http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/kotaku.com.png http://kotaku.com/tag/den-den town http://kotaku.com/tag/den-den town

The lines for the Nintendo 3DS didn't start this morning. No, many of them started last night. Those who waited in line were most likely able to snag a 3DS. Those who simply waited probably weren't as lucky. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5770915&view=rss&microfeed=true

Den-Den Town, Osaka's "denkigai" or "electric town", is known for its used game retailers like Super Potato and figure shops like Osaka Gundams. There are also the maid cafes, where folks can get a coffee and talk to a maid. Some, however, are serving way more than coffee. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5761696&view=rss&microfeed=true

For ¥400 a pop (US$4.75), Japanese capsule toy machine offers folks the chance to win an R4 — a device Nintendo is trying to block. As seen in Osaka's Den-Den Town electrics district by Julie via Ai Amano. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5628352&view=rss&microfeed=true

June 24 is going to be a big day for otaku games in Japan. Enormous. Gianormous. Huuuuuuuuuuge. Here's why: More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5522743&view=rss&microfeed=true

Time changes us all. And not only us, but our rooms. Otaku are no exception! More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5520555&view=rss&microfeed=true

Well, that was quick. Real quick. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5517545&view=rss&microfeed=true

Forget Osaka's shady R4 cartridge retailers, the city has one shop that is openly advertising the device. And rubbing it in Nintendo's face in the process. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5514911&view=rss&microfeed=true

Girls in stockings. Girls in wigs. Girls in frilly dresses. Over the weekend, the cosplaying hoard took to the streets of Osaka's Den-Den Town in the annual Nipponbashi Street Festival. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5498887&view=rss&microfeed=true

See those signs? They read, "Majikon" — Japanese for R4. And they are pointing into a random apartment building. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5382926&view=rss&microfeed=true

Forget those mythical panty vending machines! This vending machine in Osaka's Den-Den Town is selling R4 devices. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5307988&view=rss&microfeed=true

Osaka nerds can breathe easy. Hopefully. Two male suspects have been arrested for "otaku gari", AKA "otaku hunting." More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5285456&view=rss&microfeed=true

Ack! CREEPY. Human heads are not that big. Found at the Den-Den Town Kotobukiya shop, these are staff-created customized Haruhi Suzumiya Pullip dolls — poses, uniform and everything. There's another nightmare inducing pic of these dolls after the jump. *shiver* More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=376796&view=rss&microfeed=true

Late last week was the annual "Nipponbashi Street Festa" in Osaka's nerd village "Den-Den Town." The main street Sakaisuji was shut down for foot traffic only and the event featured cosplaying, maids and general geekery. I've been several times in the past. Good fun! More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=370983&view=rss&microfeed=true

Earlier, we brought word that there could very well be a Super Smash Bros. Brawl shortage in Japan. Japanese blog Ota Road points out that early this week, it's been possible to reserve the game at two large Sofmap shops in Den-Den Town. Many online sites, however, have ceased taking reservations. Though, whispers persist that SSBB will be hard to come by at launch. Still, seeing how the game is dropping midweek, and the 31st isn't a holiday in Japan, I'm not so worried about picking up the game here in Japan. You? More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=349931&view=rss&microfeed=true

It had to happen. The Lucky Star dirty movie Kira Suta has finally come out. The DVD hit retailers in Den-Den Town. Here's the kicker: The flick was slated for release on November 23rd, but released itself a week, well, prematurely. The reason for this? There was a pre-release event in Den-Den Town. And, no, I did not go. And, no, I am not lying. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=324624&view=rss&microfeed=true

When the Xbox 360 Elite hit Japan, the black console sold right out. And when the 40GB PLAYSTATION 3 went on sale, it didn't. Japanese site Ota Road claims that the limited edition Elites (Japan only got 5,000) wasn't nearly as abundant as the 40GB PS3. What's more, the new and cheaper PLAYSTATION 3 doesn't seem like it sold out anywhere in Osaka's Den-Den Town. Things to keep in mind: This isn't based on official sales figures, but rather visiting multiple Den-Den Town retailers. What's more, stores most likely had a larger stock of 40GB PLAYSTATION 3s than Xbox 360 Elites. However, the Elite's launch was backed by little to no support from Xbox Japan, while Sony rolled out four television ads for the new, cheaper PS3 model. That's not to say this new model is a failure, but rather, that it just didn't sell out like the Xbox 360 Elite did. As we posted earlier, there was a good turnout at the Akihabara launch. We won't know until we see the sales figures, though. One thing that is sure: There's no shortage of 40GB PS3s in Japan. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=322345&view=rss&microfeed=true

