Akihabara or “Akiba” is best known for its clusters of electronics stores and otaku shops, and for decades, it would close its main throughways to vehicular traffic on Sundays and holidays. On those “Pedestrians’ Paradise” (Hokōsha Tengoku) days, shoppers and visitors were allowed to walk on the streets.

It’s good to see that Akiba would be returning to normal, soon :). Days and times of the “Pedestrians Paradise” are still being hammered out at the moment.

Source: ANN

“We hope the cameras will deter crimes. And we want to assure the public that Akihabara has become a safe place,” Chiyoda Ward spokesman Kazuhisa Yamaguchi said. The video feeds will be monitored by members of the neighborhood association.

While none of the 16 cameras covers the site of the rampage, other neighborhood associations are planning to set up an additional 34 surveillance cameras by the end of March to monitor major streets, Yamaguchi said.

The cameras cost nearly 10 million yen to purchase and install – a hefty price to pay in order for security to be restored!

Source: Japan Today, Japan Times

My favorite Ita-PSP is the one below :D

Source: AkibaOS

Was googling up yesterday on the ways to create your own Ita-PSP, and still, I have no idea how to create one myself ^^”.

Sofmap, a Japanese retailer with stores in Tokyo and Osaka, has a Final Fantasy XIII display up at its main store in Akihabara. The FFXIII trailer is being looped on a big screen HD television. In Japanese, the sign reads, “If you’re playing Final Fantasy XIII, then of course big screen!”

Face it, we have been waiting too long for FFXIII. And the day is soon. So change to HDTV now because its worth it for Final Fantasy! Sadly, my HDTV isn’t that huge, but still, playing the demo on my TV was awesome. The graphics is stunning. :D

Source: Kotaku

If pictures ain’t enough for you, here is a video of the Gundam Tree!

I feel like stealing one of the gundams now XD.

Source: Akibamap

A “Gundam Tree” made of over 60 plastic models from the robot anime franchise will be erected in the Tokyo otaku shopping district of Akihabara on December 3.

The Gundam Tree, will stand about 5 meters tall. It will also mark the release of the Mobile Suit Gundam: Gundam vs. Gundam Next Plus action game for the PSP on the same day.

The tree will be illuminated in Gundam’s signature colors of red, blue and white. Tohru Furuya, the voice actor of the first Gundam anime’s main character, Amuro Ray will man the switch to light up the tree on December 3.

First 100 folks who head down to Akiba will get a chance to take a photograph with Furuya when they purchase the PSP game!

Wow, what a way to promote the upcoming Gundam game. Also, since Christmas is around the corner, this can’t have been a better way to promote the Gundam game XD.

Source: ANN

According to Mainichi,  Tomohiro Kato wrote an apology letter to one of the victims.

“However much I repent, however much I apologize will never be enough to make things right, and since my crime deserves death 10,000 times I think I will be sentenced to death,” Kato wrote in a six-page letter to Hiroshi Yuasa, 55, who was wounded in the attack.

“I’m sure everyone’s anger that my trial is dragging so slowly knows no bounds, and I decided that I had to apologize as a person. … I have almost no memory of it at all, but I have absolutely no intention of running from what I’ve done.”

He also said that the victims’ pain “must be something like the uncontrollable anger I felt when my online self was killed on the forum I spent all my time on by trolls.”

Yuasa then commented, “From the way he wrote so politely, you wouldn’t have thought someone like that could have done such a thing. I want to hear the whole story at the trial.”

Good that he realises his mistakes. I guess it was him getting killed online that resulted in the rage. ><

There was even a special launch event at the Yodobashi Camera in Akihabara.

The line growing. It’s amazing that they’re queuing in an orderly manner.

It looks like there are quite a number of people getting the PS3 Slim that day. Besides, it was a working day, so folks working might have picked up their PS3 Slim after work. Will be looking forward to the stats! Will DSi remain #1 for the sales of gaming consoles? ^_^”

Source: Kotaku

Dressed in a sailor-suit costume and a blue wig, she was said to be filming for a video directed by McG (Terminator Salvation).

According to Ideeli, the video will be screened at an exhibition later this year at the Tate Modern in London.

Lol what is next? Seems to me that in the picture, no one is taking note of her – So if you’re fan of cosplayers, you know where to head when you’re going to Japan.

Source: ANN

Could this be due to the anime series Sengoku Basara? LOL.

Sengoku Style Cafe & Bar Mononopu has cute girls who cosplay in a combination of maid costumes and samurai armor. The cafe is only a 5 minutes walk away from Akihabara Station.

I only went to the Meido Cafe here.. and well the food is okay? It’s not a Japanese Meido Cafe so it’ll never be the same. LOL.