Tue 2008/04/29 10:20
Could be a turning point for Akiba. After the airgun shooting and Mrs Wide Open shenanigans, we now see a bunch of "patrol people" from "Akihabara Town Management" marching around with "no street performances" signs. We also see performers being lead away by the police - even the non leg-opening type. Looks like I wont be going back there in armor anytime soon... Via Akibaos.
Posted on Tue 2008/04/29 10:20 by
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part time illustrationist, doll clothing seamstress
oh no :( that's not fun! but well danny you can start bringing selected figures to go out for photoshoot? :P
(ID #177155) Posted on 2008/04/29 10:32
Danny, you cannot imagine how angry and irritated I am by these news, I want to say terrible things and complaints but I want to relax and save my breath. As I'm seeing it, I won't have the chance to see the old Akiba anymore, if I go all I'll see is these guys instead of people in costumes and wacky stuff... And what made me more sad is the idea of no more Storm Trooper... This is depressing, in my opinion.
(ID #177156) Posted on 2008/04/29 10:32
university film student
...on the other hand, those yellow jackets and green hats are approaching costume status themselves.
(ID #177161) Posted on 2008/04/29 10:35
you know what, that gives me an idea. Someone should mass a cosplay group of those guys. It'd confuse them so much they'd explode... (wishful thinking)
(ID #177211) Posted on 2008/04/29 11:32
would love to see that!
(ID #177332) Posted on 2008/04/29 14:02
university film student
...I'm hoping this will blow over, but that doesn't seem too likely. People will be watching their step and thinking twice now, if even normal "street performers" are being led away. That said, the whole idea of "street performance" seems a bit vague. Does a cosplayer count? He/she could be just boldy stating his or her own fashion sense.
(ID #177158) Posted on 2008/04/29 10:33
university film student
Bah, I feel like I'm spamming. Anyway, what I want to say with the last remark is that it seems to leave some intentional room for people to play with. I'm sure those town officials are quite aware of the business otakus bring.
(ID #177164) Posted on 2008/04/29 10:37
reminded me of akihabara@DEEP
(ID #177170) Posted on 2008/04/29 10:40
Doing things for the sake of doing things...
(ID #177172) Posted on 2008/04/29 10:42
And Akiba became even more popular (in the bad sense)... *major sigh* It has become much the unruly place now and otaku will still be seen as oddballs, no thanks to a bunch of mess-makers.
(ID #177185) Posted on 2008/04/29 10:51
Btw Danny, what will you do now in the current state of things? No more dancing trooper in Akiba?
(ID #177188) Posted on 2008/04/29 10:52
Double sorry: 1) to not have read it fully 2) for triple post. *Promptly runs away*
(ID #177189) Posted on 2008/04/29 10:54
depressing to read, but also very relieved that Mrs. Wide Open won't be around to torment me.
(ID #177203) Posted on 2008/04/29 11:18
Why is the back of there heads blurred?
(ID #177204) Posted on 2008/04/29 11:22
Particular brand/logo on their hats?
(ID #177216) Posted on 2008/04/29 11:37
So you don't see the barcodes.
(ID #177911) Posted on 2008/04/30 07:57
Visual Communications and Web 2.0
interesting, seems they are out to changes things. i only hope that you will still be able to go out on a torn in a storm trooper and dance, dance like there is no tomorrow. ^_^
(ID #177222) Posted on 2008/04/29 11:42
Hopefully it is not about all places in Tokyo, so Danny can dance elsewhere... And this is good for maintaining our hopes high.
(ID #177616) Posted on 2008/04/29 23:10
Dropping computers, starting all over again at Journalism
Airgun shooting and Mrs Wide Open: NO! But street performing is the heart of Akiba, as long as it isn't offensive or harmful to people walking there. Who these guys think they are? The modern shinsengumi or something? I say street performers (of the good kind) also form some sort of organized force to defend their right to be there...
