Lesson 21Asking about Rules - Leisure -
Let's see
Akihabara
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Explanation through photos
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Akihabara 1
This is Akihabara. Some people call this town Akiba. The streets are crammed with electric appliance stores, computer shops, anime character goods shops, and game software shops. It is also famous among foreigners.
Akihabara 2
In Akihabara, there are many stores such as the Akiba Tolim building adjacent to Akihabara Station, electric appliance shops, and cosplay stores. You will find electric appliance shops that range from small shops to very large stores.
Chuo-dori Street
Chuo-dori is the main street of Akihabara. It is lined with big electric appliance stores such as Ishimaru Denki, LAOX, and Onoden.
In front of Akihabara Station
This is in front of Akihabara Station. There are lots of large electric appliance shops, and many people come to shop here. In front of the station, you may find store staff handing out advertisement flyers or cosplayers holding events.
Yodabashi Camera
Yodabashi Camera is a huge electric appliance shop that opened in front of Akihabara Station in 2005. This is the personal computer section.
PC department 1
Laptop computers from various manufacturers are lined up. You can play around with them to see how they work. The sales area is very large.
PC department 2
If you don't know which product to choose, you can ask shop staff for advice and to help you buy the best one for you. There are also signs that tell which products are popular and that provide discount price information on the products.
Audio products
Various electronic products are sold here. This is the audio products department. Products are arranged by manufacturer, such as Kenwood, Victor and Panasonic.
Vacuum cleaners
Home appliances such as vacuum cleaners are also sold. A foreign customer is looking at products.
Foreign customers
Akihabara is also famous in foreign countries. Many foreigners come here to buy Japanese-made electronics as souvenirs. This customer is surprised by the large size of the store and the wide selection of products.
My Way 1
This is a shopping arcade called My Way.
My Way 2
The arcade is crammed with many small specialty shops. In Akihabara, you will find not only big electric goods stores but also small specialized shops.
Specialty shop 1
Different types of power sockets are sold.
Specialty shop 2
You will find various parts such as lenses, hard disks, and tuners. Some of them are used items. Some people build machines by themselves from these parts.
Specialty shop 3
This is a rare lighting fixtures shop unique for its collection of LED products.
Figures 1
Akihabara is not a town of electronic products only. This is a shop for figures ? anime character toys.
Figures 2
Lots of figures of different anime characters are sold here. You can find large ones as well as small ones.
Figures 3
Figures of popular anime characters are very expensive. Elaborate figures cost more than 5,000 yen. They are especially popular among guys.
Figures 4
These are figures of popular anime characters such as Dragon Ball, Gundam, and Doraemon. The Son Goku figure costs more than 15,000 yen.
Cosplay shop 1
This store is a cosplay shop. Costumes of anime characters or elegant maids are sold here. You can see cosplayers in costumes like these on the streets of Akihabara or in anime events.
Cosplay shop 2
These are maid costumes. In Akihabara, there are many maid cafes where waitresses wearing these maid costumes wait on customers.
Visitors to Akihabara
This man says, Akihabara is a good place for me because there are lots of shops that suit my interests. Many of those who come to Akihabara are very interested in games, anime, PCs, or electronic goods, and they are called Akiba-kei [Akiba people].
AKIBA TOLIM
This is a commercial building. Recently, Akihabara has also become an IT industry town.
Company workers 1
This is Showa-dori Exit of Akihabara Station. You will see lots of business people since many companies are located here.
Company workers 2
This man says, Akihabara has been changing a lot over time. And, I think it is a town with great potential.
Akihabara Station
Akihabara has been changing very rapidly. It is a very interesting town crowded with lots of anime shops, game software and PC stores, and many others.
