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.
Adding to my "weirdly large collection of wooden blocks that I bought in Japan," I also picked up a few rubber stamps.
After visiting the craft store today to snag some stamp pads, I've learned that there's genuine technique to using stamps. I don't quite have it down yet, but I'm working on it.
After visiting the craft store today to snag some stamp pads, I've learned that there's genuine technique to using stamps. I don't quite have it down yet, but I'm working on it.
February 8, 2026 at 1:56 AM
Adding to my "weirdly large collection of wooden blocks that I bought in Japan," I also picked up a few rubber stamps.
After visiting the craft store today to snag some stamp pads, I've learned that there's genuine technique to using stamps. I don't quite have it down yet, but I'm working on it.
After visiting the craft store today to snag some stamp pads, I've learned that there's genuine technique to using stamps. I don't quite have it down yet, but I'm working on it.
I don't buy many toy cars, but I couldn't pass up a Tomica toy of a Yamato Transport delivery truck, the company with the best corporate logo.
February 6, 2026 at 5:24 AM
I don't buy many toy cars, but I couldn't pass up a Tomica toy of a Yamato Transport delivery truck, the company with the best corporate logo.
The new LEGO Minifigures Series has allowed me to create a pretty decent Brick Frog Minifigure.
February 6, 2026 at 4:15 AM
The new LEGO Minifigures Series has allowed me to create a pretty decent Brick Frog Minifigure.
Everyone wants their picture taken with the Hero of Yokohama.
February 6, 2026 at 3:51 AM
Everyone wants their picture taken with the Hero of Yokohama.
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 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.
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.
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).
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.
Why the hell have I not previously explored the Babies “R” Us section of this Japanese Toys “R” Us???
February 1, 2026 at 5:04 AM
Why the hell have I not previously explored the Babies “R” Us section of this Japanese Toys “R” Us???
Holy crap! I have found myself in the middle of a full-on Bayblade tournament!
February 1, 2026 at 4:19 AM
Holy crap! I have found myself in the middle of a full-on Bayblade tournament!
I love Japan’s obsession with gashapon and crane games, but I can’t say I really “get” this.
The whole arcade was just stuff like this. Cleaning supplies and pre-packaged food. Just, like, grocery store items.
The whole arcade was just stuff like this. Cleaning supplies and pre-packaged food. Just, like, grocery store items.
February 1, 2026 at 3:52 AM
I love Japan’s obsession with gashapon and crane games, but I can’t say I really “get” this.
The whole arcade was just stuff like this. Cleaning supplies and pre-packaged food. Just, like, grocery store items.
The whole arcade was just stuff like this. Cleaning supplies and pre-packaged food. Just, like, grocery store items.
Got back to my hotel just in time to catch my favorite anime.
January 31, 2026 at 9:11 AM
Got back to my hotel just in time to catch my favorite anime.
I’m buying way too many sets of wooden children’s blocks on this trip…
January 30, 2026 at 12:47 PM
I’m buying way too many sets of wooden children’s blocks on this trip…
Back to mess up some menacing men.
January 30, 2026 at 9:49 AM
Back to mess up some menacing men.
The department store that had the Kamen Rider jammies also had the Picross game I was looking for, so everything’s comin’ up Philhouse.
It’s a Jupiter-developed Picross game that, as far as I know, isn’t scheduled for a U.S. release. Also, physical release, which is rad.
It’s a Jupiter-developed Picross game that, as far as I know, isn’t scheduled for a U.S. release. Also, physical release, which is rad.
January 28, 2026 at 10:11 PM
The department store that had the Kamen Rider jammies also had the Picross game I was looking for, so everything’s comin’ up Philhouse.
It’s a Jupiter-developed Picross game that, as far as I know, isn’t scheduled for a U.S. release. Also, physical release, which is rad.
It’s a Jupiter-developed Picross game that, as far as I know, isn’t scheduled for a U.S. release. Also, physical release, which is rad.
Not me standing in a Japanese department store wishing my son was still young enough to dress in whatever clothes I wanted.
January 28, 2026 at 11:40 AM
Not me standing in a Japanese department store wishing my son was still young enough to dress in whatever clothes I wanted.
Main character, I get it, but THIS is the person from this series you want to put on the shampoo bottles?
January 28, 2026 at 8:36 AM
Main character, I get it, but THIS is the person from this series you want to put on the shampoo bottles?
My big purchase at the Shibuya Nintendo Store was this set of My Mario blocks. The character blocks also function as amiibo.
January 26, 2026 at 10:12 PM
My big purchase at the Shibuya Nintendo Store was this set of My Mario blocks. The character blocks also function as amiibo.
Did I eat at McDonald’s for my first meal in Japan? Of course I did! I needed to try their spicy garlic pepper McNuggets and get a Crayon Shinchan Happy Meal.
(And I gotta go back at some point to get a Dragon Quest burger…)
(And I gotta go back at some point to get a Dragon Quest burger…)
January 25, 2026 at 11:57 AM
Did I eat at McDonald’s for my first meal in Japan? Of course I did! I needed to try their spicy garlic pepper McNuggets and get a Crayon Shinchan Happy Meal.
(And I gotta go back at some point to get a Dragon Quest burger…)
(And I gotta go back at some point to get a Dragon Quest burger…)