America-mura in Osaka is a place that exudes a mix of the atmosphere found in Seoul’s Hongdae and Itaewon in South Korea. Among the establishments, there is a shopping mall called “Big Step,” which serves as a landmark in America-mura.
At Big Step, you can discover various unique stores, with many shops dealing in eccentric items that catch the eye. “BamBam Fame Monster Osaka” is one such store that sells items not commonly found elsewhere.
“Osaka America-mura, BamBam Fame Monster Osaka”
The store opened recently. When I visited on September 24th, it had only been established on September 16th. It’s safe to say that it’s a brand-new store, having been around for just about a week. Since it’s a relatively new place, even searching on the map didn’t yield any results. Perhaps it will be registered on the map gradually as time passes.
“A store selling ‘King of Fighters’ character goods”
This place is a store selling character goods related to “King of Fighters,” a game I encountered during my childhood. Since I hadn’t heard or tried anything related to this game for a long time, I was unaware of whether the game series was still being produced. Seeing a store selling goods based on game characters brought back nostalgic memories.
Encountering characters briefly experienced during my school days suddenly felt refreshing, and it reminded me of old memories. On one hand, it made me realize that there’s still a market for businesses targeting such a niche group of enthusiasts in Japan.
When it comes to fighting games, most people may think of Street Fighter or Tekken. However, since this store specifically targets those who still remember and appreciate King of Fighters, it highlights a difference between Japan and South Korea. This aspect may be feasible due to Japan’s population being roughly twice as large as South Korea’s, allowing for such niche businesses. Exploring the store led to various thoughts.
“Osaka America-mura Shopping Mall, Big Step”
- Address: 1 Chome-6-14 Nishishinsaibashi, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 542-0086, Japan
- Phone Number: +81-6-6258-5000
- Website: big-step.co.jp
- Business Hours: 11:00 – 23:00