The One with random collectibles from Japan

in , , , on Sunday, September 26, 2010

Hi guys. おっす！As I told you in my first post, I'm also quite interested in everything Japan, not just because that's what I'm studying (as a part of East Asian Studies...). In any case, it just so happens that recently I had the chance for another quick trip overseas and I got addicted to UFO Catchers.

Yeah, these. I'm sure you've seen some, no matter where you live. They might stand around in some old dusty arcade no one goes to anymore. Game centers are not popular at all anymore in the western world these days. That is completely different in Japan. It's rather impossible to walk in any direction in Tokyo, at least in the bigger hubs like Ikebukuro, Shibuya and of course Akihabara, and not stumple upon a game center. Often featuring multiple floors, with each level being dedicated to a different kind of amusement. There are floors with nothing but games, floors with those silly "drop coins to get some coins back" moneygames and... whole floors, sometimes
even more than just one dedicated to nothing but UFO catchers. Throughout my travels, I've not only seen the usual kind filled with various stuffed dolls or character goods, but also icecream or candy & snacks catchers. To top it off, there is a game center in Osaka that puts freshly made cake and pie into their machines. If you happen to win it, you are recommended to consume it on the same day and they will hand you a cooling bag so you may transport it home safely. 


Anyhow, back to those more common machines. I couldn't resist playing... a lot... and thus I present to you some items I've managed to snatch amongst some others I bought:


 

 Alright, let's look at what we got here.
  1. Star Wars chopsticks - Oh yeah. Do I need to say anything else? Ok.. they do not make the buzzing sound when you swing them through the air. But you will feel damn awesome when you take these out to eat your cup noodles, believe me.
  2. Pokemon Black + DSi - Ok I've had the DSi before. Pokemon Black is brand new though. My gf bought the white edition so I didn't actually get to choose, but it doesn't matter. It's game + study combined for me, even more reason to be happy.
  3. One piece goodies - Both of these cost me about 300円 each only (about 3.5$ each) and are quite nice, even for those who are not fans of One Piece, like me. The watch reminds me of old times and is of good quality, while the corkboard will be decorating my wall pretty soon. Good gifts too, I suppose. 
  4. He is my master figure - Umm... I got this one for a friend...really. Actually the truth is that the year before, when I was in Japan, I wasted so much money on this same figure and it was about time for revenge. I succeeded and as soon as I held it in my hands, I noticed that the whole figure is stiff, imagine touching plastic. The whole figure? Well..no. Her boobs are soft to the touch. I can imagine some people sitting there and repeatedly molesting that poor girl's cleavage.
 I'll be off to play some more pokemenz, they don't catch themselves now do they?

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This entry was posted on Sunday, September 26, 2010 at 5:30 AM and is filed under , , , . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response.

  1. gravatar

    # by jackysplants - September 26, 2010 at 7:34 AM

    I love japanese things..nice.

  2. gravatar

    # by Totalitarian - September 26, 2010 at 7:35 AM

    haha neat! My cousin would eat you alive if she saw those!

  3. gravatar

    # by Mike - September 26, 2010 at 7:38 AM

    Looks like you picked up some pretty epic things, nice post as well

    Following,

    Mike
    Lifehack's guide to a better BJ is out now!

  4. gravatar

    # by Woopy Doopy - September 26, 2010 at 7:40 AM

    Shit man, do I love sushi or what?! Some day I'm gonna visit Japan and probably die of overeating.. heh.

    http://warmyr.blogspot.com

  5. gravatar

    # by i_love_weed - September 26, 2010 at 7:42 AM

    JAPAN: home of the Weird collectibles

  6. gravatar

    # by Anonymous - September 26, 2010 at 7:43 AM

    omg i want one of those blue things!

  7. gravatar

    # by Persuasive Puppy - September 26, 2010 at 7:58 AM

    Your blog is really nice, and japan is a place i eagerly want to visit.

  8. gravatar

    # by Advantage-player - September 26, 2010 at 8:01 AM

    i want one of those blue things!

