There is a place at the southern edge of Kyoto University’s Yoshida Campus in Kyoto; a century old building called Yoshida-ryo Dormitory. It was first built in 1913 and since then it houses student squatters for ridiculously low rent. No surprise, this place is rubbish and the poorly aged building needs some major restoration works. It’s also the filthiest and dustiest place you’ve probably ever seen. Obviously Kyoto University wants to demolish it and eventually build a new dormitory, but the tenants aren’t of the same mind.
So why are we talking about this shit? How can this be possibly video game related? Use your brain…students living in the same bohemian-like (more anarchy-like) dormitory for ages, generation after generation, since 1913. And we are talking about mainly Japanese students. C’mon, it’s easy! THIS PLACE IS FULL OF VIDEO GAMES LEFT BEHIND BY ALL THE PREVIOUS STUDENTS!
Let’s take a virtual tour! (some pics are taken from Roy Berman‘s article on CNN Travel, and some from this imagur album).
This is the “main” entrance to the building (where are all the video games?)
Et voilà some japanese rhythm game (mixed with some random stuff)!
Do you need a spare orange GameCube controller?
More random retro awesomenesses
Is that a Virtual Boy? Oh fuck!
Why not a couple of slot machines?
Coffees, teas, cigrettes and retro Nintendo consoles…could you wish for better?
Any NTSC-J PS2/PSX game you need? (maybe next time let’s take some better pics)
Let’s see what’s in there!
RedBull is good for your overnight game sessions
Looks cold inside…
Oh look, another drawer
People build robots while they wait for their turn to play
Best panoramic pic ever
That Damn Pixel 