Day 47

Headed out for Nakano with a friend from the house for some final AKB shopping. I couldn't resist more bearbricks and ended up buying three more, plus some expensive photos to complete a collection. This is the guy who had all the bearbricks on sale that I talked about earlier. You rent these glass boxes and put in stuff you want to sell, then you just go to the clerk who works there and say what you want to buy. The sellers can come back any time to collect their cash and put new stuff in. You can also see what each glass box currently have on their website. The one on the picture below is number C-199. I'm not sure how often they update the photos, but I think once a week or so. As you can see, this guy has a few new items like the Yuko daruma and 5400secs micro SDs, but still plenty of bearbricks.

Then we meet with another friend of mine who I met in Japan three years ago. As with many other people I know, we don't really stay in touch, but still make sure to meet whenever possible. Had dinner at an Italian resturant which means pasta and escargots.

And these are the bearbricks and pictures I got this time. Some of them were expensive, but I want to have 6 of each set so they take up a full spread in the binder. Still want more of the election posters.

Day 42

Another slacking/shopping day. Of couse it's Nakano Broadway again for more pictures. When you go by train, there's a train change guidance sign on the platform you can look at, to understand where on the train you need to be in order to step off near the exits, stairs, escalators, elevators, and train change. So smart. Also, right next to it is the big yellow sign with a level map of the station. Popular spots are also pointed out so you know which exit to take.

At Nakano I met up with a friend to buy and trade more pictures and look for bearbricks. Had udon with two deep-fried shrimps for dinner. Udon is thick noodles. At this place, you can add pretty much anything you want to your choice of udon. You also get to choose size, and often if you want it hot or cold. Cold udon and soba is very popular in the summer. Knowing Japanese really helps when you want to eat "real" Japanese food, the kind that every office worker eat at their lunch break, as everything in this kind of resturants is in Japanese.

And I finally got myself a bearbrick. There are small glass boxes that private person can rent, and that's where I found one I wanted. The same person also had the full complete 7 Eleven bearbrick box for sale. Price? 200,000 yen.

Day 37

Today I went to Akihabara first to check the regular stuff. No new items at Liberty, but at the theater floor of Don Quixote there were less people than last time, so I could take my picture with the fishheads.

Nobody was trading pics which was a little dissapointing since I got a couple of ones I want to get rid of. But at the official store they got new items - B5th and K6th studio recordings CD's. Just outside Club Sega nar the station I saw a girl handing out flyers for some game, and her outfit looked completely like the Iiwake Maybe outfit. So I asked her if it was AKB cosplay, and she said "no, it's from this game" and handed me the flyer. Yeah right, I thought. After looking at the flyer, the cosplay was actually from one the girls in the game. Still a complete rip-off of the AKB outfit.

Then I went to Trio 2 at Nakano Broadway again to buy more pics. I've decided to try to get 3 or 6 of each set, because they look good together in the binder. Nakano Broadway is shopping mall located by the end of a long shopping street just north of Nakano station.

Trio got a few stores there, the first one is for all the boy bands like Arashi, SMAP, Hey Say Jump, etc. At Trio 2 they focus on female idols and movie stars. They got plenty of posters, old magazines, trading cards and pictures, promo stuff, etc. They got a special corner for the AKB pictures, which they really need to expand. There are always a bunch of people there browsing the pics. At Trio 3, they got Hello Project stuff, but I've never found that store.

Back home the BBQ party had already started, so I just dig in on whatever I could find. It's really nice that the landlord is doing this kind of thing for everyone, and it's a real pity more people living here don't participate or enjoy it as much as he would want them to.

Around the corner there was a bunch of people carrying around a shrine and making alot of noise. Not sure what the festival or activity is called.

When it got dark we did some fireworks. They got alot of different fireworks in Japan, and these were all for holding in your hand. Some of them were really nice and flashy, but very short.

And this is the loot from today. A bunch of pics and the two new studio recordings.

Day 11

Wasn't sure of what to do today. Someone on Stage48 wanted to meet up and said he was going to Nakano for pics. Since I had planned to go again some time this week I figured I might just do it together with someone. Met up with a bunch of Indonesian guys who were all nice. They're only staying in Japan for a week so they spent like 20k each on photos and then another 50k+ for their friends back home.

Then took off to Kouenji to get another shot. No try though.

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They had a big self-made poster outside with Shukan AKB screenshots to promote their resturant.

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7 Eleven is basically taken over by AKB now. They got ice cream, onigiri, bread, cup ramen, notebooks, pens, tissue boxes, lolipops, candy bags, chewing gum... Of course I can't help but go every day.

The pics I got today. Favorite one today is Shukan AKB Oya Shizuka in the middle. "Kara~~i!"

Tomorrow I might just take it easy and on Wednesday head out to Yokosuka.

Day 8

I could finally take out money today so went on a little (uninteded) shopping spree. Nakano Broadway is a dangerous place for your wallet. They had tons of stuff. Spent a few hours in there.

Also tried to do some Sakura no Shiori PV shots while in Akihabara to pick up the Yokohama DVD-box and B4th DVD. Didn't turn out well since it wasn't early in the morning.

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Pics! Rena was the most expensive one, but too awesome to miss. Somehow I bought four SKE kenkyuusei pics. Don't know how that happened.
Moeno, moe~ As you might be able to tell I love Team B, until they shuffled. With the current teams, K has most members I like. So I bought that Yokohama box. The pocket book is so-so, but Team PB vs YJ Special Mook is highly recommended! It has a fold-out poster as well.
The stuff in the right corner is from 7-11. The cups contains chewing gum, and the bag candy. Pretty lame plastic bag but the candy choice is good. Oh, and they have tissue boxes too now...