  9. gravatar

    # by Nikolas Bradshaw - September 26, 2010 at 10:28 AM

    Sick stuff! Uber jealous!

  10. gravatar

    # by Anonymous - September 26, 2010 at 10:53 AM

    Star Wars chopsticks....enough said!

  11. gravatar

    # by McRohanheim - September 26, 2010 at 2:19 PM

    I wish I lived in Japan ;_; . You should try playing pokemon with your star wars chopsticks :)

  12. gravatar

    # by ego_rko - September 26, 2010 at 10:46 PM

    1 pic soooo sweeet =)

  13. gravatar

    # by Anonymous - September 27, 2010 at 7:25 AM

    hey sean just added u, love the layout and i have a feeling im going to like your content...star wars chopsticks? yes please

  14. gravatar

    # by Mr. Kotor - September 27, 2010 at 9:02 AM

    Dude I'm freaking jealous, haha.

    Been playing Pokemon White myself, shit is so cash

  15. gravatar

    # by Xv - September 27, 2010 at 9:26 AM

    star wars chopsticks are badass!

  16. gravatar

    # by Anonymous - September 27, 2010 at 9:45 AM

    Japan is very diversificated.

  17. gravatar

    # by jester - September 27, 2010 at 11:25 AM

    God I love Japan. I'd love to move there, everything is so interesting.

    Badass chopsticks too.

  18. gravatar

    # by Dan - September 27, 2010 at 12:41 PM

    Thats awesome. We need some game stations like that stateside. I would totally drop money on that crap if you couldnt get it anywhere BUT the machines.

  19. gravatar

    # by Anonymous - September 27, 2010 at 12:46 PM

    Oh Japan. Such a bizarre and amusing place.

  20. gravatar

    # by Hawai'ian Gaymer - September 27, 2010 at 12:47 PM

    Sorry if it is in a previous post, but where do you go to school?

  21. gravatar

    # by Frank - September 27, 2010 at 1:25 PM

    Dude, when is the new Pokemon story getting released in Europe? Do you know? I totally freaking want that game, can't wait since I read about it!

  22. gravatar

    # by Sean - September 27, 2010 at 1:29 PM

    @Frank
    I don't know about that. The last games from the pokemon series which I got were all in japanese. Might be several months at minimum though :(

  23. gravatar

    # by bruno - September 27, 2010 at 2:36 PM

    i would like to live in japan

  24. gravatar

    # by Electronics Blog - September 27, 2010 at 3:59 PM

    i would love to get eu version of pokemon black/white here...

  25. gravatar

    # by Koniworld - September 27, 2010 at 5:01 PM

    God I love Japan. I'd love to move there, everything is so interesting.

    Badass chopsticks too.

    following you...

  26. gravatar

    # by surrealmethod - September 27, 2010 at 6:46 PM

    I wish I had crazy asian cartoon eyes.

  27. gravatar

    # by Koniworld - September 27, 2010 at 7:11 PM

    very nice blog..

  28. gravatar

    # by Unknown - September 27, 2010 at 8:32 PM

    Japanese culture interests me as well and so do arcade games. Perfect blog entry for me! Seems they have way better and interesting prizes in their grab games than in the states. I'd love to play one and win a game like you did.

  29. gravatar

    # by SgtPeppers - September 27, 2010 at 8:59 PM

    Lol, I love japan

  30. gravatar

    # by Typical tech monkey - September 27, 2010 at 9:10 PM

    I need those chopsticks...

  31. gravatar

    # by Doodle Dunk - September 27, 2010 at 9:16 PM

    only in japan :)

  32. gravatar

    # by Deadslip - September 27, 2010 at 9:20 PM

    Love those machines, they're just a bitch to win.

  33. gravatar

    # by Unknown - September 27, 2010 at 9:32 PM

    those star wars chopsticks are pretty boss. I need to get me a pair

  34. gravatar

    # by Shakin Hatian - September 27, 2010 at 10:56 PM

    Holy shit, those Star Wars chopsticks are amazing. I would so totally make VROOOR VROOR sounds while eating with them.

