Let me catch you up with Tokyo…

by brian on November 3, 2008

The Tokyo/Brooklyn Connection

Saturday night I had dinner in Shinagawa with Shiori, a professional photographer who I met thru Petra and Shizuka. Thanks guys for the hookup! Had a great time and Shiori was the consummate host for her city. But normally she lives in Brooklyn and the combination of a polite and shy (so SHE says) Tokyo native with the rough and tumble ruggedness of the city of Brooklyn is a little crazy. Shiori, if you’re going to keep filling my glass with sake, at least fill yours halfway! LOL!

Tech Lover Paradise

Friday and Sunday I went to Akihabara, the section of Tokyo known for wall to wall electronics, gadgets, robotics, cell phones, video games – basically anything with a circuit or runs on batteries or electricity.

Imagine an area the size of Times Square with nothing but Radio Shacks, Circuit Citys and Best Buys. But say it was not loaded with outdated US tech but with the very latest in technology.

My eyes glazed over with all the items available for sale. From screwdrivers to used computers to cellphones to cameras, everything you could ever want is here.

Walking the streets took me parts of two days, and I’m still going back to pick up a camera and some other items.

The station stop

Me. Yes I am there.

Reason to go back to Japan #297. Street Fighter 4 is out in Japan only and the tournament begins in January 2009.

I have never seen so many grown men in business suits after work playing video games. In the US the video game arcade is dying. Most of us play at home on our WIIs, Playstations and XBoxes. In Japan, it is anything but. The arcade still rules.