While I was there, the most popular arcade game was 'Project Diva', the locals were queuing up to play it.

http://kyourankyodai.com/2010/06/24/project-diva-arcade-dreamy-theater-out-now/

I never saw any Starblades unfortunately, and the Arcade Museum with the Galaxian3 was not open during my time in Japan, maybe next time.

I flew out to Tokyo for a weeks holiday on the 3rd July, and thought this would be a good opportunity to try and source some spare Flashboy bulbs for my beloved Namco Starblade.

I managed to find out from someone that the best place in Tokyo for electronics and electric items is a busy place called Akhibara. It was just a five minute ride on the subway from Tokyo Train Station. Once I arrived at Akhibara I started to try and find where the interesting shops were.

Ah ha! I am on the right track;


Finally I arrive at the Taito Game Station, must pose here and get a photo taken;


It was not long before I found a shop dedicated to selling just lights, all kind of lights, every kind of light you could imagine but I could not see any Flashboys. I try to ask the shop owner, but my Japanese is no existant so it was tough trying to explain.

So I leave the shop to try and find another.  However, along the way I could not resist visiting some arcades and dropping some Yen into them;








I also shot some HD video footage of the arcade if anyone is interested, it was SHMUP heaven.....

Still no sign of Flashboy, but I did stumble on the new XBOX360;


Hang on a minute, whats that I see???


Yes! Its a Japanese sign with Flashboys on top of it! Now I can take a picture of them and use them to show the lighting shop owner, in the universal language of pictures!


I show the Japanese lighting shop owner the Flashboy picture on my camera and he directs me to another shop, at last I have found it!!


They were 4800 Yen which was about £45, but hey if you need them you need them!

Tom#2-JP do you know what days in July the museum is open? Thanks.

Oops

Thanks Guys

Very kind of you. Had a great birthday including suprise party and a Pac-Man themed cake complete with Darth Vader and Storm Troopers who arrested me!

Got a great present too, a trip to Tokyo! Always wanted to go ever since I was a teenager. I will be visiting all the arcades I can and hope to be able to attend the Arcade Museum so I can have another blast of a real Galaxian 3 - maybe for the last time.

I could do with a scan.

I am looking to replace the Artwork on my Namco Starblade. Unfortunately NOS stuff is nowhere to be found at Namco UK.

I have started with the Gun Controller vinyl, which I have scanned and sent to Scott at MameMarquees;

http://yfrog.com/1nnamcostarblade285mmx72mp

Scott has now vectored the image and is sending me the first sample.

I am in the process of scanning the side art of the cabinet and monitor housing. Once done I will be vectoring the images and have Scott reproduce them.