![[title of show]](http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b285/ShephardSummers/titleofshowsm.jpg)
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
El*ctrictown & Plastic Fantastic Food
During day two of the press junket in Tokyo, I went on a small shopping adventure with our friend Clark.
The city was a bit cloudy and overcast, but it didn't dampen our spirits at all. 
I couldn't wait to get down there into the streets! See some day-to-day Japanese life and do some shopping!
I couldn't believe my eyes how picturesque this was. Little kids in their school uniforms, being led like little yellow duckies to class.
Apparently it is very common for temples (which we were visiting) to have day-care or kindegarden type facilities as part of their services (if I understood our driver correctly). Zoom in, look at the faces. ADORABLE.
Zoom zoom... :)
The legendary plastic food! It's in every restaurant window, letting you know exactly what to expect on the table. When my friend Jessica said, " Bring me back some sushi, ha ha," I snickered to myself. OOOkaaay! 
There were stores in the kitchen supply area of Tokyo (can't remember the name of the area, but it wasn't too far from Asakusa) that sold plastic food. Clark humored me as we bounced from one back to the other for the best artistry and prices. 
Time for Sushi?
I wanted a cake. How cool would that be on a cake pedestal in the kitchen?
Imagine my surprise when I learned that the artistry and craftsmanship of the hand-painted food had prices to match.
These glasses of beer for example... not that tall really... $50 American. (and yes, I did get Jessica some sushi, hee hee).
Actual restaurant window example
These two pics of ice cream were actually taken in Kyoto.. I wanted to show you the level of artistry in some of the window display food... the price you see... is not for the plastic food, but for the REAL food if you want to order it!!!Good freakin' lord!!
Just move the decimal two places from the right to convert to American dollars. But you get the idea. I shudder to think what it cost this restaurant to have these food sculptures special-made for their windows. Hundreds of dollars, at least.
Next it was off to the famed Electric Town... Akih*bara !!
I liken it to the Times Square of Geekdom. Imagine buildings, 5 or more stories, filled with shops selling nothing but anime (Japanese animation), manga (comics), action figures, DVD's, and toys!
We had a tight schedule... I had a choice... shopping... or going to one of the many many cafes where all the waitresses were dressed in colorful cutesy maid costumes... I chose shopping of course, but did manage to snap ONE (blurry) maid costume on the street.
Some of the toys in the shops. I was too busy shopping to take that many photos. I knew B would not get to see this area on this trip (he had to work), so I tried to take enough to give him the feel of it, but was also shopping for him and for gifts for friends.
Um... Clothes-Pin Nun? Sure. Why not!
Oh, I wanted it. Really. It's a very famous character from a beloved Japanese anime film called Kiki's D*livery S*rvice. It was 2 feet tall and $189 American. I didn't buy it. I have a few smaller versions tho. So well done. All their toys are spot on... no wonky looking faces or bodies... the toys look exactly like the characters, exactly the way they're supposed to (unlike cheap half-a**ed American toys). This guy could have easily sat next to me on the airplane in 1st class. There was room.
Honestly, after 2 hours or so and climbing from floor to floor in these maze-like buildings full of toys, my eyes glazed over, and it all began to look the same.
We're due to go back (tho this can change any time) in 2011 for the press junket for the next movie B is directing. We'll spend a proper amount of time here then, maybe. 
I think the next post I do should contrast this splashy plastic colorful one... so I may do one of the beautiful serene temples or shrines from Kyoto! :) ~Shephard :)
Labels: Japan
posted by Shephard @ 