Bandai's Diorama Ginza speaker recreates a place you've never been, at a price you can't afford
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted January 27th 2009 1:35PM
posted January 27th 2009 1:35PM
Well, it won't help you gals understand men any better, but if you're in the market for an obscure Japanese toy -- and have a couple thou to spare -- this one should be right up your alley. Bandai's Diorama Ginza speaker recreates this happenin' Tokyo district, circa 1955. We don't have any tech specs for this work of art, but we can tell you that it goes on sale in Japan on April 10th for ¥198,000 (that's just over $2,200) and that it's being produced in a limited edition of 200. Personally, we're holding out for "Ginza Street: 2009" featuring the new Vertu store.
I got one of these in the garage somewhere I think...
wait nevermind that was a snow globe.
Why the hell would anymore poor or rich by a 2k speaker with a city plopped on top of it.
To answer the age-old question: "Will it blend?"
There are plenty of rich ojiisan that would like to recall their heyday in the 50's. Trust me, there are 200 old guys in Japan that would buy this, or someone will purchase it for them as a gift. There's plenty of those old guys still around and in good health for their age.
(Except for the hard drinking, pachinko playing, cigarette smoking guys who would buy these up in an instant. They're dead.)
@zioncat
I don't know. Why don't you ask Gil Grissom yourself?
@ Vagrant:
When you say "ojiisan", is that the Japanese equivalent of "O.G, son!"??
If so, Dr. Dre would like to place his order now.
Why would a business have a $1-3K pachinko machine in the office?
Simple glossary-
"ojisan"- senior citizens/old people.
Thats kind of neat... At first I thought it looked really dated, but it's a fitting design for the era in which its representing. 2K for a neat piece of functional, and limited run art, that may well bring back tonnes of memories is not all that bad. Add smell for the total experience. Some tempura and diesel would go well I think.
ALSO, after a little searching I found this out - it also has button cell powered cars running around which give a more realistic look. Neato.
But... I have been there... not in 1955, but still. Actually, based on the price per sq. ft. of property in Ginza, this baby is a steal. They even have a sq. ft. painted on the sidewalk, there, so that you can marvel at how small it is for the thousands you have to spend to get it.
I think the problem is not the price but the quality, this diorama looks cheap and plastic.
You can find better dioramas made for warhammer 40k and even for Gundam (a Bandai product). Even a aficionado knowns how to paint and give a realistic touch to their work.
Small, lousy, cheap looking and for over $2k? no freaking way!
I've been to Ginza... I still wouldn't buy this though.
Thats all well and fine, but does anybody know where I can get the Halo 3 Diorama for 2,200 or less speaker is optional?