The Akihabara district of Tokyo appears to be changing in response to the increasing number of discount computer shops, previously a district mainstay, that have opened in other areas. Considering Electric Town's old reputation as a testing ground for new products, some say the future lies in "otaku."
The area has seen a series of hobby shops spring up in recent times that cater to these obsessive fans of products ranging from manga to plastic models.
Hirotaka Yoshida was among the pioneers. He opened his small shop Toranoana to sell manga and "dojin-shi," or goods produced by fans, in a building on an Akihabara back street in 1994.