In Japan, there are special places where enthusiasts can purchase small quantities of screws—
not online, but in person, carefully choosing each piece with their own hands.
Of course, every country has hardware stores where you can buy bolts and nuts.
But Japan has two particularly famous districts for this kind of craftsmanship culture:
Akihabara in Tokyo and Nipponbashi in Osaka.
Both cities, located in Japan’s eastern and western metropolitan centers,
originally developed as hubs for parts used in electronic and mechanical repairs.
Over time, they evolved—first becoming meccas for affordable consumer electronics,
then hotspots for personal computers,
and today, they are known worldwide as the sacred cities of Japanese anime culture, attracting “otaku” from around the globe.
Do you know the Japanese word “otaku”?
It refers to people who are deeply passionate about specific interests—
true enthusiasts of their chosen fields.
And yes, there are also screw otaku in Japan.
They are the passionate hobbyists who build RC cars, boats, airplanes, drones, robots, musical instruments, and more.
When they need a particularly rare or specialized screw, they don’t just order it online—
they go to these specialty shops to see, touch, and feel the product before buying.
Japan is home to many such niche hardware stores catering to dedicated hobbyists.
SAIMA’s “310Slim” screw has become especially popular among RC, drone, and robotics enthusiasts who demand precision and ultra-light performance.
If you ever visit Japan, be sure to check out the screw specialty shops in
Tokyo’s Akihabara and Osaka’s Nipponbashi—
they are a true glimpse into Japan’s unique world of craftsmanship and passion.
【Writer】Tak Saima/CEO, Technical Sales