Jpop: Oresama - Trip Trip Trip

My liking for Oresama keep increasing for every time the duo evolves their special brand of happy comic styled vides and songs where the singer Pon really has managed to find her special id that differentiates her from the legion of happy young idols out there in jpop, of course helped by the composer Kojima Hideya. The new "Trip Trip Trip" is maybe their best video so far, and I don't even care which anime it is for this time, the video stands so well on its own.

• Oresama - Trip Trip Trip

Jpop: Sakanaction - New Treasure Island (新宝島)

Long time favorite from Japanese Hokkaido, Sakanaction, is re-releasing and remixing lots of stuff right now it seems, which is nice for old and new fans, but "New Treasure Island" is a completely new song made for the upcoming live-adaption of the manga Bakuman. A nicely tuned creation with a both sober and lively video. Love the guitars and the song and the whole composition.

• Sakanaction - New Treasure Island (新宝島)

Jpop: World Order - Have a nice day

I just love World Order and their synchronized dances, but they somehow overdid themselves this time with "Have a nice day" by going to Akibahara in Tokyo, the worlds number one nerd district. They went and visited electronic stores, maid cafes, AKB48 (of course!) and all the other stuff I love or remember. This video is pure love and made me cry from happiness. I even went and changed the name of my blog to the current one, as I acknowledged to myself how easily I cry from happiness, just like AKB48's (ex)-member Yuko Oshima (Start at 8:20 if you're in hurry).

• World Order - Have a nice day

Trip to Sapporo: Day 11 - A Swedish Otaku goes to Mandarake

(Click here for first day, yesterday or for all trips)

I mentioned Mandarake yesterday, which is a store with all kinds of collectibles for the Japanese nerd, the otaku. I didn't actually take any photographs, but all the store clerks are dressed of in different levels of cosplay from the obvious to the more understated nerdy (Minami, in contrast to the others, I didn't actually realize you were cosplaying…). I could easily shop here for a month's salary, but I restrained myself and focused on presents for my children. Mostly…

Toys and miniatures (dolls for grown-ups…) are one popular part of the store. And the prices are fantastic. The nerds of Japan take extremely good care of their toys and then sell them at fantastic prices  (I think). I couldn't help myself and bought this Neon Genesis Evangelion miniature of Rei Ayanami for only 630 yen (42 SEK/7 USD)! The box is roughly 20 cm in height.

I was going to find some odd LEGO for my son but then I found these Star Wars toys, unopened, for only 4000 yen (270 SEK/40 USD), i.e. an average price of just 20 SEK… (O.O)

My youngest daughter loves cuddly toys, so off I bought some Pokemon looking ones (the names eludes me even though I am sure I have seen them). The were even cheaper so I grabbed several, but believe it or not, one of them seemed to be some kind of collectors edition (the orange dragon) and was actually the most expensive buy at Mandarake at 1000 yen (65 SEK/10 USD), but I didn't see that until afterwards. (^_^)

They also got lots of anime, computer games, some pop music collectibles, and of course lots of manga.  I was most fascinated with the vintage section, where I somewhat randomly picked these ones up:

Idol albums (kind of) from 1991 and 1982.

Front of old style manga (1000 Yen/65 SEK/ 10USD)

Back

All in all a dream for every nerd visiting Sapporo. You will find the store close to Susukino subway station in the Norbesa building. Just look for "Sapporo Mandarake" on Google Maps.

(Click here for the next day)