(ID #177227) Posted on 2008/04/29 11:50
is that little smoking sign a subsidized campaign or something.. anyway, it brings me down to hear this...I hope this doesn't apply to cosplaying or photo shoots? I think this will affect other parts of various cities in Japan as well. Its just a conspiracy!!!
(ID #177257) Posted on 2008/04/29 12:34
really bad....hope akiba would turn back to what it used to be
(ID #177282) Posted on 2008/04/29 13:15
Where will all the village idiotstresses go?
(ID #177286) Posted on 2008/04/29 13:21
Overpaid Computer Nerd
We all saw this coming. The smaller shops were slowly disappearing and there have been many people saying that otaku paradise of Akiba was slowly disappearing. As of right now I'm canceling my plans to visit Akiba on my next trip. I guess this is now a golden opportunity for another city to step up as Otaku Mecca.
(ID #177292) Posted on 2008/04/29 13:24
my dream........crashing....
(ID #177295) Posted on 2008/04/29 13:27
Same... I feel that idiots truly killed the unique essence of Akiba.
(ID #177619) Posted on 2008/04/29 23:12
mahou kishi
hope someone make a march or something because is part of akihabara and shouldnt be banned
(ID #177301) Posted on 2008/04/29 13:38
Troubleshooter, Universal Exports
.Don't lose hope gang. Things can change and probably will, just give it a little time.
(ID #177358) Posted on 2008/04/29 14:34
MI Manager, Blogger and Newswriter
Bad news, indeed. The old Akiba was amazing and unique ;)
(ID #177359) Posted on 2008/04/29 14:35
Well I personnaly think this is a bad for a good, Akihabara is a great place that I saw getting down since the past last 6 years, being able to have fun is one thing, but the past event were too much. And we must make sure that Akiba stay a place for Electronics Fan, Anime/Manga Fan, Video Game Fan and so on where everyone from any ages can go without being solicited for porn, illegale software... I really sad to see how Akihabara went, all good store had to closed
(ID #177370) Posted on 2008/04/29 14:52
College Student
Man, this sucks. No cosplay, no dancing on the streets, boring town to visit. I think Akihabara is becoming the next Shibuya, which is sad.
(ID #177383) Posted on 2008/04/29 15:07
I really prefer Akiba as an Otaku's paradise. That's a place where we Otaku's can really express ourselves. I don't want it to change!!
(ID #177398) Posted on 2008/04/29 15:34
Part trooper, part -timer, 100% loser...
Now that's no fun... No performaces = Torture! Akiba's not going to be the same...
(ID #177413) Posted on 2008/04/29 15:56
To me the performances are part of Akiba and shaped it to what it is nowadays, a vivid place for people to have fun and not only a big shopping mal...
(ID #177851) Posted on 2008/04/30 06:22
*Sigh*, Just as I was starthing to think that Akiba is going to be saved so that my visit will be a success, this happens. Why do stupid people always have to ruin good things? >.>
(ID #177422) Posted on 2008/04/29 16:09
I guess there will be no chance of him dancing in Akihabara anymore or anytime soon.
(ID #177425) Posted on 2008/04/29 16:14
Raven, AMV & MAD maker, Otaku
i thought what my jap friend in school said was a lie. . . i guess its not after all T-T
(ID #177463) Posted on 2008/04/29 18:00
Online Shop
That sucks, so few people ruined it for everyone. Whenever I went to Akiba on Sunday, I've seen many decent performers who tried to show their skills and not do something radical or rowdy to grab attention. It sucks that those people(including Danny) won't be able to do what they like because of some inconsiderate people. I hope things can change back to normal soon and some people can mature.
(ID #177493) Posted on 2008/04/29 18:45
System Administrator and full-time Otaku
I bet all this political correctness is coming from the "new" residents of Akihabara, the invading large corporations and universities who have changed Akiba's skyline and, in my view, started ruining it. I mean, sure, some people went a little overboard with their exhibitionisms, but it's sad to think that something like the Haruhi dance can not happen any more in Akiba. Whatever happened after that otaku demonstration last year? Is it time for another one? Akihabara is being changed against our will.
