Gacha Gacha at Mitsukoshi!

Last November 8, 2023, Mitsukoshi Mall, a japanese theme mall had it's new attraction to their avid customers.  

Grand opening signage

The Gachapon Bandai Official Shop has hundreds of Gachapon items from Pokemon to Gundam. Gachapon items costs 2 golden coins up to 15 golden coins for premium items. One golden coin costs 65.00PhP, however, if you buy 30 coins will give you a free tote bag.

Aside from cash, the Gachapon Bandai Official Shop accepts digital payments and credit cards. I do hope the Gacha Gacha will have the same items as were in Japan.

Golden coins

Gachapon machines

  

Riyu Kosaka's single and SKY GIRLS Original Soundtrack

 A few months ago, I took a half-day leave at the office. I went to the outskirts of Manila, somewhere near Quiapo area. I stumbled a Japan Surplus which I used to visit years ago,

Front cover art

While I was looking at the CD's, I saw a very interested CD, I found a SKY GIRLS ~OPENING THEME "Baby's tears/Riyu Kosaka" & Original Soundtrack.

Compact Disc

This CD is quite expensive and hard to find back then and I bought it for an affordable price! This CD is the last single by Riyu Kosaka with KONAMI back then which she sang the Opening theme of the SKY GIRLS OVA in 2007. Two of her songs in her single is playable in DanceDanceRevolution SuperNOVA and SuperNOVA2.

Tracklists

Good thing I was able to snagged her single and good thing I took a half-day leave. :)

 

I snagged a pair of Pocket Pikachu!

 A few weeks ago, I snagged a pair of Pocket Pikachu in our local shop for a very good price. The Pocket Pikachu I bought was the first released monochrome and the colored screen. The Pocket Pikachu functions similar with tamagotchi.

The pair I bought has signs of scratches and fades but still works perfectly. 

Retro: KONAMI TECH GEAR PS2 Station Rack!

 I just received from the mail was the Konami TECH GEAR PS2 Station Rack (RU027). This accessory was released in 2000 and serves as a vertical stand, one DualShock 2 controller holder, a DVD case holder and 3 plug electric outlet. 

box art

Fortunately, the accessory still works! However, it only accepts AC100V. You can still use it by using a transformer. When I installed it to the console, the plastic of the rack was stiff, I had a difficult time in retracting the rack base to the console. The only down side of this rack it doesn't have cable management for the DualShock controller. You have to curl the long cable of the controller.

PS2 Station Rack installed to the console

You can find a few of this at the second hand online shops in Japan but don't expect that is complete, like the one I got. This retro accessory serves as a reminder how booming the PlayStation 2 back then with lots of games and accessories from different third party makers and game publishers.   

Uniqlo x PlayStation UT shirt Collab!

A few days ago, Uniqlo just released UT graphic shirt in collaboration with PlayStation! As far as I could remember, this is the first time that PlayStation made a collaboration with Uniqlo. 

I went to Uniqlo in SM Megamall to check the shirts and buy one, Unfortunately, medium size was sold out!! I guess I'll visit the Uniqlo Glorietta 5 soon before the stocks runs out or they would restock. By the way, the UT shirt costs 790PhP.

I look forward that Uniqlo would continue their collaboration with PlayStation. As we all know, Uniqlo had a frequent collab with Nintendo.

Looking back at Xbox 360's DDR UNIVERSE 2 & 3

A few days ago. I just received a copy of DDR UNIVERSE 2 & 3 for Xbox 360! This is my second time that I bought a DanceDanceRevolution game other than the Japanese releases. Unfortunately, finding a bundled with a dance pad is scarce.  Although, the two games can be played using an NTSC-J Xbox 360 console. 

DDR UNIVERSE 2 & 3 game cover art

 In terms of graphics, the DDR UNIVERSE3 is more refined than its predecessors. Prior to UNIVERSE3 looks like graphics and interface coming from the earlier ULTRAMIX's from the original Xbox. The only thing I hate about the UNIVERSE 3 is the random animations during gameplay is that they are so bright! Good thing that background animations can be turned off. 

Manual and CD art

In terms of songlist, DDR UNIVERSE3 has more new catchy songs available and more DLC! Unfortunately, the DLC are no longer available, as the game server for the game has ended.

A PlayStation dance pad found at the back cover art of DDR UNIVERSE 2

As for unlocking songs, the UNIVERSE 3 has the fastest and easiest to unlock songs, you can unlock it by clearing the BONUS STAGE and EXTRA STAGE in GAME MODE or the longer route, QUEST MODE.  Whereas, the UNIVERSE 2, you are forced to unlock through QUEST MODE.

I bought my first Android phone made for the Japanese market

 Last week, when I was searching in Facebook Marketplace for a back phone. I stumbled one seller who sells Japan marketed phones. He sells a variety of Android phones for the Japanese market.

Sharp Aquos sense 5G phone
 

I scored a Sharp Aquos sense 5G phone for 5,000PhP! The version I bought is for AU KDDI. This phone was a second hand unit and from the looks of the unit, it seems the original owner was very careful in handling this phone. Good thing that the seller sells unlocked phones, otherwise it be will unusable here in the Philippines. By the way this phone was released in Japan last 2021. 

Back side

According to the Sharp website, this phone has guaranteed two year software upgrade. Meaning they will support for this phone up to Android OS 13. For full specifications, please see this site.

DDR's only PlayStation 3 game!

A week before 2022 ends, I bought a used DanceDanceRevolution game for the PlayStation 3 from Facebook's Marketplace. The game I bought doesn't have a USB dance pad.  The game was released in 2010. Aside from the only DDR game for the PS3, this is also the only DDR game that has Downloadable content (DLC) as song packs. Unfortunately, my PS3 won't let me change PSN account. I notice from cover art, that this DDR game is not under Konami's BEMANI label. By the way, I bought this game for around 300.00PhP! 

DanceDanceRevolution (2010) cover art

The game has an initial 30 songs with 20 hidden songs. Unlocking songs is pretty straightforward, to unlock songs they must unlock it through the game's CLUB MODE. But filling up a bar in CLUB MODE, it unlocks a song. 

DDR 2010's Video manager

Another unique feature is to be able to record gameplays in game. The bad thing is, this is not available to license songs, only Konami Originals can record. 

It is sad that Konami didn't continue the game for the PS3 and this game was cancelled in Japan, although this was promoted prior to its cancellation.