I Rebuilt JAPAN'S TINIEST SHOP!!

ORIGINAL VIDEO HERE: https://youtu.be/nA1UNJirOTI What else do you think I should put in the shop? Join the discussion in the comments!! - Taking messages for Shimayama san in the comments and sharing with him!! Thank you SO MUCH to the people who made this possible (you know exactly who you are) And for those who want to come and see the shop, or get to know more... You can join our team (in the description box)

That man didn't pass on just "a shop". That's his life's work. A memento of his life's work and who he was, is now preserved within Norm's studio. This is a beautiful thing.

This is, in my opinion, the greatest thing you've done so far. You preserved a cherished part of Akihabara history, now you're the custodian of something truly special.

日本人としてとても嬉しいです。 今の秋葉原はこの様なお店がどんどん無くなっているのでこの様な形で残して頂きありがとうございます。

The look of that tiny shop is so nostalgic. I'm a 60 year old retiree now, but when I was a young teen to my 20's I remember visiting the dark warren of narrow passageways lined with tiny electronics shops underneath the train tracks in Akihabara. I loved the atmosphere. But in a recent visit to Akihabara I sadly found that the Akihabara that I remembered as a youth was virtually all gone. In fact, when I stepped out of the Akihabara station and looked around I was completely dumbfounded. I had visited Akihabara so many times that I knew it like the back of my hand, but when I looked all around me after exiting the station I asked myself "Did I get off at the wrong station?". Then I across the street I saw a store with a set of large plexiglas tubes on its exterior which enclosed a set of escalators, which was a unique feature that I remembered one of the Akihabara stores had. So then I knew I was indeed in Akihabara. That was the only familiar sight that I saw in Akihabara that day.

As a history nerd, this kind of preservation is so important. It not only shows the history and cultural changes of Akihabara, it keeps a piece of Shimayama-san’s history alive. I love this so much ❤

It's always sad to see things like this being destroyed by time, so it's always great to see people like you who preserve it.

宝物のような場所を残すための熱意に感動しました。 島山さんの優しさが日本を好きになってもらうきっかけになったのだと思うと見習わないといけないと思いました。 ありがとうございます。

As a conservator and restorer of cultural heritage this video made me so incredibly happy. You put in so much effort and love for this project and the outcome is truly beautiful.

There's something emotional about the organized chaos of small independent shops. It's like a snapshot of owners' minds and their years of dedication, and I love that you have preserved this piece of a man who is a friend to so many

Norm, your storytelling skills and genuine enthusiasm for your subjects separate you from so many YouTubers. Thanks for bringing us along and making our Sunday mornings entertaining. It’s great that you could preserve this piece of history as a thank you to the man who welcomed you into the country.

I wish this man all the best, he grinded his heart out and has blessed his mother in her time of need. God bless him and you!

This video nearly made me cry. I spent 10 years working closely with Japanese tradesmen. They take their career much more seriously and personally than we do in the U.S., and seeing the friendship you've developed and now this preservation of his shop is truly wonderful because it's a way of him leaving a legacy. I hope you keep all that stuff forever, but I also really hope for the chance to own a piece from that shop one day! Great job!

Despite never meeting him, or going to the shop, seeing how much the shop meant to him and the people he served for 40+ years, it's so awesome to see the shop being "rebuilt" and "saved". You're a special kinda guy Norm, keep being you :)

Shops like Shimayama san's are what I always pictured when anyone spoke about Akihabara - so amazing that you were given the privilege of keeping a little bit of history alive. And for telling the story so well :)

I can only imagine how honored he feels that his hard work meant something to you and other ppl. It's so sweet that you showed him that what he did mattered

You can feel the sincerity of his conversation with Mr. Shimayama. The way he bows as he speaks even though he can't be seen over the phone. I love that this piece of history has been saved. I really wish I would have taken a chance to walk through the market when I was there in 2016.

You did a great service to Japan by preserving this shop. My first visit to Tokyo was in 2004 and in the years since I've seen many iconic showa and heisei relics just vanish and get replaced by faceless malls that could be everywhere on the planet. So every bit of preservation of what made Tokyo Tokyo over the 20th century counts. 👍

As a person who had to take care of his own mother through dementia, I really feel for Shimayama-san. It's very, VERY hard to do, and I can only hope that someone out there can help him. The stress and worry are the worst parts. Norm, thank you for being there for someone when they needed you. It's such a blessing for people that are struggling with things to have even someone to just talk, or listen to.

It's so wholesome to think about just... HOW MUCH IMPACT CAN SOMEONE HAVE by being so kind and generous, by simply talking with a foreigner, aiding them and being welcoming to them, Shimayama-Sama is truly a legend and I'm sure he was the heart and soul of Akihabara! I wish him only the best! ❤❤❤