Watch out Japan Bore, Mr. Gundam is coming back!

[Mr. Gundam]

Oh yeah, my wife is coming too. April 4th through the 13th. Hopefully some of the cherry blossoms will still be there.

Just cashed in 120,000 frequent flier miles, it's only costing us $96 to fly there. My wife is awesome.



Also, if JapanBore's baddest dudes could help me acquire some tickets to a Yomiuri Giants game (weekend of April 9-11th they're in Tokyo against the Dragons), I will love you long time.

[Bebpo]

Wanna pick up some of those March games for cheaper and ship them when you come back?   RGG4/Hokuto Musou/Basara 3?

[Brehvolution]

*Jealous*

[Joe Molotov]

OH NO, THERE GOES TOKYO! GO GO DISTANTMANTRA!

[Mr. Gundam]

Awesome, give me a shout. I'll be able to get some time away from the baby/mother with this much advanced notice.

I do plan to go back to the UK sometime around March April but i should be back in town by then

Im not sure tickets are on sale yet, but i can get them nearer the time - might be a good bore outing?

A Bore Baseball outing would be glorious. There are some online ticket brokers, but they all aim to get uber expensive seats, I'd rather sit in the cheap seats with my fellow die hard baseball fans.

Also, Em and I aren't crazy drinkers or anything, so your family would be more than welcome to come along.

Wanna pick up some of those March games for cheaper and ship them when you come back?   RGG4/Hokuto Musou/Basara 3?

I've got RGG4 on my shopping list, and I'm considering Hokuto Musou, but I think it's already been semi-confirmed for North America. Basara 3 (does it have a release date? Amazon lists the NA version for September) already has been confrimed for NA, but I might still get it since going crazy and buying shit on vacation is always awesome.

I sure hope there is a ton of Gundam Unicorn swag for me to blow wads of yen on.

[Cormacaroni]

Boreball sounds good, count me in!

[ch1nchilla]

Can I come to Boreball? 

[Mr. Gundam]

Can I come to Boreball? 

The more the merrier! Boreball at the Tokyo Dome!

[MyNameIsMethodis]

can I come to Boreball

[Mr. Gundam]

can I come to Boreball

...

Anyway, this should be a lot of fun. My wife and I are really looking forward to hanging out with some locals for an evening!

Time to start making a list of things to do. Last time we were there in 2006, Tokyo was sort of secondary to Hiroshima, Kyoto, Nara, etc. We saw some of the big sights in Tokyo (Tuskiji, Imperial Palace, etc.), but missed out on a whole lot. We're looking at doing day trips out to Kamakura, Nikko, Enoshima and possibly Mt. Fuji, but any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I'd really love to check out a local brewery if it's possible.

[Cormacaroni]

Any interest in Hitachino? Some of my friends go there to brew their own on occasion. I've been meaning to check it out. It's out in the boonies though. It's not a pub, but they apparently ply you with beer constantly so it's a fun day out even if you're not into brewing.

[Great Rumbler]

I thought this thread would be about Gundam Unicorn.

[Beezy]

can I come to Boreball

...

Anyway, this should be a lot of fun.

[ch1nchilla]

Any interest in Hitachino? Some of my friends go there to brew their own on occasion. I've been meaning to check it out. It's out in the boonies though. It's not a pub, but they apparently ply you with beer constantly so it's a fun day out even if you're not into brewing.

If you guys end up doing this, I wanna be in too. I have yet to go to "the boonies" of Japan, and getting out of Tokyo while drinking beer would be awesome.

[MyNameIsMethodis]

You guys are mean, I have to be there watching mediocore japanese players as a scout, and I can't even meet my fellow japabore friends

[chronovore]

Let me know if you get out to Kansai.

[Mr. Gundam]

Any interest in Hitachino? Some of my friends go there to brew their own on occasion. I've been meaning to check it out. It's out in the boonies though. It's not a pub, but they apparently ply you with beer constantly so it's a fun day out even if you're not into brewing.

