Phil Theobald
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whimsicalphil.bsky.social
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.
Sitting on the plane, ready to head back to Seattle.
February 4, 2026 at 7:31 AM
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.
February 3, 2026 at 10:46 PM
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
Trying to cram a bit of culture into my final day in Tokyo.
February 3, 2026 at 4:49 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).
February 3, 2026 at 2:22 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.
February 2, 2026 at 9:39 AM
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
Samurai Woody and Ninja Buzz are pretty wild.
February 1, 2026 at 1:48 PM
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
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
Holy crap! I have found myself in the middle of a full-on Bayblade tournament!
February 1, 2026 at 4:19 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.
February 1, 2026 at 3:52 AM
Got back to my hotel just in time to catch my favorite anime.
January 31, 2026 at 9:11 AM
I’m buying way too many sets of wooden children’s blocks on this trip…
January 30, 2026 at 12:47 PM
Back to mess up some menacing men.
January 30, 2026 at 9:49 AM
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.
January 28, 2026 at 10:11 PM
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
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
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
January 26, 2026 at 12:00 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…)
January 25, 2026 at 11:57 AM
It was nice to see this crew today.
January 25, 2026 at 6:05 AM
Look Around You may be my favorite TV show of all time. Give it a watch if you like absurdist British humour.
I've been leaning towards Tubi being the streaming service, and now I think it's official: they have Season 1 and Season 2 of one of the best science and technology comedy shows ever made… "Look Around You".

Thanks, Tubi. Thubi.

tubitv.com/series/30001...
Look Around You
This unique combination of parody and homage to early 70s/80s British educational programs examines different scientific topics in each episode.
tubitv.com
January 24, 2026 at 12:01 AM
Reposted by Phil Theobald
Kamen Rider Geats (2022)
Episode 22
January 22, 2026 at 11:43 PM
Five concerts you’ve seen with women lead singers

Atarashii Gakko!
Cibo Matto
Velocity Girl
advantage Lucy
Ani DiFranco
Five concerts you’ve seen with women lead singers

Garbage
The Pretty Reckless
Huntress
HorrorPops
Alanis Morissette
Five concerts you’ve seen with women lead singers

Bonnie Raitt
Go Go’s
Camera Obscura
Macy Gray
Eurythmics
January 22, 2026 at 4:24 AM