Editor Electric, Robotic Akihabara Dreaming Guide

Akihabara is the land where dreamers begin to dream. Go back 400 years ago and you would find young starry-eyed samurai training hard to become full-fledged warriors. After that it became the ‘city of fire’, both because of its beautiful autumn foliage and because of the local temple’s association with the Shinto god of fire. In the early 1880’s Akihabara lit up with a new kind of fire: electricity. Small shops selling wires, tubes, and cutters were scattered about the town as domestic electricity was made available.

Throughout history Akihabara has proven itself as a fashion leader, always positioned at the forefront of cultural changes. It is the place where trends begin, and to prove it you can still visit the spot where in 1886 the first Isetan department store stood. The next trend to boom out of Akiba were radios and radio parts sold at street stands alongside vegetables. 

Today Akiba is once again exploding with dreams. New trends, products and culture are being introduced not just locally but globally, which is why we have chosen to make this issue bilingual. This guide presents Akihabara’s fascinating past, present, and not so distant future. We have sought to cover otaku culture as well as the more fashionable side of Akihabara, and of course its more practical aspects as well, such as where you can get some of the best products, deals, and food in the city that lives in the future. To guide you through Akihabara, PAPERSKY called upon the newest robot in town, LegoR MindstormsR NXT. He’s totally compatible with all your needs, so have a great day in Akiba. Itterashyai!

PAPERSKY #18: AKIHABARA Guidebook

Tags: culture, fashion, shop