  35. gravatar

    # by Andreas Yuan - September 27, 2010 at 11:33 PM

    star wars chopsticks, LOL battle for food at the dinner table !!!

  36. gravatar

    # by Anonymous - September 27, 2010 at 11:42 PM

    I want naoooooo

  37. gravatar

    # by Life Through Fog - September 28, 2010 at 3:49 AM

    japan is crazy

  38. gravatar

    # by 3milelimit - September 28, 2010 at 4:20 AM

    I've always wanted to go to Japan, love the culture (though its a bit crazy). I'm really enjoying reading your blog!

  39. gravatar

    # by Marco - September 28, 2010 at 5:24 AM

    Chopsticks are awsome :)

  40. gravatar

    # by AnbuJustin - September 28, 2010 at 5:49 AM

    i used to work in a japanese owned arcade. ufo catchers are awesome. if you master the technique you can win almost every time

  41. gravatar

    # by Discerning Gentleman - September 28, 2010 at 8:48 AM

    awesome post here

  42. gravatar

    # by todaysteknology.blogspot.com - September 28, 2010 at 8:59 AM

    Star Wars chopsticks are awesome :)

  43. gravatar

    # by Vathir - September 28, 2010 at 9:09 AM

    that one piece pic is pretty sick

  44. gravatar

    # by mafiaso - September 28, 2010 at 9:17 AM

    How can one even win a plushie doll that big?

  45. gravatar

    # by JohnnyDramavich - September 28, 2010 at 9:38 AM

    The fact that Japan still has arcades out in the open is more than enough proof how far we've fallen behind them :P

  46. gravatar

    # by LifeHacks - September 28, 2010 at 10:26 AM

    I love japan arcades...I've been twice....

  47. gravatar

    # by sparky12 - September 28, 2010 at 12:43 PM

    Those star wars chopsticks are pretty sick. I never win on those kinds of machines though. I never had the patience to deal with those. lol

  48. gravatar

    # by Hotsaucer - September 28, 2010 at 12:58 PM

    Damn, pokémon? nice. also those chopsticks are amazing.

  49. gravatar

    # by Askanison - September 28, 2010 at 7:44 PM

    Pokemon? awesome.

    Feel free to check my blog for cosplay photos and conventions experiences

    http://celebgossip85.blogspot.com/

  50. gravatar

    # by McRohanheim - September 29, 2010 at 4:02 AM

    How often do you go to Japan? Do you do it for fun or is it work related?

  51. gravatar

    # by Sean - September 29, 2010 at 7:25 AM

    @McRohanheim
    I used to live there, but these days it's for holidays.

    @mafiaso
    well for huge plushies the crane itself is much bigger of course. Plus you usually don't win them by "holding them", rather trying to push them with the side of the crane will do the trick.

  52. gravatar

    # by Zeldagamer - September 29, 2010 at 11:53 AM

    You any good at the claw games? or do u just have fun playing them and almost getting the prizes like me lol.

  53. gravatar

    # by Sean - September 29, 2010 at 2:03 PM

    @Zeldagamer

    By now I'd almost dare to call myself more or less pro at these.. you don't want to know how much I invested into getting there throughout time though, haha. There are just some claw games where you can already tell it's not worth it.
    Plus in Japan, they are rather easy compared to those that exist in the U.S. or rarely in Europe.

  54. gravatar

    # by n00buser - September 29, 2010 at 4:29 PM

    Where is the pics of your poccy? Or whatever that candy is called...

  55. gravatar

    # by Ragina Vash - September 29, 2010 at 4:55 PM

    That's neat, Just sharing some love :P

  56. gravatar

    # by Mikoten - September 29, 2010 at 7:36 PM

    Japan has the coolest stuff

  57. gravatar

    # by Anonymous - September 29, 2010 at 11:40 PM

    I've been to japan once! loved it!

  58. gravatar

    # by McRohanheim - September 30, 2010 at 8:30 AM

    Thank you for your comment on my blog Sean. I really appreciate it :) .