Oh hell yes, going to Hitachino would be an absolute blast! I pick up their beer all the time at the Whole Foods by my house. I need to talk to my wife, though. I'm sure she'd be up for it, but you never know.

Just got our hotel booked, staying in Yanaka, Taito-ku. Same place we stayed on our honeymoon, only a 5-10 minute walk from JR Nippori station on the Yamanote line.

One of my wife's best friends may be flying over from Korea to spend a couple days with us as well, she's always up for a good time.

Let me know if you get out to Kansai.

I think we're going to be just in the Tokyo area this trip.  :'(

I thought this thread would be about Gundam Unicorn.

Since Bebpo called me Mr. Gundam a couple weeks ago, I've decided to run with it. I will be buying the first volume of Unicorn on Blu-ray while I'm there, though!

[bork]

Distant has been talking about this trip and hyping it up for so long now, that even I'm getting excited about it! 

[Tauntaun]

You all know what to do.

spoiler (click to show/hide)

:rapetime

[close]

[Mr. Gundam]

Distant has been talking about this trip and hyping it up for so long now, that even I'm getting excited about it! 

My wife and I have been dying to go back ever since we got home from our honeymoon. Everyone has a certain city that they love. Some of our friends have a thing for London, some Paris, some Syndey, some Venice. We've both been all over the world, but there's just something about Tokyo that clicks with us.

We're both up for Hitachino, but how long would it take to get there? There's a JR train from Akihabara to Tsukuba in Ibaraki prefecture and you can take a JR line from Ueno to Mito, but I don't know how to get to Naka (where the brewery is) from there.

I checked out their site, you can brew on site, but the beer takes three weeks to ferment and they won't ship out of Japan. This would work if you Bore dudes want to brew (45 bottles at 600 yen each bottle) and Em and I just help out with the process, which would still be a lot of fun. They have an on-site bar and there's a brewpub in Mito.

http://beerinjapan.com/bij/780/kiuchi-brewery-ibaraki/

[bork]

We've both been all over the world, but there's just something about Tokyo that clicks with us.

[Mr. Gundam]

Whatever you posted is blocked at work, but I'm guessing it's Gundam related.

My wife doesn't like robots, doesn't like anime, and is pretty indifferent to gaming, actually. I'm very very happy that she doesn't like weaboo stuff like me.

[Cormacaroni]

I've never been to Hitachino myself, but Sho Nuff has and can fill us in on the details I'm sure. It's a couple of hours at least, since you have to take a local train and maybe even a bus. So we'd be getting up pretty early. I'm up for it, but not sure if I want to buy a WHOLE batch by myself. If you send Sho Nuff a PM, I'm sure he'll be happy to show you his pics and video from his trip there, and answer any questions you have. I'll point him at this thread in case he misses it.

Most of my beer-brewing buddies mostly just brew their own now, but I'm sure someone will be up for splitting a batch. It looks like a pretty fun day out if you're into the brewing, probably a bit dull if you're not. It's a pretty small place I believe. If you're just keen to drink awesome locally-brewed beer in Tokyo (which you can probably do for a lot less cash and hassle than going to Hitachino), I can point you at a few other places. Tokyo is finally starting to "get it" in regard to microbrews.

[Mr. Gundam]

We have friends who used to own a vinyeard in Eastern Washington (he's now the brewmaster for Deschutes Brewery in Bend, Oregon), and we'd go over and help make wine all the time. That was a ton of fun, so I'd think making beer would be great as well.

[chronovore]

Distant has been talking about this trip and hyping it up for so long now, that even I'm getting excited about it! 

My wife and I have been dying to go back ever since we got home from our honeymoon. Everyone has a certain city that they love. Some of our friends have a thing for London, some Paris, some Syndey, some Venice. We've both been all over the world, but there's just something about Tokyo that clicks with us.

