Life in Japan - Pictures galore !! Arcades, Temples, Rainy days, etc

**Yakumo** · 08-19-2011

Here's another one then :nod:

**Yakumo** · 08-19-2011

And another :p

**spot778** · 08-19-2011

Awesome shot of the laundry mat GP !

I was hunting for one when I was there but never found one :)

**GaijinPunch** · 08-19-2011

I like the laundry mat photos the best. Don't get a lot of compliments on them though. Thanks. ;)

Lightpost by gaijin_punch, on Flickr

Yoyogi Park Rockabilliy by gaijin_punch, on Flickr

Yoyogi Park Rockabilly (02) by gaijin_punch, on Flickr

**alecjahn** · 08-19-2011

Is there a firm differentiation between a rockabilly cat and a Yakuza scrub (based on my limited knowledge of JP+Tattoos)?

**GaijinPunch** · 08-20-2011

Yeah, quit a big one, AFAIK.

**Warakia** · 08-20-2011

Yup - massive difference between a biker and a yakuza and then a ton of gray area in the middle caused by people who just happen to like the look.

And don't read too much into tattoos. Western rags and sites love to go on about tattoos being this massive taboo in Japan. The reality in Tokyo at least is very different, my rule of thumb is that if someone is allowing their ink to show in public, then they probably just like tattoos.

On the other hand I have a good friend who got massive Manji tattooed on his hands while in prison, so with him, your suspicions would be quite right!

**alecjahn** · 08-20-2011

Originally Posted by Warakia

And don't read too much into tattoos. Western rags and sites love to go on about tattoos being this massive taboo in Japan. The reality in Tokyo at least is very different, my rule of thumb is that if someone is allowing their ink to show in public, then they probably just like tattoos.

That's what I was getting at. I wasn't sure if tattoos were actually shocking or if everyone just continued the stereotype that they were.

Originally Posted by Warakia

On the other hand I have a good friend who got massive Manji tattooed on his hands while in prison, so with him, your suspicions would be quite right!

That'd be a hard to explain to my mother.
"I swear, it's facing the opposite direction!"

I'd totally get one on, say, the bottom of my foot.

**GaijinPunch** · 08-20-2011

That's what I was getting at. I wasn't sure if tattoos were actually shocking or if everyone just continued the stereotype that they were.

Most (private ones) will require you to hide them when you're using their facilities. Only city-run gyms allow you to freely swim and pump iron w/ them showing. As such, people w/ sleeves are generally at the public ones.

**Warakia** · 08-22-2011

Yeah I wouldn't mind manji as a subtle part of a design, but having it visible would be an issue outside a VERY limited tattoo loving context. Oh and good luck on the soles of your foot - that is a somewhat sensitive place...

Totally agree on the Gym issue with you Gaijinpunch, although some will allow it I would always cover up just to be sure.

Overall I would say the issue is changing (and fast). The last office I was working in in central Tokyo, my immediate boss had a heart tattooed on her hand (regret incoming fast!) and she got on just fine. I dunno, I would not risk anything like that until I was nicely retired.

**GaijinPunch** · 08-22-2011

Are you in Tokyo these days?

**Warakia** · 08-23-2011

I have been back in the UK for the last couple of months for reasons professional (not radioactive). I will be back in Tokyo in October (visa permitting) in a new job, I am just looking for somewhere to live now as it happens.

**GaijinPunch** · 09-06-2011

Takao-san (Temple) by gaijin_punch, on Flickr

Takao-san (Fountain) by gaijin_punch, on Flickr

Takao-san (Statue 2) by gaijin_punch, on Flickr

Meijijinguu Barrels by gaijin_punch, on Flickr

**Tatsujin** · 09-06-2011

Nice, you went on a takao-san hikking? nice place :)

And oh, very nice shots as well :)

**Yakumo** · 09-06-2011

I was messing about with camera+ on the phone today. Spooky.

Yakumo

**Yakumo** · 09-08-2011

I was browsing around my local Manga Soko today at lunch time so while I was there I pulled off a few sneaky photos. The quality of the pictures is piss poor but you get the idea.

Loads of 360 stuff as well as normal XBOX (not shown in this picture)

Dreamcast has a pretty good selection, too.

Good old classic Game Boy. You should see the DS section, it's MASSIVE!!! I couldn't get a picture though since staff were stocking the shelves there.

In this picture you can see just under half of the loose cartridge section made up of 60% Famicom with PC Engine, Mega Drive, MSX, Neo Geo Pocket, SFC and a few others making up the rest of the space.

N64 fans would be in heaven !

Just one small selection of control pads. I think these are all for the PlayStation.

In this picture the bottom 3 rows nearest the camera are 3DO, Neo CD and Mega CD. The rest is 100% PC Engine! Who says all the PC Engine stuff is in Tokyo :thumbsup: We have shit loads of it down here.

PSP section.

Just one of the 4 shelves like this that are full of Super Famicom boxed games.

Like the SFC section, this is just one of 4 shelves full of Sega Saturn games.

Manga Soko also carry a lot of cool hardware and some very rare items but they are always on crack when pricing up the hardware. I'd NEVER buy any hardware from these guys unless it was a control pad.

There are other sections in the Shop such as PlayStation, Mega Drive and so on but those sections had staff in them so I couldn't get any pictures. There's also the glass case which I managed to get a video of. I'll upload that to YouTube tomorrow.

Yakumo