One-time unchallenged holy land of otaku, Tokyo's Akihabara was a heaven for anime, manga, video game, maid café, and collector's items. But today. it is different. So what happened to Akihabara?
We chart the past from Akihabara's early days as an electronics district to its growth in the 1990s–2010s as a thriving subculture hub during the golden era of otaku culture. We'll then look at which anime, doujinshi, figure fever, and maid cafés transformed the district into a fans' pilgrimage site from all over the world.
Now, as Japan's economic downturn-chasing weak yen and pandemic tourism bonanza coinciding with it, Akihabara is evolving — welcoming more tourists than hardcores.
Is it otaku heaven anymore? Or has it become a theme park version of what once was? We split it all up — past, present, and future.
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Music | 5 p.m‼ - 桜餅ルナ
Interested in Japan? Cat with Beard from JAPAN is the best podcast to explore the colorfulness of everything Japan! We explore the Japanese culture & sub-cultures from a foreigner's perspective including guests involved in the industry, such as cosplay/modelling, anime/manga, radio and television broadcasting, music, video games, etc.
This program is hosted by Tokyo-based crossdressing wrestler, singer and YouTuber, Ladybeard from Australia and Cathy Cat who is a TV personality and YouTuber from Germany!
Produced by Nippon Cultural Broadcasting, a major Japanese radio station with 71 years of expertise.
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