Secrets of the Seibu! Game hunting in Ikebukuro, Tokyo Japan!

Let's explore the retro wonders housed at the Seibu department store in Ikebukuro, Tokyo Japan!
Retro ReWire Game Tours:
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Super Potato Ikebukuro video:
• Super Potato Ikebukuro...

[@8bitjoystick]

Portland, Oregon represent. I just finished a KZbin video of an arcade tour going to QuarterWorld in Portland, Oregon. It will be published on Saturday. I'm actually inspired by KZbinrs covering retro video games in Japan, so I got a unique smile from your Portland t-shirt

[@RetroReWire]

Rip city!!! I’m looking forward to visiting home sweet home. If I’m lucky, I may find myself there during the Gaming Expo. I keep a lookout for the Quarterworld video, cheers!

[@8bitjoystick]

@@RetroReWire definitely let me know, I'll be there in October

[@Galdelico]

As always, super entertaining! Love the hype sounds and face-masking going on around you.

[@RetroReWire]

Glad you enjoyed the video, more to come! Cheers!

[@8bitjoystick]

Oh man, I just learned how to do object tracking in Final Cut Pro. I'm absolutely going to do this in the future and blur out faces by putting comic faces over them. That's a great idea!

[@antoineperichon]

Amazing place ! A paradise for old fashioned fans like us 😊

[@RetroReWire]

It really is! Cheers!

[@jonnnnnnnnnnnny2]

Fun fact: although I didn't watch to the end yet but the owners of Seibu dpt stores is 7&i Holdings (also owners of 7/11 combinis) are trying to let go of the Seibu dpts and that store in Ikebukuro in particular hasn't been sold yet and the employees there are worried about their jobs and there are looming strikes etc waiting.

[@RetroReWire]

Interesting! I went on Monday the 7th, and certain areas of the store were quite busy. I got the impression that business was good.

[@ericng5707]

Yup, and I wouldn't be surprised if the Ikebukuro Seibu store did this event intentionally to remind the people that their store has been part of the community for decades and drum up more local support for their staff.

[@atomiswave1971]

JJ this video was amazing. I actually like the new vibe, walkabout, music in the background thing you got going on. I also appreciate your "in front of camera" charades. Obviously you have a buddy with you. Loved the Hard off so much I was planning a visit but it sounds like its not going to be there when I get there later this month. Thanks for the upload. Richie.

[@RetroReWire]

Glad you liked the video! It was a lot of fun to film. I'm def planning more videos like this, stay tuned. Cheers!

[@toolion3681]

Great video! Thank you for telling me where the Suragaya is in your other video! I just began collecting Pokemon games in good condition about 2 months ago after watching a video about retro game hunting in Akihabara, it is so hard to find them in Akihabara, but I have found some, and I love my collection some much. May head to Ikebukuro this weekend for another look, didn't know there were hard-off and super-potato there, even though I had been living there for 2 years.

[@RetroReWire]

The Hard OFF will only be there until the Aug 14th. The Super Potato is worth visiting as they sometimes have Pokemon games. Ikebukuro used to have a Surugaya full of retro games, but sadly they did away with the gaming section. Cheers!

[@grumpyoldgeezr]

That Hard-Off song makes me all fuzzy and warm inside.. like the pedestrian crossing chirping sounds.. can't wait to go back in October!

[@RetroReWire]

Haha! Have you heard the hip hop version? It’s also a catchy tune. Cheers!

[@jtdx_]

Wow what an incredible Hard Off pop-up! Can’t wait for my visit to Japan in September.

[@RetroReWire]

Very cool! Will it be your first time in Japan?

[@jtdx_]

@@RetroReWireyes, hopefully the first of many haha

[@RetroReWire]

Oh man! You're gonna have a blast, there is so much to see and do. And of course all the sweet game shops, haha. @@jtdx_

[@NavajoMan1943]

Oregon Green Represents!! 💚 Can’t Wait to visit Japan ! 🇯🇵

[@RetroReWire]

You know it! Are you planning to visit Japan this year?

[@HansBoopie]

So much beautiful retrogame goodness! It would bring a tear to my eye if I saw this in person. Over $2,000 USD for that boxed Gimmick!, I’ll have to settle for my Switch version coming in the mail.😂

[@RetroReWire]

Haha, I'll be doing the same! Cheers!

[@nkhazov]

That is so cool that you came across the pc engine duo. Please keep showing them on the videos. Since I have one from Japan I'd love to see them in the stores. Best regards Nikita.K

[@RetroReWire]

Will do, lots more more to come. Cheers!

