The anime film “Honey Tokyo” was created by a well known anime studio, ( STUDIO 4C), to promote Tokyo and various spots, like Akihabara, Shibuya, Harajuku, Shinjuku and Roppongi. The short film was commissioned by the Tokyo metropolitan government in hopes of promoting Tokyo and certain tourists locations to the rest of Japan and the world.

The short film, “Honey Tokyo,” revolves around a girl named Honey who is sent from the future in search of “pieces of happiness.”

She steals away people’s happiness and wipes away Tokyo’s charms.

A youth named Takeru takes her out on a tour of Tokyo that is intended for her to experience joy and wonder. She eventually has a change of heart.

The short anime can be viewed here in 8 different languages, Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, German, Italian, Spanish or French.

This isn’t the first time anime has been used to help promote Japan and it most likely won’t be the last time either.

Via Asahi.com

A year and a half after a vicious attack left seven people dead in Tokyo’s Akihabara district, a neighborhood association activated 16 outdoor surveillance cameras Tuesday in an effort to restore the neighborhood’s reputation.

Akiba,” as the district is known to its fans, is a mecca of electronic gadgets and “otaku” (geek) culture.

“We hope the cameras will deter crimes. And we want to assure the public that Akihabara has become a safe place,” Chiyoda Ward spokesman Kazuhisa Yamaguchi said.

The man accused of this vicious attack that took place on june 8, 2008 in akihabra is Tomohiro Kato, 25. Tomohiro Kato ran people down in a truck then exited the vehicle and began stabbing people in a busy intersection.

The estimated cost for the cameras;

Chiyoda Ward and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government will share the cost — about ¥30 million — of the 50 surveillance cameras with neighborhood associations, Yamaguchi said.

The 15th unit of the Miniskirt Police held their inauguration ceremony recently and announced they would be performing twice a month at their own venue in Tokyo from early March.

Five sexy ladies from the 14th unit made the cut to hold their jobs in the new unit, and will be joined by eight new miniskirted officers. The venue, called “Minisuka sho gekijo,” will open near JR Kanda station – a quick jog from Akihabara, where popular pop group AKB48 perform at their own venue.

Rika Fujii, 25, captain of the 15th unit, said the location near Kanda station was designed to rival AKB48 and lure crowds over. She added: “Our venue is airtight, and if you sing and dance with us, you’ll be able to feel our breath and sweat.” Then she declared: “We’ll arrest your heart.”

The group is sure to have some success being so close to Akihabara. I wonder how the otaku in Akihabara will treat this, as cosplay or as a mere annoyance. Commenter’s had alot of intreseting things to say to this;

Is this what we pay taxes for?

What do they do?

Which one do I have to violate to get a ticket?

Arrest me!

28 days of incarceration in their police “box” with “forced” confessions and “oral” testimony. I can imagine the scenario: “sign that confession right now or I’ll stop what I am doing to you…”

“We’ll arrest your heart”

They’ll most likely give some guys cardiac arrest

Via Japan today, Comments Via Japan today