KEI D. NALTO - Tokyo for Geeks: Manga, Anime, Cosplay, Toys

TOKYO FOR GEEKS

Manga, Anime, Cosplay, Toys

KEI D. NALTO

Copyright 2021 Kei D. Nalto

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording or other electronic or mechanical means without the prior written permission of the author.

Cover pictures Copyright 2021 Kei D. Nalto

INTRODUCTION

T OKYO IS UNQUESTIONABLY the center of the "otaku culture," thanks to the major influence of the Japanese animation industry. That influence carries the imprints of creative animation studios such as Toei Animation, Studio Pierrot, Studio Ghibli and others. While these studios have been producing many outstanding animation films for decades, the tremendous impact of the Japanese video game industry cannot be overlooked. The global dominance of the video game market by companies such as Sony, Nintendo, Sega, Bandai Namco, Capcom, Konami, Square Enix, just to name a few, had contributed immensely to making Tokyo the world's capital of the "geek culture."

Today, the otaku culture is so ubiquitous that it has become impossible to escape. Unless a person had been living under a rock nowadays, everyone had inevitably heard such words as Naruto, Dragon Ball Z, Sailor Moon, Super Mario, Pac-Man, Tetris, Game Boy or Playstation, at least once in his lifetime. But then again, had anyone opted for a hermit lifestyle during the last three decades, I can't help picturing a possible encounter between that person and a playful group of children:

What's going on here? What are you kids doing on my property?

Sorry, sir, we're playing Pokmon Go!

What the heck is Pokmon Go?

It's a game! Sorry again for the disturbance have a great day, sir!

Given the omnipresence of the otaku culture, most geeks visiting Tokyo, expect to find their favorite manga, anime, video games, and collectibles by randomly stepping into any store in Akihabara. Although they might find what theyre searching for with a bit of luck, that approach is equivalent to trying to find a needle in a haystack. Furthermore, geeks come in all shapes and sizes and the diversity of the otaku culture is a major aspect that is worth taking into consideration. Now, let's assume that two geeks are having a conversation and one tells the other that hes going to buy a "Kotobukiyas HMM Zoid" and a "Kaiyodo Revoltech toy" during his upcoming trip to Tokyo: in such circumstances, there might be a slight misunderstanding between those two persons as the second otaku won't probably have any idea what his companion is talking about even more so if their otaku culture differs in certain areas. For instance, one of them could be a huge anime fan and an avid figurine collector, while the other would be a major video game enthusiast. In order to cater to each otaku's needs, "Tokyo for Geeks" is a series of three distinct books: Tome 1 focuses on manga, anime, cosplay, toys, figures, idols, seiyu and much more while Tome 2 is written for gamers, and Tome 3 covers robots and all types of scale model kits.

While this first volume takes us throughout a universe full of manga, anime, cosplay, collectibles, idols, and much more the book also tries to answer the most common challenges an otaku might face during a short trip to Tokyo if he or she was in search of some rare or limited-edition items. A good example could be someone looking for original drawings and hand-painted animation cels from a favorite anime. Unlike manga books or anime DVDs that are sold by numerous shops across the city, certified drawings and hand-painted animation cels have become a scarcity due to the disappearance of the stores selling them. Most animation studios turned to digital production several decades ago, leading to a lack of supply of such items.

What kind of otaku are you? Whether youre a huge manga and anime fan, a compulsive gamer, an avid figurine and toy collector or someone who enjoys building robots and model kits; "Tokyo for Geeks" will be your most helpful handbook during your trip to Tokyo. It will shine your path along the vast "otaku maze." However, it would be a tremendous misconception to think of this book as a mere shopping guide rather, it's a cultural journey; a quest for a better understanding of the intriguing bits and pieces that constitute the Japanese pop culture as a whole.

Have a nice trip!

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

H ERE ARE SOME ADDITIONAL travel guides to provide more value to your stay in Tokyo.

SPECIAL EVENTS