The iPod mini brought as many as 1,500 people to wait in line in Japan the first day the units went on sale, according to a report at MacCentral Saturday. The iPod mini went on sale in Japan this Saturday after a delay of many months. The delay was due to demand in the US coupled with supply issues concerning the unitis hard drive. From MacCentral:

At 9 a.m., an hour before the store opened, the line was estimated to stretch around 300 meters and number some 500 people. However, this had grown to 1,500 people by the time the store opened, according to Appleis estimates.

First in the queue was a young man who had been waiting since 8:30 p.m. on Friday evening and perhaps had not anticipated the media attention that being at the head of the line would bring. "Iive been here since 8:30 yesterday evening, thatis all Iim saying," he was heard repeating each time he was asked by reporters for his name or where he had come from.

Thereis much more in the full story, including images from the event, and quotes from Apple execs on hand for the event. We recommend it as a very good read.