Yes, yes, popular anime Lucky Star has gotten its game adaptations and even its shameful movie adaptations. So how does one go about promoting said shameful movie adaptations? With, you guessed it, schoolgirl uniforms. In Den-Den Town, this in-store display features a Lucky Star uniform in hopes of encouraging something whether that be a purchase or not. The little notice attached to the skirt says things like "(Especially in the breast vicinity) Touch." YEP! Gotta give the wizards at Japan's nerd stores credit. They sure as shit know how to promote things! More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=319311&view=rss&microfeed=true Earlier this year, Japan was DS crazy. Getting your hands on a DS was hard at best, requiring customers to line-up for the latest shipments. And last year? Last year, Japan was BANANAS for the DS. Things got so bad that retailers began reimporting American DSes and selling them to hungry Japanese customers. The demand seem to have cooled off considerably. When the Crimson/Black DS Lite went on sale last week, there was little fanfare, and it was possible to walk into almost any store and pick one up. Folks didn't line up either! All the other colors are apparently available at most stores in Den-Den Town — though, I did notice the Enamel Navy and the Jet Black DS Lites sold out at couple Akihabara shops on Friday. Does everyone who wants a DS in Japan finally have one? Or is Nintendo finally meeting the demand? More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=308015&view=rss&microfeed=true

As boring as the Doki Doki Majo Shinpan "Witch Check" is, know that it not only features boob flicking, but also tush touching. Players also get up close and personal with thirteen year-old Yuuma Mochizuki, who exclaims: "Hmm!? Witch!? That cannot be me...you see, I am a boy." More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=276124&view=rss&microfeed=true

Obviously the above display is for a sex game. Spotted in Osaka's Den-Den Town, this display goes the extra mile: there's aren't just rubber jubblies, but rubber jubblies in a brassiere and behind plastic. What's more, the plastic case is locked! That way people don't, you know, try to touch the faux mammaries. The name of this game? Oppai Baka, or as I like to say, "Boob Fool." There are two words for that plastic display case: absolutely necessary. Brian Ashcraft More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=266602&view=rss&microfeed=true

When the DS Lite first went on sale in Japan, it sold out. And then it sold out again. And again. As soon as the product showed up in stores, it was cleaned right out. From late 2005 until April 2007, getting a DS Lite was hard. You had to be lucky. But, is the supply-and-demand problem slowing? Blog Ota-Road points to a flood of Lites that have hit stores in Den-Den Town. While I was in Tokyo over the weekend, I noticed that it's much easier to get a Lite there as well. And people I was talking to kept bringing up the same thing: The DS drought is over. Well, until Dragon Quest IX hits, and people start buying Lites in four packs. Get 'em while you can, Japan. Brian Ashcraft More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=260094&view=rss&microfeed=true

Tifa Lockhart from Final Fantasy VII looks, err, different. She looks somewhat depressed. I would be too if I were on the cover of Kuusou Jikken -Vol. 7- ("Imagination Experiment -Vol. 7-). "Hentai doujin" comic books like this often feature famous characters from video games or animation doing shameful, embarrassing things! They're printed in small numbers so that they can hopefully slip under the radar, but are carried in popular bookstores in places like Akihabara and Den-Den Town. This particular doujin comic group, or circle, has done other naughty mangas with the likes of Mai from King of Fighters. So! If you are curious, there are some NSFW-ish Tifa pics at the link below. Just know: There's a reason why Tifa looks glum. Brian Ashcraft More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=252012&view=rss&microfeed=true

One word best sums up Japan's relationship with the DS: Insane. The portable has sold oodles (yes, OODLES) and continues to do so. Likewise, the Wii is a big seller. So, Nintendo's been producing the DS Lite for a while now, so there shouldn't be shortages still, right? And the Wii, well, that can't be that hard to make so Japan should be swimming in them. Nope! Both products seem in short supply. A Den-Den Town retailer tells Japanese blog Ota Road: More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=250943&view=rss&microfeed=true

