mags today, I keep some and put them into cardboard boxes in the basement ^^"
I usually keep mags if I got lots of them like the N-Zone (Nintendo Mag) and I throw out mags which I bought only once, works best for me.
(ID #72716) Posted on 2008/02/19 21:20
Edward in Michigan U.S.A. (Registered on 2006/12/24 12:02)
Troubleshooter, Universal Exports
Holly Cow!  It the apocalypse and all the people of Tokyo are gone! ^^;  There really is times when you see no people out and about in Tokyo?  Sunday Mornings must be really tranquil.

Darn it Danny, I always get hungry when I read this series! ^o^

I'm feeling Deja Vu as well. ^^  Wait, I think Roy (http://blog.q-taro.com/) own a bike like this one...  I need to get bikes for myself and Yukari.  It has been so long since I had a bike.

The closed street with all the shops looks great!  Lots of nice photo opportunities and just a pleasant shopping experience.  I can't wait to be living in Japan!  Day to day activities can be so much more enjoyable.  It will make me so happy to not need to drive everywhere.

Everything is lighter than a MacBook Pro... ^^;  Just joking...  Soon you will be able to get yourself a MacBook Air.

I do almost the same with my mags.  Take out what I want and scan the pages.  I could use a new scanner.  Most Japanese mags are larger format, how do you scan yours Danny?  Maybe in sections and then stitch together in Acrobat or such.  When I'm done I usually just trash what remains.  No recycling mags here like in Florida.

Hope rehab is going well...
(ID #72718) Posted on 2008/02/19 22:13
Red October in Elk Grove, CA USA (Registered on 2007/04/05 07:07)
Deadend Job
What's up Danny? Since you are on the subject. How do you keep your magazines? For me, I rip the page of the ads and articles from the magazine that I want to keep. This way I don't have to keep the whole magazine. When I have time, I will scan all the pages into the hard drive. I always try to find the picture that I see in the magazine on the web. The reason is the digital pictures always look better than the scan pictures. Do you agree?
(ID #72724) Posted on 2008/02/19 23:50
pp in Singapore (Registered on 2007/07/10 20:22)
Army
oh cool, thats nice of windbell to bring curry over. curry has to eaten spicy to be good ^^ 
(ID #72731) Posted on 2008/02/20 01:54
wanderingdj in 横浜 (Registered on 2008/02/15 20:57)
会社員
>>電話番語7ケタというのはいつ頃?
平成3年(1991年)に7桁から8桁に変更されました、との事です。
17年前だから、このサイト利用者の中にはまだ生まれてなかった人もいるかも?!

ソース、適当にググった。

当時、印刷業界や広告業界が一瞬だけ景気がよくなった覚えがあります、私は学生でしたが。
(ID #72734) Posted on 2008/02/20 03:18
BeLe in Davao, Philippines (Registered on 2007/01/03 16:36)
.NET/Web Developer
What's the usual format for phone numbers nowadays anyway?  Around here our phone numbers are 7digits long.

I love DMC4.  Nero really brings quite a few good changes to the series...although I do miss playing around with Dante more.  But recently I've been stuck playing CoD4's multiplayer.  heheh
(ID #72736) Posted on 2008/02/20 04:48
leefe in a tincan. (Registered on 2007/08/15 20:25)
Lazyass human
Matsumoto: Curry isn't curry if it's not spicy! 
Yours look nice and hot ^^
(ID #72739) Posted on 2008/02/20 06:10
Starboykb in Brunei Earth (Registered on 2007/05/16 00:05)
IT TechGuy
Well, I probably only keep the poster came with the magazine and some nice picture from it. The rest going for recycle. I hate to say this, the longer i kept. i can see some transparent worms lurking around. YIKES!!! O_O;
(ID #72744) Posted on 2008/02/20 13:07
Locksley in Nottingham, UK (Registered on 2007/11/28 08:37)
Student
Q: "Is Tokyo the only city where mags full of cute girls are handed out for free?"

A: Quite possibly the only place on Earth, yes.

LOL, you must remember being in UK, you'd have to have a sneaky peak at the top shelf if you wanted to look at any 'harmless' Idols.  I need to get to Japan ;-)
(ID #72755) Posted on 2008/02/20 21:52
yanggie in Singapore (Registered on 2008/01/14 16:42)
Advocado
heh.. i'll be in tokyo on the last week of March.  ^^

Danny-san, is there anything u want? i.e.
(ID #72756) Posted on 2008/02/20 23:47
yanggie in Singapore (Registered on 2008/01/14 16:42)
Advocado
Yay ^^ I'll be in Tokyo on the last week of March...

Wonder if I'll see Danny-san somewhere in Akiba. Btw, is there anything you want? (i.e. since Windbell has already brought you some curry...)

Won't have much spending money.. gotta ration...
(ID #72757) Posted on 2008/02/20 23:51
atw80 in 千葉 (Registered on 2008/02/20 10:12)
学生
その自転車に物凄い興味があります。
どこで買ったか教えていただけないでしょうか?
(ID #72759) Posted on 2008/02/21 01:18
Dedale in S'pore after France (Registered on 2007/12/04 17:28)
Labyrinth builder
Hi Danny, hi everyone !

About those foldable bikes, are they really easier to ride than usual bikes ? My girlfriend cannot ride bikes and I would like to teach her. 
Everytime we go cycling, we need a double bike... It is nice but I'd like to have a proper single bike: more freedom of movement.

Any advise to teach how to cycle ?
(ID #72760) Posted on 2008/02/21 02:20
Danny Choo in Tokyo (Registered on 2006/12/11 11:06)
Director/代表取締役
Dedale,
I wouldn't have been able to learn without a smaller bike.

atw80さん、
これです。
http://www.doppelganger-sports.jp/Bicycle/FD20/FD20-spec.html
でも11キロと表記していますが、確かに3キロとどこかで書いてあるし、とても歩軽く感じます。

yanggie,
save your cash for akiba ^^;

Locksley,
I remember it well ^^;

Bele,
Its 10 including the area code.

wanderingdjさん、
詳しい情報をありがとうございました!

Red October,
Agree.

Gordon,
She loved it ^^;

FatB,
I was disappointed too.

Henry,
Yep.

ケヴィン,
Cant remember ^^; 
(ID #72793) Posted on 2008/02/21 07:41