Stashed away on my hard disk is a Word file. Its an assembly of
scattered notes, half-remembered directions, rambling paragraphs,
home-spun advice and experience based on several trips to Tokyo, slowly
getting more out of date as times between visits lengthens. I put it
together with one aim; to help fellow anime fans find treasure in Tokyo.
Well, it seems that I may now be able to free up some K of hard disk
space, because Joshua Bernard, Jeff Dey and Brian Flynn have written
what may well be, for the next couple of years at least, the definite
anime toy shopping guide to Tokyo.
This is a book written by people who have not just seen the elephant,
but measured the length of its trunk, lifted its tail, and inspected its
toenails. Its all here - the utter uselessness of the 1-yen coin, what
to do when affected by jet-lag induced 06:00am wanderlust, and the
scarcity of trash bins in Tokyo.
What makes this book really ****ne, though, is its presentation. One of
the authors runs a graphic design house, and boy, does it show. The book
is full of superb photography, minimalist but extremely functional maps,
and little graphical flourishes. In addition, most of the data is
presented in bite-size but information-packed chunks, easily digested by
a time-difference frazzled, culture-shocked gaijin brain. Even the
seemingly bewildering Tokyo public trans****t system is broken down to
one, pastel-shaded map and a couple of short paragraphs.
The cover is brilliantly understated; from a distance it could be
mistaken for some upper-price range experimental novel by a Booker prize
nominee; its only up close that one notices a certain giant, radioactive
lizard lurking there. And its a good size; just right to be stuffed in a
backpack and broken out when needed.
Although primarily aimed at toy collectors and those who love the
mutant shampoo bottles known as vinyl, anime goods and manga buyers will
find useful information here. Theres some surprising inclusions, too;
not just dusty, back alley chogokin stashes, but so-hip-it-hurts
designer vinyl em****iums,the legendary
sells-everything-including-the-kitchen-sink-you-didn't-think-you-needed
Tokyu Hands, and even Bape - with maps, which might just save Bape
founders Nigos crotch from my boot [1].
Its not a replacement for a proper guidebook, but if you're just
stopping by Tokyo for a raid on merchandise, its invaluable, and even
experienced visitors will find something useful here. About the only
thing I can say against it is that its almost *too* nice a work to be
subjected to stuffed-commuter abuse on the Yamanote line...
[1] Its a long story.
--
* "Besides, how great to have a *justin@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
chance for a thief to help * *
* out a detective... " * *
* - Hitomi, Cats Eye. * sneaky-sneaky-sneaky *
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