The biggest geekiest parties ever don't happen in Silicon Valley. They take place at DENPA, a bimonthly event in Tokyo that brings cosplay enthusiasts and anime geeks out from behind their computer screens and between the aisles of Akihabara hobby shops into a giant nightclub with strobe lights and DJs. Why do geeks flock to this nightclub? The giant projector screen showing the Uma Uma dance holds the answer. (Click here and scroll down to see the silly video I made for Wired in which I explain the significance of the Uma Uma.)
These guys aren't here to drink and get laid—they're here to geek out to one of the most popular web memes on the Japanese web ever. They show up in vans painted with their favorite anime characters and wigs that make them look just like them. They don't dance with each other—they all dance facing the giant screen, hands up by their heads, screaming U-u-uma-uma! at the top of their lungs. What a release!
My friend Ichiru just went (for the second time—he's hooked) and blogged about it; this is a video he made from his first time. I really hope they have one next time I'm in Tokyo!
This is officially AWESOME. I would so go to that. I think the only reason we never get these kind of get togethers stateside amounts to nothing more than we're too dang spread out. Someone invent teleporters already!
Posted by: bizitmap | September 04, 2008 at 09:51 AM