We're both up for Hitachino, but how long would it take to get there? There's a JR train from Akihabara to Tsukuba in Ibaraki prefecture and you can take a JR line from Ueno to Mito, but I don't know how to get to Naka (where the brewery is) from there.

I checked out their site, you can brew on site, but the beer takes three weeks to ferment and they won't ship out of Japan. This would work if you Bore dudes want to brew (45 bottles at 600 yen each bottle) and Em and I just help out with the process, which would still be a lot of fun. They have an on-site bar and there's a brewpub in Mito.

http://beerinjapan.com/bij/780/kiuchi-brewery-ibaraki/

Thanks for that site; I'ma scope it for Osaka places. I need better beer. Really.

[Mr. Gundam]

I'd totally bring awesome Pacific Northwest beer for everyone, but I don't know if it would survive the flight... or if I could even legally bring it.

[Mr. Gundam]

I did some checking with some Japanese baseball forums for westerners, and I guess tickets don't go on sale until March. DCharlie, if you're still willing to get everyone tickets (and we'll pay you back), I'll harass you about it once we get closer to March.

[Ichirou]

I'm looking forward to hanging out with you and your wife when you come here, maybe play some Bonds of the Battlefield in the arcade, some Gundam vs. Gundam Next Plus on PSP.

[Mr. Gundam]

I'm looking forward to hanging out with you and your wife when you come here, maybe play some Bonds of the Battlefield in the arcade, some Gundam vs. Gundam Next Plus on PSP.

Fuck yeah, Ro-Bro!

[MCD]

welcome back Ichirou.

[Ichirou]

I heard a Gundam store opened up in Ikebukuro a month or so ago...I'll try to find some more details and let you know if it's worth going.

[Mr. Gundam]

I heard a Gundam store opened up in Ikebukuro a month or so ago...I'll try to find some more details and let you know if it's worth going.

 

Is it like Osaka Gundams?

Oh, who am I kidding? Even if it's crap I'll still go.

[Ichirou]

I have no idea what it is.  A former co-worker of mine e-mailed me a while back and mentioned it to me, since he knows I like Gundam.

Speaking of Gundam, 7-11 had, until recently, one of those 500 yen lottery things celebrating Gundam's 30th Anniversary.  I bought a ticket and ended up with an Acguy piggy bank.

[Mr. Gundam]

I really wanted one of those High Grade 7-11 themed Gundam models.

[Ichirou]

They may actually still have one of those for sale at the 7-11 near one of my schools (or it may be the non 7-11 themed version).  If you want it, I can go check.

I kind of want the Gundam Fix Figuration action model with the 7-11 paint scheme but I'm not willing to pay for it...

[bork]

Welcome back!

[Beezy]

 

[Junpei the Tracer!]

wtf ichi

[Mr. Gundam]

wtf ichi

I used my mighty Icon power and got him unbanned.*

*

spoiler (click to show/hide)

I asked Willco, and he made it so.

[close]

[Ichirou]

dm is my true ro-bro.  When he comes over here, I'm going to pay for him to get fully serviced at a maid cafe.

I'm sure that's not as nasty as it sounds.

I hope.

[chronovore]

Doesn't that just entail drawing a heart-shape in ketchup on your om-rice at the table?

[Mr. Gundam]

I never want to step foot inside a maid cafe.

[Ichirou]

Doesn't that just entail drawing a heart-shape in ketchup on your om-rice at the table?

It entails drawing a heart shape with ketchup...somewhere....

dm, don't worry, I feel the same way.  Growcian (I think that's his nickname on GAF) was here a couple of years back and he wanted to go to a maid cafe and I told him he'd have to go by himself, so he ended up not going.

[chronovore]

I've been to exactly one, and it was for a friend from the US who wanted to go. Oddly, the one we went to was Deathnote-themed. He faced the store, got to watch all the maids and other costumes doing their thing. He was happy. I was facing the door, and got to watch Japanese passers-by look in, view us all with disdain. I was sad.

