@wyrdwad
Translator/localizer, MSX collector, and PopoloCrois enthusiast. Former XSEED Games localization producer. Hololive fan (kamioshi Korone, other oshis Kaela, Bijou, AZKi, and Bae). Always happy to make new friends, so please reach out to me!
It's a cool feeling when your favorite band drops a new single and music video, and it's actually really, really good -- like, every bit as good as the body of work leading up to it that made you a fan of theirs in the first place! Enjoy this '80s-ness -- it's quite the earworm!
And informative, as well! He always makes sure to give insights into the history and local culture of every area he shows.
Seriously, if you're interested in Japan travel, I highly recommend checking him out. You won't be disappointed!
Out of all the content creators who focus on train travel in Japan content, T1D Wanderer has far and away the best shot staging, the best cinematography, and the best chill, lo-fi background music to fit his adventures du jour. His videos practically put me in a trance, and are always fascinating.
This is a bit random, but I watch a lot of "Japantubers" -- and lately, a lot of Japan "traintubers" --particularly while eating dinner or winding down for bed, as I find railway travel vlogs to be oddly very relaxing. And I'd like to introduce one of my favorite such content creators: T1D Wanderer.
At least the bowling ball peripheral is rad-looking, though! Even if it does somewhat resemble a day-glo skull. "Alas, poor Yorick; I knew him, Brunswick."
Also, I like how the sensor grid tumors attached to the Bowling and Power Boxing carts can serve as terrible makeshift bookends! ;)
Its hit detection is largely based on a piezo speaker embedded in each racket, listening for the whoosh as you swing it (no, really!), but it still manages to be satisfying and immersive.
Bowling, meanwhile, has FLAWLESS hit detection but dreadfully drab aesthetics. Technically sound, but soulless.
Brings my total up to 7 games now, which is ~40% of the console's entire library. And 3 consoles! All of which are fully functional!
Sadly, the same can't be said for ALL of the 3 new games, as the swing sensor for Golf is borked. But Bowling and Tennis work great! And Tennis is weirdly fun...
Sooo, remember the XaviXPORT? (Pepperidge Farm remembers...)
I still keep an eye out for deals on XaviX games from time to time, and recently scored a lot containing 3 games I did not yet have (Tennis, Bowling, and Golf), as well as another copy of Power Boxing, and... another XaviXPORT console.
Also, unrelated, but I had to buy this when I saw it at my local 7-11. This is so on-the-nose, and would likely be considered in poor taste were it dreamed up by a Westerner... but no, this is a legit Japanese product! I kind of love it. ;)
(Honestly, they were good jelly beans, too!)
The chocolate Swiss bread was also very good (mostly because their chocolate is just outstanding!), but the muffin stole the show for sure.
I was planning to return to Kiyosumi-Shirakawa anyway for the Japanese gardens and the two museums there, but I will absolutely hit up Iki Espresso again too!
Wish I'd gotten more, but I decided to try an Iki muffin and a chocolate Swiss bread... and, I'm not exaggerating when I say that that Iki muffin may be the best muffin I have EVER had. The flavors and textures were perfectly in balance, and the most delectable chocolate was melted into the cake.
Almost forgot! While I was in Kiyosumi-Shirakawa earlier, I specifically wanted to try one of their premiere coffee shops (as they are apparently the coffee shop capital of Tokyo!) -- not for the coffee, but for the pastries! So I hit up Iki Espresso, which was... very full, but to-go was an option.
I feel like you’d be good at coming up with a genre-defying concept like that.
Something in an oft-divisive genre that’s specifically intended to interest those who dislike said genre — e.g. a fighting game for people who hate fighting games (Super Smash Bros., for example), or a sports game for people who hate sports games (Super Runner on MSX2 is a good example there).
Actually, never mind. Took the wrong line and missed it completely. Another time, I guess!
The funny thing is, this predated Exit 8 by decades. Likely an inspiration for it, I’d wager… as is the spot I’ll be stopping at shortly on my way home.
In the meantime, though, I did discover this lovely spot on my way to the unimaginably crowded cafe I intended to grab breakfast at! (I wound up getting some pastries and a matcha latte to go.) All the more reason to return — what a gorgeous place!
I actually have some chores to take care of today (it’s the emperor’s birthday, so it’s a national holiday here!), but was hoping to speedrun a tentative exploration of Kiyosumi-Shirakawa beforehand. Definitely too much to see and do here for that, though, so it’ll have to wait for another day…
OK, no, I’ve definitely ridden this line before. These must be newer trains. Either way — neat! It’s very comfortable.
Back at this crazy place again!
This may be my first time riding the Tokyo Metro Hanzomon line? Or else this is just a newer design of train. Either way, it’s got headrests on the bench seats! So luxurious…
OK, so only a certain intersection of people will get the joke here, but I hope if you do get it, you enjoy it, because I certainly enjoyed coming up with it. ;)
And it came with a very cute sticker set showcasing the game's superb pixel art drawn by Jorunna herself!
Definitely a worthy addition to my collection, and the first GB game I've bought in many years. Go check out Jorunna's channel, if you haven't! She's super cool, and plays cool retro games!
I'm honestly kind of blown away by the sheer quality of it -- the translucent green plastic on the cartridge with the bunny design visible on the other side, the full-color manual... It's all pro-tier the whole way through, handily rivaling most other physical homebrews I've seen on Game Boy.
Also, I finally got my hands on this rather unique Game Boy title... unique in that it's a lore video + minigame created for (and designed by) vtuber @joru.vtubers.social! Still have yet to play it (gotta get my SuFami hooked up and fire up the ol' Super Game Boy), but I'm looking forward to it!
Very odd, but pretty good!
Once again, Cafe Bali Campur in Koenji gets top marks from me. Bonus, the owner is an artist, and the cafe's walls are decorated with his art, all of which is for sale. If you're ever anywhere in west Tokyo, I highly urge you to check this place out! You can't go wrong.
Yet also somehow light, and almost impossibly fragrant. It was quite excellent!
On the side, I tried fried tempeh for the first time, which was very reminiscent of yucca fries or plantains. And to drink, I tried Soda Gembira, described on the menu as "Happy Soda, condensed milk, and syrup."
Returned to my favorite Indonesian restaurant tonight to try something different from the "Nasi Campur" sampler platter for a change: soto ayam, which was recommended to me by a friend. Basically a very savory chicken soup with a broth that had notes of curry, citrus, maybe... peanut? It was RICH.
Paranormal Activity, for me. Saw it in a packed theater at midnight, and the audience genuinely screamed, gasped, and reacted so perfectly to every scene that it enhanced the experience soooo much. One of the most memorable moviegoing experiences I’ve had, for sure.
She really knows her anime, too, from the classics to the modern to the American greats (see: this Gravity Falls seat cushion!). Cafe is unfortunately NOT non-smoking, however, which kind of wore me down a bit by the end, but I definitely recommend checking it out if that's not a concern for you.
I was the only customer, so she wound up sitting and chatting with me for the better part of an hour, and I learned that these are all just... her own kaiju goods she's collected her whole life, with these big ones being WEARABLE KAIJU COSTUMES SHE MADE AND WORE HERSELF. Amazing.
