Okay, look. Akihabara has become a major tourist destination. Why? The electronics, the people in costumes and other funky clothes, the maid cafés, etc. Akiba weekends are bustling, pedestrian-friendly madhouses of geeky goodness.
But now, in response to the recent stabbings, Akiba has reportedly suspended their practice of closing certain roads to cars on Sundays, making the area more accessible and safe for those who want to roam about on foot. The suspension will continue until at least the end of July.
I’ve been hearing a lot of talk in which people whine that Akihabara is going to crack down on otaku, “cleanse” the city, that this is the end of Akiba, etc. But how stupid would they have to be to shut down the very thing that makes Akiba a hot spot to hit? I just have trouble believing that Akiba has been lying in wait trying to find a way to destroy the source of some serious tourist income. What do you think?
June 12th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
I figured that they would suspended the closed street policy and perhaps have tighter security.
Also I think people are making this out a bigger deal than it is. All this will pass in time. There will not be an otaku crack down or anything like that. And you are right why would they close down a highly profitable area. That would be really stupid.
June 12th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
i agree with the above comment.
Just give it some time and things will patch up.
Akiba isnt going for good. There’s far too much money being spent there for it to disappear.
June 12th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
LOL. Like otakucide.
June 12th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
I would certainly hope not.. things will die down.. take for example in my own life. I finally watched Battle Royale yesterday for the first time. When the movie came out I was still reeling from the string of high school shootings, but time passes and I was able to enjoy the movie for the first time.
June 12th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
Let’s see the double-edge sword where at weekends too many people flock to crowded streets and petty crimes like snatching (and sexual harassment perhaps?) grow in record numbers.
June 13th, 2008 at 12:56 am
No crackdowns, no nothing.
What Japan wants is to turn Akiba into another clichéd, tacky tourist destination, and to turn it into a show. The whole promotion of the otaku lifestyle? Merely a step into cheapening and trivializing the deranged lifestyle. Japan still hates the otaku. They’ve just found out the best way of removing them quickly while making a ton of money for themselves.
By removing the undesirable spectre of their failings of society (otaku) out of Akiba, they can do so with ease.
After all, everyone likes a good show and no one wants to see the ugly side of life.
June 13th, 2008 at 6:44 am
@DrmChsr0: I see your point, but I feel like I’m missing something. You say they’ve found the best way of removing otaku; what way is that?
Also, I think that without the otaku driving the market on a consistant, daily basis, they might have difficulty staying open for the tourists during the peak travel seasons…
June 13th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
I agree with DrmChsr0, Akiba won’t disappear, but it can be sanitized for general consumption. Otakudom has always been fan-based, hence the dojin scene and garage kits, and many have complained about the intrusion of corporations into their sacred circles such as Yodabashi and the entire UDX building. When these companies look to cash in on otaku popularity, the hobby becomes diluted. Akiba will be there, but outside forces can destroy the hobby in Akiba. Already more and more otaku are heading to Nakano and Kichijoji to get away from the tourists. Otakudom won’t end, but it will probably migrate.
June 14th, 2008 at 6:15 am
gia: It’s a twisted and somewhat insanely evil application of letting the truth setting people free.
Japanese society, instead of hiding the otaku from the prying eyes of foreigners, expose them to the world at large. By forcing them to live in the ‘light’, they are then forced to flee their ‘hometown’ for other areas. Once they stop congregating in one area it’ll be a lot easier to isolate and eradicate. Or something. I dunno.