[@nkhazov]

@RetroReWire I would love to see more pc engine duos in the Japanese stores please tell the pricing and keep showing the pc engine duo. Best regards Nikita.K

[@GodRizzla420]

Awesome stuff as always! If i ever somehow get to visit Japan ill be sure to take one of your tours!

[@RetroReWire]

Absolutely, let me know! Cheers!

[@dazrael5658]

Ah that’s a shame that I’m going to miss that Hard Off pop up by a month, it looked really cool. I remember that Book Off being an HMV back in the day, I got the F-Zero GX and Okami soundtracks in there. Great vid JJ, always nice to see Ikebukuro.

[@RetroReWire]

I'm hoping they do more stuff like this in the future. A lot of the inventory was pulled from stores across Japan. And good ole HMV! I was at one of their stores recently. They have a good selection of stuff, including a large vinyl section! Cheers!

[@atomiswave1971]

@@RetroReWire Will the hardoff not be there after Aug 14th? I thought it was the Jaleco stand that was a pop up store? Thanks JJ.. I'll comment separately on the other stuff.

[@RetroReWire]

Seibu is hosting a retro/historical event until the 14th. Hard Off, Jaleco/City Connection and other vendors are present. The event is scheduled to be roughly two weeks long with it ending on the 14th. This area of the department store is for events. @@atomiswave1971

[@bl4d3runn3rX]

I think the prices in Tokyo are pretty high. Better go to other cities for game hunting. But the selection is insane.

[@RetroReWire]

It's definitely worth visiting Tokyo and ESPECIALLY other cities for game hunting -- a new video on that very soon! Cheers!

[@bl4d3runn3rX]

@@RetroReWire I actually only want the games I played as a kid in good condition. Would be Famicom games (all the super Mario games), SNES games (major titles) and Sega Saturn games. Are the prices still ok or shot up a lot?

[@RetroReWire]

Prices have increased, but not everywhere. First-party SFC Nintendo games are still affordable. The other day I picked up a CIB copy of Super Mario All-Stars for ¥1650 at a Hard Off. Mario Kart can be had for as low as ¥990 CIB at BOOK OFF. The Super Donkey Kong (country) games can go for as low as ¥550 CIB, haha! The original Mario bros Famicom games have gone up, specifically parts 1 and 3. Loose carts are still as low as ¥100-¥500. CIB copies can go for as high as ¥7,000. Super Mario Bros USA (part 2) can be had for ¥2,200 CIB. The glorious Sega Saturn still has loads of cheap first-party titles. It's mainly the shooters, a few fighters and beat'em ups that are crazy pricey. Don't fall victim to the illusions of FOMO and know what you want. That makes all the difference went you're in the hunt!

[@Daniel_YM_Lee]

Awesome video as always! Will they open another hardoff popup after 14th? I wish I have a chance to visit there while visiting Tokyo.

[@RetroReWire]

I haven't heard anything yet, but if they did it once they're more than likely to do it again. I'll keep a lookout and share any new information. Thanks for watching and commenting, cheers!

[@AndreFenrir]

I never heard about this store before! It's pretty big and has (maybe?) the best selection of famicom games. Also, the sushi restaurant seemed pretty good! Do you recommend it, JJ (the store and the restaurant ahahah)? Nice vid!

[@RetroReWire]

Yes! That sushi joint was great! Normally I’m not a big fan of Squid, but at this place it was very very good. Cheers!

[@phile6889]

$1AU is about 95Yen... Im still saving JJ! Im aiming for next year man! Japan or bust! 😁

[@RetroReWire]

Couple that with tax-free benefits in most places and it’s a pretty sweet deal! Cheers!

[@Squeegee88]

Great video!

[@RetroReWire]

Cheers!

[@grumly54]

Incredible famicom stuff 😻

[@RetroReWire]

For sure, Hard OFF brought the goods! Cheers!

[@RetroMoments]

Great editing, JJ! Very entertaining to watch. That Garou: Mark of the Wolves was a "pretty good" price. Feels weird to say haha, but definitely the lowest I've seen on it anywhere lately.

[@RetroReWire]

Yes! Garou was at a good price! One day it will be mine. Cheers!

[@alxsimovic]

I never knew that was there 😮I go to the mandarake nearby all the time

[@RetroReWire]

They will only be there until the 14th, cheers!

