Hanako-zoku

I’m all interviewed and profiled in the new issue of HANAKO magazine as part of their massive “Let’s go Akiba!!” feature. Basically, more of me yammering on about Akihabara, otaku, and why there are increasing numbers of gaijin in Nightmare Before Christmas gear suddenly strutting down Chuo-dori.

This issue has to be some kind of turning point for the whole mainstreaming of the otaku thing as HANAKO is mainly read by perfectly normal office ladies that crave sweets and skin care treatments and who would probably flee in terror if ever approached by the average cave troll or warlock commonly found in the Akiba area (i.e. me).

The feature includes a list of "Onna no Akiba BEST SPOT 10” - mostly restaurants and confectionaries - which, sadly fails to mention all the really good places (for example, the “adult” section of Yodobashi Akiba). There’s also a rouge's gallery of “Digital Handsome” rich bachelor IT guys, one of them shown riding a totally awesome Segway.

So much for Densha Otoko. Here comes the Hanako-zoku.

Comments

[Carl Horn]

When I'm in Portland, I get my hair cut at Bishop's, which has a surprising number of OL magazines in the waiting area. I don't recall offhand if HANAKO is among them, as the covers tend to be savagely torn and affixed to the vast collage upon the wall, which includes a Yamato and pinku eiga poster somewhere in there.

[Ｓｈｕｊｉ]

Hi, Patric.
I came from Hanako mag. and i 'm interested in you.

I am a Geek and visit Akihabara on every week end.

I am watching Akihabara for 30 years, and I love this geek town.

I appriciate my poor English, Thank you:-)