What is the future of Akihabara?
OA: The flow is different now. Things are moving away from otaku towards IT buildings. The otaku won’t disappear, but Akihabara will change. It isn’t a town just for otaku anymore. But then again, it used to be the Electric Town and now maybe it will go back to that. The deep, shy otaku leave when everyone comes to Akihabara. They do not want to exposed. The bright and cheerful otaku will not disappear. Actually, I think they will come to be more understood and loved. PG: What do you see as happening to otaku in, and perhaps beyond, Akihabara? OA: First, the cheerful, socialized otaku will increase, become better known and disperse beyond Akihabara. For example, it used to be uncool to like trains and the train museum in Akihabara was uncool. Now, the train museum in Omiya, Saitama is a popular date spot and tecchan, or train otaku, have relocated there. Omiya is the train holyland and otaku and normal people are enjoying it together. The hobby is cleaned up, moved out and mainstreamed