(ID #177534) Posted on 2008/04/29 20:03
anime/cosplay events organizer
this may be an irritating news and a kill joy but we should accept this for our own good. we should blame the people who abused the open street system...
(ID #177579) Posted on 2008/04/29 21:43
security/3d graphic artist
the japanese should issue out permits for street shows.. and if the po po come buy they can just show them the permit and be left alone.. an ida anyways.. don't let free speech die!
(ID #177593) Posted on 2008/04/29 22:18
Damn....the otaku culture will gain it's old image back if it goes this way :/
(ID #177630) Posted on 2008/04/29 23:35
Guess it did already... There would have been no witch hunt (in the political sense) in the first place, otherwise.
(ID #177677) Posted on 2008/04/30 00:40
It's still not doing any harm, imo. Guess they need something to spend their budget on. Hell, Ikea's taken out more eyes than those airgun shooters according to this blog.
(ID #177913) Posted on 2008/04/30 07:59
Medical Research and Design
Troubling, to say the least. Akihabara was going to be one of my milestone stop points when I travel Japan in September-October, to hear that Otaku-Mecca is more or less paralysed like this doesn't sit all too well with me. Despite my not being able to do a damn thing about it. I'm going to hold my breath and hope that things swing a nice 180. I'll probably still end up going to Akiba during the trip it just won't be the same without the performances. Heck I was hoping to Hare Hare Yukai just once...
(ID #177633) Posted on 2008/04/29 23:36
ohanian (Registered on 2008/02/20 18:49)
Attention whores meets Camera Geeks in The Farce of Akihabara! Oops! You can't cosplay now! No singing! No dancing! And boys dressing up as girls. Just give us ya money and piss off! Akihabara is now business only! You give us ya money and we give you ya toys. If you wanna play, go home and play with yourselves. By the edict of Akihabara Business Managers.
(ID #177679) Posted on 2008/04/30 00:42
Polytechnic Senior, Bronze Lifesaving Trainee, Mech Designer, Pokemon Indexer.
I guess I can't drive my Sutherland up there now, eh? I'm sure they'd welcome you, Danny. You ARE one of the top bloogers in Japan and after appearing on Blog TV(I'm not sure about the title :X), there's got to be SOMEONE who wouldn't lump you together with some other people who do @#% and $#^%#&#% and %^$#...
(ID #177723) Posted on 2008/04/30 01:46
オタク all day long
Oh no, that's not good. I really hate Ms. wide open. =(
(ID #177804) Posted on 2008/04/30 04:47
Where oh where is the brave and humourous manga-ka who will annihilate these yellow-jacketed, chest-puffing Deputy Dawgs the way Nagai did to the PTA in Harenchi Gakuen?
(ID #178023) Posted on 2008/04/30 10:51
Leisure Consultant, Writer, Webmaster
That's pretty lame. They should let people have fun and do what they want. That brings the business there.
(ID #178063) Posted on 2008/04/30 11:50
Chef, Full fledged Otaku, Full time Observer.....
this is a nightmare... please someone, tell me this is all a bad dream... NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
(ID #178220) Posted on 2008/04/30 15:33
ひきこもり/Hikikomori. Suits my current state more than a 大学生/University Student. ^^
Oh well, they've got their right to express their opinion and we've known that Otaku are quite disliked by many even in Japan and once those haters see an opportunity to deal damage to the Otaku community..
(ID #178367) Posted on 2008/04/30 21:13
its sad ...sad...n more sad....it wont be the same again.....sighzzz >_< !!!!!!
(ID #178606) Posted on 2008/05/01 04:44
No more Stormtrooper!?!? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWaLxFIVX1s
(ID #287093) Posted on 2008/09/01 22:53
Danny I haven't had a chance to visit Japan yet, and Akiba was one of the main places i was excited about when i do visit because of the street performances... do me a favour and rally up a lot of performers/cosplayers etc. and start a protest!
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