Phil Theobald
@whimsicalphil.bsky.social
Player One Podcast co-host. Formerly Nintendo Power, EGM, et al. Currently at Pokémon. Ace mercenary pilot and intergalactic wise guy. Opinions are my own, etc.
That yellow Gym is the Pokémon Stand vending machine in Terminal 3 at Haneda Airport. It sells exclusive plush and other merch with a Haneda Airport theme!
February 4, 2026 at 7:35 AM
That yellow Gym is the Pokémon Stand vending machine in Terminal 3 at Haneda Airport. It sells exclusive plush and other merch with a Haneda Airport theme!
Sitting on the plane, ready to head back to Seattle.
February 4, 2026 at 7:31 AM
Sitting on the plane, ready to head back to Seattle.
The old school arcade in Akihabara is RETRO:G in GiGO Akihabara Building 3. Turns out it’s on the 6th floor.
Here’s a (not complete) list of their games off their website.
Here’s a (not complete) list of their games off their website.
February 3, 2026 at 11:53 PM
Boo.
But also: good job.
But also: good job.
February 3, 2026 at 10:52 PM
Boo.
But also: good job.
But also: good job.
There’s also a Typing of the Dead-style Lupin arcade game (although sadly not at this arcade).
February 3, 2026 at 10:51 PM
There’s also a Typing of the Dead-style Lupin arcade game (although sadly not at this arcade).
The old school arcade in Akihabara is RETRO:G in GiGO Akihabara Building 3. Turns out it’s on the 6th floor.
Here’s a (not complete) list of their games off their website.
Here’s a (not complete) list of their games off their website.
February 3, 2026 at 10:46 PM
The old school arcade in Akihabara is RETRO:G in GiGO Akihabara Building 3. Turns out it’s on the 6th floor.
Here’s a (not complete) list of their games off their website.
Here’s a (not complete) list of their games off their website.
I DO have multiple UY anime soundtracks as well, but yeah, this was my first time hearing that Italian theme. Thanks for sharing it!
February 3, 2026 at 10:41 PM
I DO have multiple UY anime soundtracks as well, but yeah, this was my first time hearing that Italian theme. Thanks for sharing it!
(I’ve actually seen it in person… I wanna say two or three times in the past…)
February 3, 2026 at 1:58 PM
(I’ve actually seen it in person… I wanna say two or three times in the past…)
A few more pics of the arcade.
This was up on, like, the 7th floor of an arcade that was filled with claw machines, Gashapon, Taiko no Tatsujin, and a few other music games (like every other arcade I’ve seen in Tokyo these days).
This was up on, like, the 7th floor of an arcade that was filled with claw machines, Gashapon, Taiko no Tatsujin, and a few other music games (like every other arcade I’ve seen in Tokyo these days).
February 3, 2026 at 10:55 AM
A few more pics of the arcade.
This was up on, like, the 7th floor of an arcade that was filled with claw machines, Gashapon, Taiko no Tatsujin, and a few other music games (like every other arcade I’ve seen in Tokyo these days).
This was up on, like, the 7th floor of an arcade that was filled with claw machines, Gashapon, Taiko no Tatsujin, and a few other music games (like every other arcade I’ve seen in Tokyo these days).
During this trip, I was SHOCKED to find an arcade in Akihabara that actually still has old arcade games.
February 3, 2026 at 10:49 AM
During this trip, I was SHOCKED to find an arcade in Akihabara that actually still has old arcade games.
There’s a mall in Shibuya that has a floor containing a Pokémon Center and stores for Nintendo, SEGA, Capcom, Godzilla, One Piece, and Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure.
Sunshine City Mall in Ikebukuro has the biggest Pokémon Center, a Toys R Us, and a giant Gashapon store.
Sunshine City Mall in Ikebukuro has the biggest Pokémon Center, a Toys R Us, and a giant Gashapon store.
February 3, 2026 at 8:14 AM
There’s a mall in Shibuya that has a floor containing a Pokémon Center and stores for Nintendo, SEGA, Capcom, Godzilla, One Piece, and Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure.
Sunshine City Mall in Ikebukuro has the biggest Pokémon Center, a Toys R Us, and a giant Gashapon store.
Sunshine City Mall in Ikebukuro has the biggest Pokémon Center, a Toys R Us, and a giant Gashapon store.
Super Potato has an incredible selection of old games, but they’re pricey. Trader and Book Off are good places to look for old games, too. I don’t know the name of it, but I stumbled across a used game/toy store in one of the floors above the Shinjuku Godzilla Store.