[bork]

When the whole maid cafe thing first came about, the one time I found one locally, it was in the back of a game center hidden from view.  The crudely-drawn sign on the door was enough to ensure I'd never go inside.  One of my friends went to one in Tokyo and kind of liked it, but any time I've watched a video about them, I felt like punching the maids out during their stupid "cutesy" routines.  I realize this isn't the point, but when I want to go to a cafe, it's to get something to eat or drink and be left the fuck alone.

[Ichirou]

Just think, though, probably those poor women are thinking to themselves how much they hate the freaks and otaku who come to the cafes, all the while they're doing their "cutesy" act.

[bork]

The worst thing I ever saw was in Akihabara.  One of these maids was walking down the street, presumably on the way to work since she wasn't handing out flyers or acting "genki," and there was this otaku following behind her, taking pictures, not even hesitating to try and get upskirt pictures.  The girl just had this "I don't give a fuck" look as she walked down the road with a huge frown on her face. 

[Ichirou]

That's still in storage someplace.  Far as I know, they haven't figured where to put it permanently.

I'm betting it'll end up in an amusement park like Fuji Q Highland.

[Ichirou]

Well, someplace like that...Fuji Q Highland already has a 1/1 scale Gundam statue, just lying down instead of standing up.

I wish I'd gone to Fuji Q while they still had Gundam The Ride.  I like those types of stationary rides, like the Star Tours and Back to the Future rides...

[bork]

Here's the video I saw a few years back.

[youtube=560,345][/youtube]
[youtube=560,345][/youtube]

That reporter makes it even worse. 
"A maid cafe is otaku heaven.  This is where the dreams come true."   
"The customer plays the part of the master, and the staff plays the part of the servant.  And uh...it feeds into a sort of fantasy for people who play a lot of video games, watch a lot of animation, read a lot of comics..."
"It's like acting out the fantasy of animation and games, right here in real life."
"For any otaku whose never had a way with girls, maid cafes provide a ready-made relationship."
"Many customers come here just to play [rock, paper, scissors]."

If anything, just watch from 5:50 onward in the first video.  The look on the host's face is priceless.   

You know, I'm as big a nerd as they come.  I play a lot of video games.  I watch anime.  I read a lot of comics.  I even buy animu figures.  And yet none of this is appealing to me in the slightest.  Here's an idea: Turn those maid cafes into social centers where otaku can learn that anime should only be their hobby, not their lifestyle, and how to talk to real people! 

[bork]

Was this one of those guys that does cosplay 24/7?  Did you have to pay him for his services?   

[Mr. Gundam]

I saw a couple maids walking around the main drag in Akihabara back in 2006, they looked absolutely disgusted. I felt kinda bad for them.

As for Akihabara itself, last time we were there I spent two hours the first morning we got there buying games (and taking pictures of each other in some Evangelion character cut-outs outside a pachinko parlor), and then an hour the last night we were there buying everything I didn't buy the first time around but knew I'd regret not getting. I figured forcing my wife to wander through nerd central with me for a couple hours was enough tortue for her, and frankly, I didn't need to spend any more time there. I'll probably do something similar this trip, but if they close down Chuo-dori on Sundays for the cosplayers again, we'll wander down to check it out.

[bork]

I saw a couple maids walking around the main drag in Akihabara back in 2006, they looked absolutely disgusted. I felt kinda bad for them.

As for Akihabara itself, last time we were there I spent two hours the first morning we got there buying games (and taking pictures of each other in some Evangelion character cut-outs outside a pachinko parlor), and then an hour the last night we were there buying everything I didn't buy the first time around but knew I'd regret not getting. I figured forcing my wife to wander through nerd central with me for a couple hours was enough tortue for her, and frankly, I didn't need to spend any more time there. I'll probably do something similar this trip, but if they close down Chuo-dori on Sundays for the cosplayers again, we'll wander down to check it out.

I wouldn't bother going if you're just looking for games, but if you want an alternative to Akihabara, check out Nakano Broadway.  It has a lot of little shops selling otaku stuff, a lot of which is priced better than the shops in Aki.

