(BBtv) Stormtrooping Akihabara: Silicon Valley meets Tokyo

BBtv online: http://tv.boingboing.net
I hope you are sitting down when you hit "play." Joi Ito, the host of today's special Boing Boing tv episode from Tokyo, explains what you're about to witness: This year, the Digital Garage New Context Conference and Ellen Levy's Silicon Valley Connect worked together on a program for visitors from Silicon Valley to Tokyo. Silicon Valley Connect is a program that Ellen runs which brings executives and visionaries from Silicon Valley to various parts of the world. This year, we organized a group to visit Japan. As part of the "cultural program" we decided to take a tour of Akihabara, the mecca of all things otaku, anime and electronic in Japan. I asked a very special friend, Danny Choo, son of the famous shoe designer Jimmy Choo, to lead the tour. I call Danny "The Prince of Akihabara". He is one of the world's experts on Japan's otaku culture and has one of the most popular English language websites about Japan. One of his favorite things is to dress up as a storm trooper and spread his love and happiness in Akihabara. He is often accompanied by his side-kick Darth Vader, played by Hector Garcia who also has a super-popular blog about Japan. (Danny on CNN talking about this hobby of his.) When I talked to Xeni Jardin about this, we decided that this might make a good Boing Boing TV episode... and I think we were right. Thanks to everyone who participated and helped. Participants from Silicon Valley included Ellen Levy (LinkedIn), Ken Glidewell, Loic Le Meur (Seesmic), Geraldine Le Meur (Le Web), bunnie Huang (Chumby), Jean-Marie Hullot (Fotonauts), Matt Flannery (Kiva), Julie Hanna Farris (SocialText) and Chamath Palihapitiya (Facebook).

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• tokyostormtrooper
• dannychoo
• Joi Ito
• gadgets
• japan
• star wars
• weird
• world
• stormtrooper
• sexy
• maids
• akihabara
• cosplay
• otaku
• gaming
• darth
• vader
• danny
• choo
• jimmy
• facebook
• linkedin
• loic
• lemeur
• seesmic
• bunnie
• huang
• chumby
• boingboing
• boing
• bbtv
• dancing
• music
• video

[dreadx6]

JAPAN RULES!!!!

i love everything japanese ^^

[zzoommoohhaawwkk]

rofl this is funny and JAPAN FTW WOOOOOOOT !!!!!! I LOVE JAPAN :)

[del787b]

freaking hillarious

[del787b]

love Akiba i go every 2 years

[worldbmx]

where can you buy one of these ? how much cost them ?

[TheRealToony]

What did you do today, Bob?

I went on a tour of Akihabara with Darth Vader and a Storm trooper.

.....

[MikeChua]

Wooo Danny for president !!! Danny Choo = win

[come2deda]

plz name of the song that begins at 1:26 ???

[LoliRoo]

Someday I'm going to Akibahara and hang out with Mr. Choo. XD He probably knows the place like the back of his hand. Who better to show you around than a fellow geek? lol!

[snixsnipe]

wtf was with the end with the three girls surrounded by all those dudes.

[mecampbellesq]

Epic Nerd Hijinks!