February 3, 2026 at 8:10 AM
Super Potato has an incredible selection of old games, but they’re pricey. Trader and Book Off are good places to look for old games, too. I don’t know the name of it, but I stumbled across a used game/toy store in one of the floors above the Shinjuku Godzilla Store.
I guess it really depends if you’re looking to find new or old games/toys. New toys/games, there’s always Toys R Us and retail chains like Yodobashi Camera and Bic Camera. Mandarake is great for old toys.
February 3, 2026 at 8:07 AM
I guess it really depends if you’re looking to find new or old games/toys. New toys/games, there’s always Toys R Us and retail chains like Yodobashi Camera and Bic Camera. Mandarake is great for old toys.
How do you think I first learned about those differences? 😉
February 3, 2026 at 8:02 AM
How do you think I first learned about those differences? 😉
Haha… yeah, I was gonna say. Why would an Italian dub-exclusive theme song to an anime be on the Japanese soundtrack for a video game based on that anime?
February 3, 2026 at 8:02 AM
Haha… yeah, I was gonna say. Why would an Italian dub-exclusive theme song to an anime be on the Japanese soundtrack for a video game based on that anime?
Oh, the Imperial Palace is right by the Kamen Rider Store?
Oh, wow… what a… what a wild coincidence.
Oh, wow… what a… what a wild coincidence.
February 3, 2026 at 6:17 AM
Oh, the Imperial Palace is right by the Kamen Rider Store?
Oh, wow… what a… what a wild coincidence.
Oh, wow… what a… what a wild coincidence.
Trying to cram a bit of culture into my final day in Tokyo.
February 3, 2026 at 4:49 AM
Trying to cram a bit of culture into my final day in Tokyo.
Another game I’ve been wanting to pick up forever that I found in Shinjuku: the Urusei Yatsura game for Mega CD.
I’ve owned the soundtrack on CD since the mid/late ‘90s, and now I finally have the game (complete with the pack-in poster).
I’ve owned the soundtrack on CD since the mid/late ‘90s, and now I finally have the game (complete with the pack-in poster).
February 3, 2026 at 2:22 AM
Another game I’ve been wanting to pick up forever that I found in Shinjuku: the Urusei Yatsura game for Mega CD.
I’ve owned the soundtrack on CD since the mid/late ‘90s, and now I finally have the game (complete with the pack-in poster).
I’ve owned the soundtrack on CD since the mid/late ‘90s, and now I finally have the game (complete with the pack-in poster).
Yeah, I have the English version, too, and it is a fun little game. I’d been wanting to grab the Japanese version for a while since there are some differences that make it the better version.
February 2, 2026 at 11:52 PM
Yeah, I have the English version, too, and it is a fun little game. I’d been wanting to grab the Japanese version for a while since there are some differences that make it the better version.
Yeah, I have the U.S. version of the game. I’ve been wanting to get the Japanese version since it has a few differences that make the game better.
February 2, 2026 at 11:50 PM
Yeah, I have the U.S. version of the game. I’ve been wanting to get the Japanese version since it has a few differences that make the game better.
I also found a McDonald’s there that was selling the Dragon Quest nesting doll crossover toy, which you originally had to enter into a lottery to purchase. So, double score!
February 2, 2026 at 9:49 AM
I also found a McDonald’s there that was selling the Dragon Quest nesting doll crossover toy, which you originally had to enter into a lottery to purchase. So, double score!
Akihabara certainly isn’t what it used to be in terms of old game shoppin’, but I DID manage to find a couple Godzilla games I’ve been looking for.
February 2, 2026 at 9:39 AM
Akihabara certainly isn’t what it used to be in terms of old game shoppin’, but I DID manage to find a couple Godzilla games I’ve been looking for.
Browsing Kamen Rider toys in a sub-basement Mandarake as Real Life Real Heart by Kaela Kimura (which was featured in Ouendan 2) starts playing is kinda peak Japan for me.l
February 1, 2026 at 2:57 PM
Browsing Kamen Rider toys in a sub-basement Mandarake as Real Life Real Heart by Kaela Kimura (which was featured in Ouendan 2) starts playing is kinda peak Japan for me.l
Samurai Woody and Ninja Buzz are pretty wild.
February 1, 2026 at 1:48 PM
Samurai Woody and Ninja Buzz are pretty wild.
I’ve purchased a few dumb things on this Japan trip, but eight pairs of Urusei Yatsura socks might be the dumbest.
February 1, 2026 at 11:02 AM
I’ve purchased a few dumb things on this Japan trip, but eight pairs of Urusei Yatsura socks might be the dumbest.