just got into tokyo yesterday

and got damn I'm having fun


hookers and blow!!!

I think I could deal with not coming back to LA ever!

So it wasn't hard getting through customs?

no
they sent a team of people onto the plane with scanners and stuff

kinda like on the movie E.T.

took around 30 minutes for that



the airport seemed really empty.... I guess because it was a monday afternoon

I'm pretty delirious and out of it right now with the jet lag and time change

Have fun in Japan.
I just got back from Taiwan.
They weren't checking at all in LAX.

so glad I'm here.... too bad secret base and bounty hunter weren't open today..that kinda sucked a bunch


I did happen to catch a wedding at a shrine in yoyogi park ...that was pretty nice

man oh man
mandarake is a place where you could spend a million yen easily in one trip

I saw everything I have seen in super7 pics there
including a sweet baron menime paul kaiju custom for sale

I managed to snap 2 pics before the guy told me not to

Never understood the no photo policy at Mandarake.
Maybe it's because the prices are clearly on display?

who knows...they chase you around if you do it though.

in my opinion you didnt miss much at bounty hunter, but that's like i said, just my opinion. they were pretty rude to us when we were there, but to each their own. if that's how they want to do business it seems to work for them.

as for mandarake, fun fun fun. the one in akihabara was my favorite, mostly because I got my goga there, but also for the crazy vintage floor where I could have spent thousands if I had them to spend.

nice to see you're having a good time!

most stores dont' allow you to take pictures in them (even in the US). They are private property, and therefore can set their own policies. It is not illegal, but most stores have a policay about it for a few reasons.

1. Comparison shoppers, People go to 2 stores, take shots of the prices and go to the cheaper store.

2. Merchandising (This one is a biggie)-Their merchandising & display are one of the things that differentiates them from another retailer that sells the same products. The camera might not belong to an innocent shopper, but to one of their competetors.

3. Theft-sometimes people are "casing" the store for future theft. planning and knowing exactly where things are kept and how cases are locked are a pretty easy to figure out if you can study a photo at home.

4. Customer privacy. Some customers feel anxious when they see a camera in a store, especially if they are buying things that are "embarassing" ie: Pharmacies, grocery stores etc. The last thing an overweight guy wants is someone taking his picture buying 3 gallons of ice cream. Or a teenager picking up her birth control at the pharmacy.

There's probably other reasons too, but these are some common reasons stores have policies like this.

I got this in atoy shop in Singapore recently. And there was no prices on display. I dont get it.
edit: Somehow I didnt see missy's post. That 2nd one is the one that makes most sense to me.

Atease thats not cool that they were rude to you. Posuers need a good bollocking. Just give me the nod mate and I'll stick a big gob of chewy under their counter ...if I ever get there

Have you been to Mandrake Nakano yet?

That will change your life as it did mine!

I wish I was out there, you lucky bastard.

People need to go high tech James Bond style when they visit Mandarake shops! Spy cam...

That's what I'm bringing if I ever get a chance to visit Mandarake.

It's on my list!

I was going to leave tokyo and go to Sendai for a few days to see someone, but I changed my plans to stay here until the 11th so I'm just gonna see everything I can here.

and I was trying to be all sneaky with the camera, but the dude ran up and pointed at the signs and I just apologized like I didn't know.. the vintage stuff is so freaking insane there.

I'll keep updating this with pics as I go..I'm so screwed up with my time schedule..I keep waking up at 2 am
i'm sure by the time I get back to LA I'll be on tokyo time

Nakano Broadway is pretty sick put 4 or 5 hours in your schedule for the visit, you will be amazed with all the toys there!

make sure to go to RxH as well

I got the opposite reaction from the BXH crew when I went yesterday.It might have something to do with my kid hunter tattoo and my boba fett tattoo, but when I walked in they said Sugoui! and gave me free stuff..I am going back today to kick it with them all

and thanks atease I am having a great time!!!

nakano broadway is really great. I remember literally getting upset at how many stores were there because I couldnt remember everything I had seen.

buy me a bemon...really. I'll paypal you money

this sounds like a wonderful reason to be upset. i want to go to Japan, bad.

Aren't there plenty of hookers and copious amounts of coke in LA?

OMG --- I love the fish woman ---- I want it

nice...glad to see they're being nice to someone

they crossed their arms and stared at me until i left. nope, no tattoos so maybe that has something to do with it.

good deal!

Nakano Broadway was so insane..I was there for I'd say 4 hours looking at stuff..I ended up leaving without buying anything because it was too dangerous right now for me to get started with vintage pieces

were any skullbrainers there yesterday? I felt like some dudes looking at me were people on the board..maybe not

oh and to olivemartini
LA is drug and crime free

just got back to LA and am missing tokyo already
didn't grab too many toys this time but I know where to go next time for anything and everything
a little loot from the trip

gotta say the BXH guys were rad! and If anyone is going to be in tokyo this month definitely hit up BXH because they will be releasing something amazing soon!!!!!!!!!

and they gave me no problem with taking pics at the shop..they even took a pic for me

Who is the orange elephant?
Isn't that on Polyester's avatar too?