Surprising result from the research! The Top 10 Souvenirs of Japan” that inbound geek customers seriously want to buy!

After the new COVID-19 crisis has settled down this year, Akihabara has become a major tourist destination, attracting an increasing number of visitors. Many foreign otaku who are interested in Japan’s unique otaku culture are visiting Akihabara. What exactly are they looking for when they visit Akiba?　When we began our research, we found some interesting aspects that are slightly different from those of the Japanese.

Westerners are the “yo-kai” crowd, and Asians are the “shoppers”.

We asked Shota Abe, manager of the Mulan AKIBA main store, which has three stores in Akihabara and various other affiliated stores that handle a variety of items including DVDs/Blu-ray discs, books, figures, sundries, trendy items, and adult-related items, and is popular among inbound customers, for information from each store. We then asked him about the “Top 10 Souvenirs of Japan” sought by inbound otaku customers.

–What kind of people, age groups, and countries are most likely to be found in Akihabara today?

The first wave of otaku who flocked to Akihabara was the boom triggered by the popularity of “Densha Otoko” (Train Man) in the mid-1900s. After that, there was a phenomenon called the “Chinese buying boom,” which lasted for about 10 years or so, but the new COVID-19 crisis caused people to disappear from Akihabara, and the Chinese and Koreans were no longer seen. Next came the boom in soft and fluffy “squeeze” and “fidget” toys, which attracted many Japanese children in the younger age groups. There was a time when Japanese children in the younger age brackets flocked to these toys. Then, when the new COVID-19 crisis dawned, the overseas population, which had been holding back until then, came back in droves. It is my sense that the number of inbound visitors is now three to four times that of the Japanese.

The number of Westerners buying anime goods is steadily increasing, with the majority now coming from France and the United States. I have the impression that they are about three times as numerous as Asian visitors. Western customers tend to be in a jovial mood, coming to the store with their friends and enjoying themselves, saying things like, “This is nice,” or “You should buy that. I have the impression that Chinese and Korean customers tend to buy items with a clear purpose in mind, such as “I want the character Fatty that was in the movie Fatty,” and “I want the character Fatty.

A 3,000-yen DVD with a bonus checkered photo can cost tens of thousands of yen!

–Let’s start with No. 10.

In addition to DVDs and other video products, the most popular items are the official photos of the actresses released by the makers. The most popular item by far is the “Sexy Actresses’ Chekki”. They are especially popular among Taiwanese and Asian customers. It seems that some customers are looking to resell them, and it is said that a DVD purchased for 3,000 yen that comes with a cheki as a bonus can sell for tens of thousands of yen overseas. Cheki is basic, Because there is only one photo taken on the spot at the time, they are rare and highly collectible. They seem to evoke the culture of the ’90s and ’00s in Japan, and combined with the admiration for Japanese culture, they seem to have become popular. The Taiwanese are especially keen on them. When events featuring Japanese sexy videos are held in Taiwan, they are very popular.

TENGA is also very popular. Overseas, especially Westerners are not familiar with the culture of masturbators, and some people often peel off the package at the store because they don’t know how to use it (laughs).

–(Laughs) – It has long been said that Japanese porn is very popular in Asia, and it seems that this popularity is alive and well. What will be the next item at No. 9?

Shokugan. Shokugan. Like the “Choco Eggs” that were popular in the past, Shokugan are food products that come with figures and other toys as extras. There are many different types of Shokugan, but the most popular are the slightly more expensive ones that sell for around 900 yen. As for what kinds of omake are selling well, character toys are popular, but the most popular are “Showa Retro” items, which are miniatures of the culture of the high economic growth period and the bubble era.

Products that reproduce Showa-era signboards, black telephones, and the interiors of coffee shops are very popular. Shokugan, which are reproductions of Showa-era ice cream, are also selling well. They are very popular among people of Western descent.’ It seems that the design and coloring of the ’70s and ’80s stick. Perhaps there is a yearning for Japanese culture.