At last, a little update on that whole Kirsten Dunst doing mahou shojou cosplay we reported on a while ago. It has emerged that the shooting was indeed a music video. In fact she was singing the much cliche’d and ad hoc song ‘Turning Japanese’.

What’s more though is that the video is to be part of a much larger film based on Akihabara culture directed by Takashi Murakami, who long time readers might remember as the director of this excellent superflat Louis Vuitton video we posted back in 2007. The film is titled “Akihabara Majokko Princess”. Above you’ll find a couple of images of Muramaki, the first being him in front of a giant print allusive to the film, you can even see the legs of a giant Kirsten Dunst in her infamous cosplay, terrorizing the city. The other image… well lets just say it’s quite titillating.

[Arrested Motion]

Japanese fashion model Nozomi Sasaki tries to reach out to the otaku crowd in this video where she visits a maid cafe in Akihabara dressed as a schoolgirl. It makes for a very fun watch but not for the intended reasons. Half the time her expression screams “GET ME OUT OF HERE!” and the other half it mutters “what the hell is up with these weirdoes?”. Watch her laugh, is she laughing with the maids or at the maids?

And this was easy, she was sheltered. I’d like to see her deal with the attention of a couple dozen otaku. I’m not sure she’d hold up… but it would be quality entertainment!

[JapanSugoi]

The common sight of Maids setting up in Akihabara’s streets to sing, do photo ops or any kind of performance is under attack. Japanese cops are going after the Maids in Akihabara, stating that their performances on the street lead to crowds and that leads to traffic obstruction, even though Akihabra is a well known pedestrian heaven. And as always, the subservient Japanese population bend over and take it straight from the police without any questioning.

“Akihabara is hallowed ground for anime, something that could well be one of Japan’s most important industries nowadays.” says Takuro Morinaga, economic analyst and Managing Director of the Nippon Maid Association. I shit you not, there’s a Nippon Maid Association.  Morinaga goes on to propose some sort of national maid registry, were registered maids would get permanent permission to perform in the streets without attracting the fuzz.

In the meantime the maids will continue to be harassed and censored in the streets of Akiba, free speech is now dead.

[Mainichi]

I love the look of No more heroes and will be buying it day of release without fail. Too bad nobody in Akihabara felt the same way. Driving forces behind No more heroes Yasuhiro Wada and Goichi Suda were outside of a store with free No more heroes branded toilet roll and a piece of cosplaying arse to commemorate the release of their sandbox, Tarantino on acid style, Wii lightsaber slashfest – but nobody showed except for the gaming media. Yasuhiro and Goichi are showing off smiles in the picture, but behind those smiles lie pain, upset and that every Wii owner in the area gets run over my a light saber wielding crazy person on a motorcycle.

No more heroes will more than likely be enough of a hit in North America and Europe that game creator Goichi Suda can afford for it to not sell all that brilliantly in Japan. It’s no surprise, because the game is highly westernized and is having to contend with that white dinner tray you stand on that is also known as Wii Fit. But still…it must hurt to know nobody showed up to buy your game and that your own country doesn’t want the fruits of your hard work. Poor fella. He should definitely do an instore in America or the UK. He’d most certainly get a decent turnout.

[Kotaku, via Akiba blog]

We’ve seen our fair share of Akihabara video tours, some aimed at foreigners, others by and for normal Japanese citizens who find the whole Otaku thing fabulously fashionable to know about right now. Next year? Not likely. But now Japan Sugoi brings us a collection of Akihabara shop tours by Otaku, for Otaku. Akiba.tv is a relatively new Japanese website where Akiba duelers tour and review the most prominent shops and even some hidden treasures. The videos are very cool, despite the lack of english subtitles.

Like this optician’s shop where not only does some random Japanese guy stand outside rocking out with a giant owl but a cute girl in cosplay will clean your glasses with care and put them back on your ugly mug. Which for any glass wearing male is about as awesome as it gets!

Rock on Salary Man, rock on!

[Japan Sugoi]

Back in 2006 there was a TV series called Maid in Akihabra, a 6 episode story about, well, a maid in Akihabara. The TV series starred jpop idol Mako Sakurai as a desperate woman who’s last refuge is working as a maid in Akihabara. Its a short, fast paced series, with each of the 6 episodes lasting 15 minutes, and very entertaining. Now Japan Sugoi has posted the whole 6 episodes in flash format for your entertainment.

If cute girls and otaku heaven is your thing (and lets face it, you’re here, it is) go ahead and give it a watch, its no Densha Otoko but it wont disappoint.

[Japan Sugoi]

We were always wondering when would all those maid-this and maid-that stuff that Japan assimilated as an attraction some time ago appear on this continent. Well, Canada is the “Nidus Canal” from the Hive located in Akihabara, with this coffe shop called “i maid cafe”.

It offers pretty maids and funny-named foods like LOVE SEASON. Too bad it’s all the way up to Canada. . .

So now my friends. . . will you fight back with your culture or let the cute little girls ruch their way through?

You can check the restaurant’s foods HERE.

[Kotaku]