Faren at the Lego Booth
Konnichiwa everyone!
After that we headed to Nakano Broadway, which has many shops dedicated to toys and is considered the second "otaku heaven" after Akihabara. We saw many old and classic toys in the shops.
Last Friday, Udd, Leman and I (Faren) got the opportunity to visit Tokyo, Japan to observe and learn about the toy industry specifically and about Japanese culture in general. As soon as we arrived, we headed to the 2010 International Tokyo Toy Show. The event was held at the Tokyo Big Sight in Odaiba and it showcased the latest toys from Japanese and international toy companies. The biggest booths were by Bandai and TakaraTomy. Sega Toys also had a big booth. Needless to say, there were many interesting and awesome toys on display.
Tokyo Big Sight, Odaiba
Latest toys and technology at the 2010 International Tokyo Toy Show
After visiting the Toy Show, we headed to Yasukuni Shrine to check out the Mitama Matsuri Festival. It is a mid summer celebration of the spirits of the ancestors. The festival was packed with people, some dressed in lovely traditional yukata and at both sides of the broad avenue there were stalls selling all sorts of yummy food and drinks. It was like a super long "pasar malam".
Leman & Udd at the Mitama Matsuri Festival, Yasukuni Shrine, Tokyo
The next day we went to Shinjuku to see Isetan's food department at the basement level, also known as "depachika". It was an amazing experience to see the diverse amount of quality Japanese cakes, food, drinks and delicacies. The craftsmanship of the products were very high and refined and the items were displayed like jewelry. The artistry and attention to detail and excellence in design is something that Malaysians should aspire to in dealing with all aspects of life. :)
After that we headed to Nakano Broadway, which has many shops dedicated to toys and is considered the second "otaku heaven" after Akihabara. We saw many old and classic toys in the shops.
Legend of Mythica show at Tokyo Disneysea
After lunch at Lotteria, a Japanese fast food restaurant, we travelled to Tokyo Disneysea. It is located next to Disneyland Tokyo and has an overall nautical exploration theme to it. The park is also designed with a more adult theme with faster and scarier rides and shows designed for an older audience. We rode on the major rides and enjoyed the design and architecture of the buildings. The merchandise shops were also delightful with many cute and tempting products and items being sold. We dream of an Upin & Ipin theme park one day. :)
On our final day, we headed to Harajuku to visit Takeshitadori street. This is a shopping street frequented by teenagers and on Sundays they come out in unique fashion dresses. We managed to see people dressed in gothic, lolita and other intriguing styles. It was really fascinating to see them express themselves.
We also visited Kiddyland, a major toy store in Harajuku. It has 6 floors filled with wonderful toys, each floor dedicated to various toy categories and characters. The ground floor showcased the latest toys and gadgets. There were all sorts of toys and products for almost all cartoon characters you can imagine. This is "kawaii heaven". hehe. We hope one day Upin & Ipin and friends will be available in this shop. :)
Udd high-fiving Yoda
From then on, we headed to NHK Studio Park in Shibuya, to visit a Star Wars exhibition. NHK is Japan's national public broadcasting organization, and they were airing all the Star Wars movies on their broadcast satellite channel, and to promote it, they created the exhibition. They had life-sized models of Darth Vader, Yoda and a Stormtrooper plus concept art for the Clone Wars series. Next door was NHK Studio's gift shop which had many merchandise based on their stable of cartoon characters.
Leman & Udd posing outside Hard Rock Cafe, Narita
Before our flight back to Malaysia, we visited Hard Rock Cafe in Narita. We got some inspiration for our own La Boutique Caffe Upin & Ipin in Section 7, Shah Alam.
Overall, we had a great trip and I will miss Tokyo. The Japanese people are polite and hardworking, their city is clean and modern and they maintain their traditional culture but are always one step ahead in technology. I hope Malaysians will learn from the best of their culture. Sayonara for now.
Having dinner at Kawasaki Train Station
