Was getting into the subway in Tokyo yesterday when this sign caught my eye. don’t really know what its for, it could be a bank, a soccer team, a high-energy drink, or just about anything. But I like to think there’s an off-chance it’s an ad for yours truly, and all I can say is “thanks, Tokyo, but I am taken.”
Monthly Archives: June 2006
Tokyu Hands: Crafts, Gizmos, and Toys, oh my!
Imagine taking the coolest aspects of Toys R Us, Best Buy, Target, and hmm.. Home Depot(?), throw em together, and weed out anything really mundane. Now have lots of interactive displays, spread everything out onto 7 floors (each with its own checkout line unfortunately), and turn it Japanese. Next, put the store in downtown Tokyo (right by the Shinjuku station), and you have my favorite store in all of Tokyo.
Tokyu Hands: Creative Life Store.
My friend Yuichiro (we call him Woody, don’t ask) took me here about 4 or 5 years ago, and I’ve been craving it (and Ippudo ramen) ever since. Its a very fun place, with lots of different types of appeal.
On the first floor I really liked the Let’s Play TV demonstrations, featuring 80s classic arcade hits like Xevious and Mappy (ok, so the premise and storylines weren’t as polished as today’s games, but you could pick up a controller and play the damn thing without learning the 14-button sequence to get your guy to jump!). In the US we have some retro TV-based gaming systems, but these seemed like a bit more fun, I think because they were just less polished-looking.
Also featured on the first floor was a huge section devoted to customizing your cell phone, with stickers, studs, jewels, beads, and I think even raw fish. There were also a few interesting carrying cases for iPod nanos in the mix.
Other highlights in the ‘bizarre gizmo’ section included: ifish and idog (some type of music-reactive iPod accessory), about a dozen different digital Sudoku games, and something called Cube World, which really just seemed like a collosal waste of money for the pure sake of LCD screens… ifish was my favorite piece of silliness.
On the remaining floors were other treasures, ranging from blocks of wood for your carving needs, small furniture, cooking supplies, and just about any type of gadget or gizmo related to any hobby or pastime you may have. I spent some time looking through travel gadgetry, but unfortunately didn’t find anything particularly new to waste money on.
Got a few days in Tokyo? Sure, go to Akihabara and Yodabashi, but you pretty much know what you are going to see there. Head to Tokyu Hands for a lot more fun. Who knows, maybe you’ll even get to comparison shop electronic toothbrushes?
Girl's Gadget Report: Golden Razr
The runaway success of Motorola’s slimline mobile phone Motorola RAZR V3 has prompted the company to produce some extra models. This time Motorola joined forces with Dolce & Gabbana to create a limited edition series of RAZR with a distinct D&G style.
Dolce & Gabbana Group with its two brands is one of the most outstanding names in the sector of clothing and luxury goods. Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana (the founders) are considered two of the most creative and talented designers in the world of modern fashion.
The new RAZR styled by D&G has some specific features, making it different from the other members of Motorola RAZR family. The cell phone comes in gold finish, has a special personalized background and a screensaver from D&G. It also features a special sound for power up (and down), an exclusive polyphonic ring tone and a video clip that illustrates 20 years of history of Dolce & Gabbana.
This limited edition RAZR also features a slightly more functional camera (now up to 1.23 megapixel) and additional expandable memory. Each phone will have its own individual number, making it a real must-have. It comes with a golden Bluetooth headset and a pendant signed with famous “DG” initials.
The limited edition of Motorola RAZR V3i will be sold at Dolce & Gabbana boutiques.
Source – http://direct.motorola.com/hellomoto/dolcegabbana/
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