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Akihabara-Tokyo’s ‘Anime Town’

Many Pikachu stuffed toys in the crane machine. (Zhu Zhu/MEDILL)

By Zhu Zhu

Man on the train
Comic and animation cultures in Japan are very popular. A passenger reads a comic book in a subway train in Tokyo.
Akihabara Station
People walk out of the Akihabara station. Akihabara is a shopping district in Tokyo famous for anime products.
Buildings at Akihabara
Different anime advertisements are displayed outside the buildings.
Buildings in the district
At night, it’s a different scene.
Passengers in street
Christine Hillwo and Josh Harrison, Australians, say they come to Akihabara because they want to experience Japanese special animation culture, though they are not fans of anime.
Shopper in store
Sugar Chen and Step Tsui who are from Hong Kong, come to Akihabara to shop. “Because we are big fans of many Japanese anime characters,” they say.
Anime advertisement
A cosplay anime advertisement is displayed in an anime and comics store.
Girl in street
As the night turns darker and fewer people walk around, a young lady dressed up in a maid costume is still smiling and bowing, handing out leaflets at around 9:00 p.m. She adds a coat since it is a cold, rainy night.
Photo at top:Crane machine at Akihabara,Tokyo. (Zhu Zhu/MEDILL)

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