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2 new anime-themed establishments: Gundam Cafe and Evangelion Lawson
As Gundam Cafe opens in Akihabara, a planned Evangelion-themed Lawson convenience store in Hakone is called off due to too many customers
Akihabara is the global center for non-red light establishments where women dress up in costumes to play out Japanese men's fantasies.Possibly based on the success of Luida's Bar from "Dragon Quest" in Roppongi, Tokyo has seen many anime-themed establishments opening in recent days. The real question is, why did no one think of this idea earlier?
First off, Bandai has created Gundam Café in Akihabara (Kanda Hanaokacho 1-1, Chiyoda-ku, tel. 03 3251 0078, g-cafe.jp) based on the anime series "Mobile Suit Gundam" to satiate all the hungry and thirsty RX-78 fans out there. Now you can finally taste "Amuro Ray's pilot lunch" (cream stew hamburg steak) or "Char Aznable's pilot lunch" (tomato sauce hamburg steak). Hamburg steaks are apparently an easy dish to make in the far reaches of outer space. The full menu -- with all its ridiculous gimmicks -- is here.
While the Gundam Café will likely become an important center of cultural exchange in Akihabara, things did not turn out so well for the "Neon Genesis Evangelion"-themed Lawson convenience store in Hakone. The event to turn the shop into an over-the-top shrine to the anime/manga series was planned for April 23 to May 17 as promotion for the release of the Blu-ray "Evangelion" film.
The massive rush of customers and cars on the first day, however, made Lawson realize that the event would be a major safety issue -- especially since Golden Week would bring a pilgrimage of nerds from Tokyo. So they called everything off.
The solution to this is clear, however: We need an "Evangelion"-themed café in Akihabara pronto. Maybe serve Ayanami Rei Shabu. Sorry, that joke's for the anime/chilled pork lovers out there.
