Shopping Guide
Asia has welcomed midsummer with scorching temperatures across the board. Japan is no exception, and August is a particularly hot period. This got us thinking. Why, in the midst of the blazing Japan heat, do so many people flock to Akihabara? To find out, we went to ask them directly!
We stationed correspondents in front of figure maker Kotobukiya’s store, Kotobukiya Akihabara Kan, and Thanko Rare Item Shop and asked passersby to stop and chat!
Do More Men Visit Akihabara than Women?
We continued greeting passersby one after the next! In total, we talked to 83 people, slightly more than 80% of which were male. So, does this mean more men really come to Akihabara than women?
We Met People from Around the World in Akihabara
Among those we met, 20% were American. However, we met people from all over the world including France, Italy, Australia, Brazil, and Philippines. An international city, that’s Akihabara!
Why Did You Come to Akihabara?
In answer to this question, 42% of people we talked to responded with “otaku shopping.” There were even people who came to buy nothing but figures, and they even showed us their bounty. In addition, there were also those who came to buy electronic goods and those who came to visit a maid cafe.
Story and Characters Are Integral Components of Liking an Anime
We introduced on a flipboard 1 the top ranking anime from a survey on popular anime conducted by TOM on Facebook and asked our interviewees to chose which anime they liked. Popular titles included Naruto, Death Note, and Fullmetal Alchemist. Other anime not on the flipboard were also named including Akira and Dragon Ball. When we asked why they like the anime they chose, a near constant reason was its story and characters!
Currently, many people from all over the world have come to Akihabara, and an international atmosphere hangs in the air. We caught sight of people carrying purchased goods everywhere we looked. For those reading this article, make sure to come to Akihabara when you travel to Japan!
Kotobukiya Akihabara Kan
An otaku goods shop established by Japanese figure maker Kotobukiya. They carry a wide selection of popular anime and game items. Limited-time events that include voice actor signings and figure exhibits are also periodically held on the fifth floor! If you find yourself in Akihabara shopping for otaku goods, make sure to stop here first!
Business Hours
10:00 - 20:00 (open 365 days a year)
Thanko Rare Item Shop
Akihabara’s shop for interesting items. Here, you can buy hard to find gadgets, AV equipment, and more all at reasonable prices!
Business Hours
Weekdays: 11:00 - 20:00
Weekends and Holidays: 11:00 - 19:00
^1^ The series on the flipboard using during the interviews included Naruto, SAO, One Piece, Attack on Titan, Bleach, Fullmetal Alchemist, Fairy Tail, Death Note, and Code Geass.
This is a Tokyo Otaku Mode original article.