Ack! That sure ain't Toriyama's Blue Dragon. Rather, that's the art work of Takeshi Obata, the artist behind mega popular manga Death Note. Based off the Xbox 360 video game and written by Tsuneo Takano, Blue Dragon RalΩGrado has been making regular appearances in Weekly Shonen Jump since last December. The shirtless dude with nipple covers is mammary-loving "Ral." His blue dragon is named "Grado." The manga is now being published in book form. Hit the jump for a peek of Ral fondling a woman's jubblies. Brian Ashcraft More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=249803&view=rss&microfeed=true

Who needs jubblies when you've got robot toys? Spotted at Sofmap in Den-Den Town is this truly RAD display for upcoming erotic PC title Patro Vessel from May-Be Soft. Anyway, the game seems to be set in a crime-ridden city that causes cops to take to the skies and screw. Mega points for playing up the cool robots instead of the cartoon sex. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=249108&view=rss&microfeed=true

I haven't been to Akihabara's Super Potato in something like 8 months. No, need to! The legendary game store chain is based out of Osaka, and there's one near my house. I can walk to Super Potato. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=242489&view=rss&microfeed=true

Sofmap in Den-Den Town inexplicably stuck this original Xbox next to an Xbox 360 neon sign. It's not for sale. But, I mean, what if a customer is interested in purchasing this unit? Or if somebody walked out of the store with it? My question: Why is it there? The way in which Japanese retailers handle displays never ceases to amaze. Not news in the least, but certainly odd! Brian Ashcraft More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=240924&view=rss&microfeed=true The Retronauts (1Up's Jeremy Parish and Wired's Chris Kohler) descend on Ninten-centric retailer Super Potato and go game shopping. Setting's perfect for Kohler and Parish to totally geek out and try to make some money in the process. Brian Ashcraft More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=237997&view=rss&microfeed=true

Nope! And so THE IDOLM@STER officially captures the hearts of otaku-dom. Found in Osaka's Den-Den Town, here's a PLAYSTATION 3 console running a demo for THE IDOLM@STER. Fear not Sony, this isn't a battle of the capitalized letters. Upcoming PS3 title Gundam Musou should win back any recent Xbox 360 converts. Hopefully... Brian Ashcraft More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=234206&view=rss&microfeed=true

Late last week, Gears of War went on sale in Japan. If early (albeit isolated) indications are anything to go by, Gears *could* be a hit. While the title racked up an impressive Famitsu scores and sports truly impressive graphics, some believed that the game's blocky very American-style characters wouldn't fly with gamers used to more slender Final Fantasy-type heroes. (Interesting to note: There is a population in Japan who are extremely interested American games just as there's a Western segment who fetishize Japanese titles. Kindred spirits!) Though, move several million copies abroad, and bet your ass, Japan listens. While the title sold flat out at Sofmap, the Gears demo at retailer a-Too reportedly drew a crowd. Mind you, this isn't just for an Xbox 360 game, but a CERO Z-rated Xbox 360 game so I am interested in seeing those sales figs. Like I said, isolated, possibly meaningless, but in Japan, still impressive. Brian Ashcraft More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=230314&view=rss&microfeed=true

Previously, we ran photos of unsold PS3s in Tokyo. To shed more light on the situation, here's a collection of photos taken at retailers in Osaka's Den-Den Town. The area is Osaka's gaming and electronics district, and these pictures were taken at retailers like Sofmap, Big Tiger, Super Potato, a-Too and even 7-11. (Yes, 7-11 in Japan sells video game consoles.) The above pic is from Sofmap, and the sign says the Wii and the DS Lite are sold out; they have PS3 units in stock. A cocktail of high price, bad press and lackluster titles might be driving customers away. Expect sales to pick up as new games start to flesh out the line-up. More photos after the jump, make of them what you will. Brian Ashcraft More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=226243&view=rss&microfeed=true

