Shinsaibashi Grand Opening
August 28, 2004

The first person got in line for the Apple store opening in Osaka at 5:40 a.m., followed shortly by the second person 10 minutes later. By the time the sun came up on Saturday morning, almost 200 were in line--and it continued to grow from there. Here are some photos from the morning line-up. Also see the store interior and staircase photos.

a00_crosswalk

from across the street

 a01_line

the line broke at each intersection,
and then began again

 a1_onsidewalk

this space is usually occupied by bicycles
a2_cones

catching breakfast

 a31_cards

playing cards at the head of the line

 a3_cards
a4_johnson

Steve Cano (l.) and Ron Johnson in
front of the store at about 9 a.m.

 a5_flowers

flower displays being moved outside

 a6_mopping

last minute mopping
a7_curbside

even the curb was cleaned up

 a81_grouptalk

Karl Backus, Ron Johnson and HQ
staffers talk before the opening

 a82_flowers

the congratulatory flower displays
a8_ipods

table of 250 iPod Minis, with the
commemorative T-shirt boxes below

 a90_videoline

those first in line were the subject of cameras

 a91_lineinterview

Youichi is interviewed by a TV reporter
a92_signhead

presumably it says "head of line"

 a93_photoline

more photographers

 a94_longview

about 30 minutes before the grand opening