Episode 36: TREMENDOUS KNIGHTS!
This is the story of young astronaut soldiers (Patrick Macias & Matt Alt, actually) struggling for love…peace…and to trade in their worldly goods for chump change at Nakano Broadway.
They lived together, laughed together, and drank Old Crow together.
The heroic figure of the 1/350 scale SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO model kit will live in the hearts of people forever. Unless some gaijin assholes try to sell it first...
© Hot Tears of Shame Production Committee/jaPRESS
I started shooting cola out of my nose when I heard Patrick say, "There's a boycott on Steve Harrison jokes until the new Yamato movie comes out..."
Posted by: James Leung | November 07, 2009 at 10:54 PM
Holy shit, it's the english version sung by Isao Sasaki. That's fucking awesome, and wouldn't you guys be astro-knights?
Posted by: tissuekins | November 08, 2009 at 08:34 AM
Full version of the English (?) Yamato theme song here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRNbx_M7ucE
"Hello, Space Cruiser Yamato!"
Posted by: patrick macias | November 08, 2009 at 08:39 AM
Ahem. That would be "MEN OF" Space Cruiser Yamato...
Posted by: Tim Eldred | November 08, 2009 at 01:30 PM
Jeeeeezus that's a stupid big box.
I would have GLADLY taken that kit off of Matt's hands, but I expect it would have been cheaper to FLY that thing home on a commercial jet than ship via the 'usual suspects'.
Posted by: Steve Harrison | November 08, 2009 at 08:11 PM
I cannot tell you of the seething mix of emotional turmoil that engulfed me upon entering the Akihabara Mandarake and seeing the lineup of sellers with amazing treasures in their hands waiting for appraisal and cash-out. Only the language barrier prevented me from delivering a really embarrassing speech to a total stranger about how he should totally sell ME that X-Bomber, I need it more than Mandarake does. And then you start thinking, hell, I could finance my next trip by selling junk from home to these guys.
Posted by: dave merrill | November 09, 2009 at 07:05 AM
Dave,
I can't tell you the mix of emotional turmoil that gripped me when the guy in the store selling the inflatable Prince Planet flipped out and accused Matt and I of committing the heinous crime of taking pictures inside (spoilers - we weren't!). But I still like Nakano Broadway because it's still ornery and unpredictable, unlike SOME places I could mention. Ok...Akihabara,
Posted by: patrick macias | November 09, 2009 at 09:11 AM
Just out of curious nature...
Why IS it the shops get freaked out about picture taking? Do they fear that another shop might undercut them on the price of a product? is it shame for wanting 100,000 Yen for a 500 Yen toy? Do they fear that the souls of the toys will be stolen by the taking of pictures?
Now, I recall Suncoast had a no pictures policy, but that was an odd attempt to keep people from calculating the best places to stand in order to steal stuff. Thieves didn't need to take pictures to plan such things, just show up when certain workers were on shift...
So what's behind it? Has anyone actually asked the store managers? I just wonder, because that's what I do.
Posted by: Steve Harrison | November 09, 2009 at 10:27 AM
I was totally afraid of getting flipped out on when taking that picture - I was about to start clickin' away at that giant Gigantor they had in the doorway and then saw the big sign written in English reading NO PICTURES!! But I could not resist the inflatable Prince Planet. I guess my camera isn't big enough or something. They took pity on my pathetic ass. They could tell by the way I reverently intoned "holy shit!" that I was having a religious experience.
My guess is that they don't want somebody coming in and taking lots of pix and then publishing a book of nothing but photos of cool toys.
Posted by: dave merrill | November 09, 2009 at 02:12 PM
The best thing about that place is that they'll accuse you of taking pics no matter what the fuck you do. So you might as well pop off a few shots anyway.
Posted by: patrick macias | November 09, 2009 at 02:17 PM
>>Why IS it the shops get freaked out about picture taking?
The whole image-rights thing is incredibly twisted territory in Japan anyway, but particularly so among people who define their lives by the pop-cultural detritus they have accumulated.
Posted by: MattAlt | November 10, 2009 at 06:25 AM
Okay, confession time. It was me. I was the one busting off shots using my bionic eye.
http://glamerboy.0catch.com/bionicman3.jpg
Posted by: MattAlt | November 10, 2009 at 06:27 AM
After ACTUALLY LISTENING to the Hot Tears O' Shame I now revise my opinion of the "haul crap to Japan and sell it" plan. Mandarake was really lowballing their offers on that stuff. Also I now know not to interrupt Alt when he discusses Jumbo Machinders.
Posted by: dave merrill | November 12, 2009 at 02:11 PM
Sheeeeit....like I'd ask you to translate YJAs, Alt. Am I a phucking rookie here? You know if I send you something it's going to be worth your while. ;) Oh, and the "coming out feeling 10lbs lighter" line wasn't lost on me, Patrick. I do believe I used that, myself, last weekend in Philly!
Posted by: hillsy | November 23, 2009 at 11:11 AM