Tomorrow at Den-Den Town's Sofmap, Nintendo Wii pre-orders commence. To mark the occasion, the retailer has set up its in-store Wii corner, making it one of the first of its type I've seen in Japan. Looks simple. Clean. Nice. Brian Ashcraft More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=215451&view=rss&microfeed=true

Ed's note: Ashcraft, worrying over the happiness of the throngs of journalists parachuting into Japan this week for the Tokyo Game Show, insisted that we run a short little guide to Den-Den Town. Here's Brian's list of places to go if you're in town for the week and need some Otaku fun. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=201193&view=rss&microfeed=true

The GameCube has had a decent run, but time to call it a day. With the Wii around the corner, consumer interest in the console is waning, but it remains relatively strong in Japan, where the system outsells the 360. Super Potato in Osaka's Den Den Town has a limited quantity of GameCubes (used, we assume) that ballpark between US $45 and $25. I'd love to see what exactly a $25 GC looks like, and it's probably not too pretty. Brian Ashcraft More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=199979&view=rss&microfeed=true

Well, maybe they are, but I haven't found them. I trounced through multiple Den-Den Town stores, looking for cracked display models. The handhelds were beyond dirty and weren't coated in grim, but embalmed in it. They appeared to have been the same ones that had been out on display since launch. Random people man-handling these DS Lites all day for months. A perfect breeding ground for cracked hinges, right? More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=195093&view=rss&microfeed=true

Seniors aren't the only ones that need brain training. Dorks do, too. And now in Japan they can as a CD-ROM geek trainer called Moeru Nou Tore has hit otaku-land. The word "moe" refers to the pink, the cute and the dow-eyed doe-eyed, "nou" means brain and the "tore" is a shortened form of "training." The CD-ROM is a take-off on Nintendo's hugely popular "adult" brain training games that feature Prof. Ryuta Kawashima. The Windows game is divided into four sections: Calculation, Memory, Reflection and Judgement. Players attempt to win over a young lass, and in the process, keep their brains as young as the Lolitas they lust after. Brian Ashcraft More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=190839&view=rss&microfeed=true

The naughty school dating sim Buraban! ~The bonds of melody~ is not just about an after school band, but an after school brass band! And a PC hentai game that specific needs targeted goods, namely large inflatable bed-sheet that features life-sized young girls taking off their shorts. Don't want anyone to buy Buraban! on accident, do we? Brian Ashcraft More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=188277&view=rss&microfeed=true

Over the weekend, a girl band played at the Gamers shop in Den-Den Town. The event caused a mob scene, blocking the street so that cars were not able to drive down Den-Den Town's Ota Road. Cops were even mobilized. The band that caused this ruckus? Skimpy talent skirt outfit T-BACKS (the Japanese word for thong underwear). Bees on honey, bees on honey. Brian Ashcraft More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=185099&view=rss&microfeed=true

Conventional wisdom says that any Gundam, Dragon Ball Z or Final Fantasy title will be a surefire hit in Japan. Screw conventional wisdom. While previous DBZ games have been monster sellers, the latest installment is anything but. Cho Dragon Ball Z (Super Drago Ball Z) boasts toonshaded graphics and was developed by ex-Capcom and Street Fighter II producer Noritaka Funamizu. The title dropped last Thursday for around 7,140 yen (US $63), the new DBZ was already hitting the Japanese bargain racks in both Akihabara and Den-Den Town. The game was marked down almost half-price to 3,980 yen (US $34) at some stores. Why? I talked to an insider who has worked on previously DBZ titles in Japan, and he seemed to think it had reached saturation. Comments were also made about the new game's style of play being "heavy" and "sober" for fans of the series. Cue joke about Super Dragon Ball Z not being that super. Brian Ashcraft More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=184845&view=rss&microfeed=true

How do you get otaku worked up over a new cutesy PC porn game? Try a mini-van with a crummy sticker on the side. To promote its upcoming title Tenku Symphonia 2, game maker Cocktail Soft has sent a caravan across Japan. Late last week, the van rolled into Osaka's Den-Den Town. The van and its door-stickers have actually made me not want to buy this game—not that I was in the market for Tenku Symphonia 2 anyway (I missed the first one). They're probably going to spend more on gas than this CD Rom will rake in. Brian Ashcraft More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=183237&view=rss&microfeed=true