For me, spending two or three hours in Akihabara is enough too.  Actually right up until I left Japan, the main reason I'd go there is to look for import -American- games.   

[Cormacaroni]

haha - that's why Sho Nuff finds life in the US so intoxicating right now

[bork]

I forgot about this!   

[youtube=560,345][/youtube]

[Mr. Gundam]

I saw a couple maids walking around the main drag in Akihabara back in 2006, they looked absolutely disgusted. I felt kinda bad for them.

As for Akihabara itself, last time we were there I spent two hours the first morning we got there buying games (and taking pictures of each other in some Evangelion character cut-outs outside a pachinko parlor), and then an hour the last night we were there buying everything I didn't buy the first time around but knew I'd regret not getting. I figured forcing my wife to wander through nerd central with me for a couple hours was enough tortue for her, and frankly, I didn't need to spend any more time there. I'll probably do something similar this trip, but if they close down Chuo-dori on Sundays for the cosplayers again, we'll wander down to check it out.

I wouldn't bother going if you're just looking for games, but if you want an alternative to Akihabara, check out Nakano Broadway.  It has a lot of little shops selling otaku stuff, a lot of which is priced better than the shops in Aki.

For me, spending two or three hours in Akihabara is enough too.  Actually right up until I left Japan, the main reason I'd go there is to look for import -American- games.   

I plan on tracking down some old PS1 Votoms games as well as some other niche mecha titles for the PS1 and PS2, so I'll still hit up Akihabara. My wife also loved the Yodabashi Camera near the train station and wants to wander around it again. We totally missed Nakano Broadway in Ikebukuro last time around, but I'll check it out in April. On this trip we're getting international roaming on our phones for April so Em can go clothes shopping while I'm shopping for nerd shit and then call each other to meet up.

And actually, the one thing I want to find more than anything else on the trip is a Totoro nursery mobile that we saw in a toy store in Ginza. We contemplated buying it back in 2006, but being newly married my wife and I agreed to not jinx ourselves and get pregnant immediately. Now that we're about two years away from having a kid, we have no problem buying it.

It's funny, I'm starting to work a list of games to look out for on the trip, but I already have every single Gundam and SRW title for my consoles.

[Mr. Gundam]

I figured forcing my wife to wander through nerd central with me for a couple hours was enough tortue for her, and frankly, I didn't need to spend any more time there. I'll probably do something similar this trip, but if they close down Chuo-dori on Sundays for the cosplayers again, we'll wander down to check it out.

Yeah, the wife really didn't enjoy the tour and she doesn't want to go to Akihabara for quite a while. Speaking of which, Chuo-dori has banned pedestrian paradise for the foreseeable future and they're cracking down on people in costumes and any public performances. So Akihabara pretty much sucks now. Listen to Lyte, just hit up Nakano Broadway.

I know that Chuo-dori Sundays have been shut down due to the stabbing, but I had heard that they're considering bringing it back.

[chronovore]

All this stuff is still going on in Nipponbashi. Osaka, FTW.

[brawndolicious]

wow those maid videos lyte posted make me afraid of Japan.

[Ichirou]

The 1/1 scale Gundam statue RETURNS.

A Bandai Namco spokesperson has revealed that the huge 18-meter statue will be once again erected in the city of Shizuoka this July — specifically, the east exit of Japan Rail Higashi-Shizuoka Station.

Why Shizuoka? The Production Factory for Bandai's Gundam plastic models are located in Shizuoka. This is a homecoming of sorts. A really, really big homecoming.

Originally, the statue went up in Tokyo's Odaiba last July for the 35th Anniversary of Gundam and was taken done in September. The statue was visited by over 4 million.

Courtesy of Kotaku.

I actually had the chance to see this in person, it really is very impressive when you see it close-up.

The article doesn't mention whether this is another temporary thing or if this is where the statue is going to end up permanently.