As more shops selling anime and game related goods are popping up in Akihabara, traditional stores that have been selling their computer parts for ages are being pushed out more and more. "Gonbe" is a tiny store packed with all kinds of used technical equipment up to the ceiling and from the outside looks more like a garage sale then an electronics store. However this is one of the oldest shops on Chuo Dori, a place where store owners almost change on a daily basis. Therefore the announcement of its closure is not without significance but rather an indication of the change that is taking place in the shop landscape of Akihabara.

The owner recalls: " Back in the days Akihabara was all about PC parts, namely the NEC PC-98. People that came here knew what they were looking for. Nowadays there are more people coming to Akihabara but the number of customers for places like ours have decreased to a minimum."

Indeed the change is obvious. While small stands inside the history laden Radio Center still make a living selling specialized parts to a small niche group the main product range in Akihabara has moved from DIY electronics to entertainment media like video games, figures or anime goods. This is not only caused by the recent rise on popularity of these products but also by the big electronics chains that buy out stocks of used parts leaving almost nothing for those without powerful retail channels. Also asian countries like China have reached a level where they are able to buy and sell pc parts so the market has become tighter.

Many people that came to Akihabara specially for buying household items don't see the need to make the trip anymore as prices have pretty much leveled out all over Tokyo. Makers of independent games or manga however are gathering around Chuo Dori, turning Akiba into the Otaku Mecca it is now, changing it's face once again.

This article has been created in collaboration with

Akiba Keizai Shimbun

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