Down down in Den-Den town

Kansai Time Out has approved my latest article for publication (an account of the Tobita Shinchi red-light district) and has given me the green light for a second piece. This one will be on the changing face of Osaka's electronics district Den-Den town. Den comes from Denki, or electricity. Ten years ago the place was dominated by the big electronics outlets; Joshin, Ninomiya, and others. This was back when computers had three different Japan-only operating systems. Then came DOS-V, cheap IBM clones, the coming and going of Aum Shinrikyo's computer outlet, and then the rise of DIY computer part stores. Prices fell and the big electronics places downsized. So what has now come into to fill the store space. Giant comic book and action-figure department stores in the former 5 story electronic outlet spaces, CosPlay stores and cafes, Robot shops, and wall-to-wall porn palaces. It should be interesting. I've already been to a CosPlay cafe, where little girl munchkins mince around serving you coffee in french maid outfits. Only in Japan. I've got a week off after term ends to do it, then I'll fly on Air Canada to San Francisco on Feb. 3