[@fazares]

bonk was a very good fc port..i own both the the hucard and cd (pce works) versions :P

[@RetroReWire]

It's fun, and it feels easier on the famicom. But I'm glad to have it in the collection. Cheers!

[@edwardcatt2399]

I’d have gone to the floor that conveys Grand Seiko watches myself 👍

[@RetroReWire]

I sometimes find myself in the watches section of OFF stores. Seiko has a had a few collabs with Capcom and Sega in the past. These LE watches are just the tip of the iceberg, however. Cheers!

[@angelac.e.589]

Oof Personally I prefer the voice over rather than live commentary. But I don't know, maybe others will say differently. It's fine to test the algorithm.

[@RetroReWire]

I'll continue both, but I must test the waters. Cheers!

[@8bitjoystick]

Well in my videos it depends on what's going on in the environment. Sometimes the stores are super noisy and sometimes they're playing copyrighted music in the background and I don't want that copyright strike. But that's a cool lapel mic.

[@claustrophobeinspace]

moon crystal is exceptionally great nes game!!

[@RetroReWire]

I’m gonna have to look it up. I dig the game’s cover art! Cheers!

[@ericng5707]

Good job catching news of this limited time store. Did you also go to the Hardoff that just opened in Musashi Sakai?

[@RetroReWire]

That's the same one as Mitaka, right? I haven't yet. According to the corporate folks, on avg 1-2 new stores open per month. Business must be good!

[@ericng5707]

To be fair, they also close just as many. This "new" Mitaka store is a replacement for the one they closed at the start of this year. They closed the one at Hachioji Minamino last year and replaced it with one in nearby Hashimoto. Considering where the original stores were, they're probably doing it to open in older, smaller buildings with cheaper leases.

[@rawjapan6808]

That hard off is taking the expression “taking the piss” to a whole new level. Most games are in shitty condition

[@RetroReWire]

Oh, I ran into you yesterday. How was the Nights bundle?

[@rawjapan6808]

@@RetroReWire haha sorry man. Condition was pretty good! Let’s go on a retro trip together someday!

[@RetroReWire]

Yeah, a retro trip is always fun! And I have to ask, do you still own that sweet Code Veronica Dreamcast? It looks pretty clean in your video. In regard to the condition of goods at the Hard Off phantom shop, I personally felt that the condition of the hardware was pretty good. The condition of the software wasn't all that bad, especially if you take into account the material and vintage. That 1983 lineup wasn't half bad. Pricing on the stuff is what makes one think twice, however, haha! I'll be showing off another store that will up the bar in regard to condition, but boy them prices are gonna rise! haha, cheers! @@rawjapan6808​

[@MightyD18]

MY GOD!!! That Bubble Bobble shirt!!

[@RetroReWire]

There was some nice merch and Tees! Cheers!

[@_Username__]

Man I cannot find this hardoff in Ikebukuro on google maps, this mall or whatever is HUGE

[@RetroReWire]

That Hard Off phantom shop was limited time only. The last day was Aug 14th. Hopefully they do something similar in the future. Cheers!

[@oosmosmoo]

Lat time i went to super potato their psp's were super expensive. What is the going rate for a psp these days? Cool video!

[@RetroReWire]

PSP prices will vary greatly depending on location and condition. I’d say ¥7000 can be the average price for a non-junk unit. Cheers!

[@Jpbound]

A hardoff popup?? Never heard of such a thing!!

[@RetroReWire]

Drop by if you get a chance. The area is all retro'd out. They even have old school food joints setup. Cheers!

[@8bitjoystick]

A surprise hard off pop-up? That's what she said

[@GreekRetroGeek]

Most of their items are overpriced and the asking price is higher than online. Great video regardless.

[@RetroReWire]

That Super Scope comes to mind, haha! If anything it keeps the game hunt going, more videos to come. Cheers!

[@_Username__]

I have been to this book off 10:25 hahahaha

[@RetroReWire]

I’ve scored a few deals from this book off. Their retro sections have definitely dwindled, however.

[@GrizzlyJRofficial]

Capcom cafe sweets selection

[@RetroReWire]

The selection is always changing. Last time I visited, it was all Monster Hunter themed sweet! Cheers!

[@GrizzlyJRofficial]

@@RetroReWire man I would have to stop by there all the time hahah

[@pccalcio]

the way you censor people's faces is hilarious :D

[@greg.l44]

the store is closed, I am currently in Tokyo in September 2023.. don't travel for nothing.. there is nothing left in Ikebukuro just super Potatose which has very high prices